ABSTRACT

The aim of the Spartans, judging by their final ultimatum, was to compel the Athenians to relinquish control of their empire (1.139.3), and this would also have taken care of at least two of the demands of the second ultimatum – the lifting of the siege of Poteidaia and the restoration of autonomy to Aigina (1.139.1). The loss of their empire would also have had the effect of greatly reducing Athenian power, fear of which, if Thucydides is right, was the fundamental reason for the Spartans’ going to war in the first place. The rescinding of the Megarian decree could also have been made a condition of any terms, and if the removal of Perikles was a serious aim, this would probably be accomplished, in any case, by Athens’ defeat, since his fellow-countrymen were unlikely to forgive his leading them to such a disaster.