History of The Peloponnesian War - Book III   

as far as the Isthmus, but numerous earthquakes occurring, turned back
again without the invasion taking place. About the same time that
these earthquakes were so common, the sea at Orobiae, in Euboea,
retiring from the then line of coast, returned in a huge wave and
invaded a great part of the town, and retreated leaving some of it
still under water; so that what was once land is now sea; such of
the inhabitants perishing as could not run up to the higher ground
in time. A similar inundation also occurred at Atalanta, the island
off the Opuntian Locrian coast, carrying away part of the Athenian
fort and wrecking one of two ships which were drawn up on the beach.
At Peparethus also the sea retreated a little, without however any
inundation following; and an earthquake threw down part of the wall,
the town hall, and a few other buildings. The cause, in my opinion, of
this phenomenon must be sought in the earthquake. At the point where
its shock has been the most violent, the sea is driven back and,
suddenly recoiling with redoubled force, causes the inundation.
Without an earthquake I do not see how such an accident could happen.
During the same summer different operations were carried on by the
different beligerents in Sicily; by the Siceliots themselves against
each other, and by the Athenians and their allies: I shall however
confine myself to the actions in which the Athenians took part,
choosing the most important. The death of the Athenian general
Charoeades, killed by the Syracusans in battle, left Laches in the
sole command of the fleet, which he now directed in concert with the
allies against Mylae, a place belonging to the Messinese. Two
Messinese battalions in garrison at Mylae laid an ambush for the party
landing from the ships, but were routed with great slaughter by the
Athenians and their allies, who thereupon assaulted the
fortification and compelled them to surrender the Acropolis and to
march with them upon Messina. This town afterwards also submitted upon
the approach of the Athenians and their allies, and gave hostages
and all other securities required.
The same summer the Athenians sent thirty ships round Peloponnese
under Demosthenes, son of Alcisthenes, and Procles, son of
Theodorus, and sixty others, with two thousand heavy infantry, against
Melos, under Nicias, son of Niceratus; wishing to reduce the
Melians, who, although islanders, refused to be subjects of Athens
or even to join her confederacy. The devastation of their land not
procuring their submission, the fleet, weighing from Melos, sailed
to Oropus in the territory of Graea, and landing at nightfall, the
heavy infantry started at once from the ships by land for Tanagra in
Boeotia, where they were met by the whole levy from Athens,
agreeably to a concerted signal, under the command of Hipponicus,
son of Callias, and Eurymedon, son of Thucles. They encamped, and
passing that day in ravaging the Tanagraean territory, remained
there for the night; and next day, after defeating those of the
Tanagraeans who sailed out against them and some Thebans who had
come up to help the Tanagraeans, took some arms, set up a trophy,
and retired, the troops to the city and the others to the ships.
Nicias with his sixty ships coasted alongshore and ravaged the Locrian
seaboard, and so returned home.
About this time the Lacedaemonians founded their colony of
Heraclea in Trachis, their object being the following: the Malians
form in all three tribes, the Paralians, the Hiereans, and the
Trachinians. The last of these having suffered severely in a war
with their neighbours the Oetaeans, at first intended to give
themselves up to Athens; but afterwards fearing not to find in her the
security that they sought, sent to Lacedaemon, having chosen Tisamenus
for their ambassador. In this embassy joined also the Dorians from the
mother country of the Lacedaemonians, with the same request, as they
themselves also suffered from the same enemy. After hearing them,
the Lacedaemonians determined to send out the colony, wishing to
assist the Trachinians and Dorians, and also because they thought that
the proposed town would lie conveniently for the purposes of the war