Literature

Modern Literature

• There are many books on this war. As a first introduction, read Thucydides' History and continue with Xenophon's Hellenica.
• Donald Kagan, The Peloponnesian War. Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict, 431-404 BC (2003) is an excellent and accessible narrative. If you want to read only one book, this is your best choice. From the same author:
  • The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War (1969),
  • The Archidamian War (1974),
  • The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition (1981),
  • The Fall of the Athenian Empire (1987).
• Simon Hornblower, The Greek World, 479-323 BC (2002³) contains three chapters with highly condensed information: "The run-up to the war" (103-110), "The Peloponnesian War" (150-183), and "The effects of the Peloponnesian War" (184-209). The second of these offers a religious interpretation of the war that would have horrified Thucydides but is probably correct.
• More specialized literature can be found in the bibliography of Hornblower's book. Five titles are especially important:
  • G.L. Cawkwell, Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War (1997)
  • H. Heftner, Der oligarchische Umsturz des Jahres 411 v.Chr. und die Herrschaft der Vierhundert in Athen (2001)
  • Simon Hornblower, Thucydides (1994²)
  • L. Kallet, Money and the Corrosion of Power in Thucydides. The Sicilian Expedition and its Aftermath (2001)
  • P. Krentz, The Thirty at Athens, (1982)

Translated Ancient Sources

• The Megarian Decree (Aristophanes)
• Outbreak of war (Thucydides)
• Aneristus and Nicolaus (Thucydides)
• The plague (Thucydides)
• Naval warfare: Phormio's first victory (Thucydides)
• Siege warfare: Plataea (Thucydides)
• The Sphacteria Campaign (Diodorus)
• The fall of Amphipolis (Thucydides)
• The Peace (Aristophanes)
• The Peace of Nicias
• Hoplite battle: Mantinea (Thucydides)
• The end of the Sicilian expedition (Thucydides)
• Treaties between Sparta and Persia
• Assessment of Amorges (Andocides)
• The oligarchic coup of 411 (Ps.-Aristotle)
• The battle of Aigospotamoi (Xenophon)
• The surrender of Athens (Xenophon)
• The regime of the Thirty (Ps.-Aristotle)
• Rewards for the liberators of Athens (Inscription)