Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book VII

by: Pelling, Chr.

In Books 6 and 7 Thucydides' narrative is, as Plutarch puts it, 'at its most emotional, vivid, and varied' as he describes the Sicilian Expedition that ended so catastrophically for Athens (415–413 BCE). Book 7 opens with Athens seemingly on the point of victory, but the arrival of the Spartan commander Gylippus marks a change in fortunes and the Athenian commander Nicias is soon sending home a desperate plea for reinforcements. Three narrative masterpieces follow their arrival, first the eerie confusion of the night battle on the heights, then the naval clash in the Great Harbour, and finally the desperate attempt to escape and the slaughter at the river Assinarus. Following the sister commentary on Book 6, the Commentary offers students considerable help understanding the Greek while the Introduction discusses Thucydides' narrative skill and the part these books play in the architecture of the history.

Guides the reader through the second part of one of the most crucial and dramatic episodes in Thucydides' History: the Sicilian Expedition
The Introduction helps the reader appreciate the narrative skill of the book and its place within the architecture of the wider work
The Commentary provides

Table of Contents
Introduction
Deviations from Alberti
Sigla
THUCYDIDES: THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR BOOK VII
Commentary
Bibliography
Indexes.

Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book VII

by: Pelling, Chr.

• ISBN-13: 9781316630228 / 978-1-316-63022-8
• ISBN-03: 1316630226 / 1-316-63022-6
• Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022