Region: Southern Europe · Coordinates: 37.067, 15.285 · 26 events
| Year | Source | Account |
|---|---|---|
| 415 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | The Athenian fleet reconnoiters Syracuse in a single column, proclaims the return of the Leontines, and goes back to Catana |
| 415 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | At Hermocrates' proposal Syracuse elects three generals (Hermocrates, Heraclides, Sicanus) in place of fifteen |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Athens, now with 650 cavalry, builds a circular fort (the Circle) at Syca |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Athens cuts Syracuse's underground water conduit and captures a counter-palisade |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Crossing a marsh on planks, they take the palisade, but Lamachus is killed near the bridge |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | The ailing Nicias has a servant set fire to the machines and timber, saving the Circle |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Athens builds a double siege wall from Epipolae to the sea, and Syracuse discusses surrender terms with Nicias |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Gongylus of Corinth reaches Syracuse ahead of Gylippus and stops the surrender discussions |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Gylippus sends a herald offering a truce if the Athenians leave Sicily within five days, but Athens ignores it |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | In a second engagement the Syracusan cavalry breaks the Athenian left |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | The Syracusan counter-wall gets past the Athenian wall, making an Athenian siege impossible |
| 414 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Nicias decides to send a letter on the military situation to Athens |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Syracuse rebuilds its prows thicker and attacks from the harbor by land and sea at once; the first day is indecisive |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | The Syracusans sink seven Athenian ships and disable many, capturing or killing most of their crews |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Demosthenes and Eurymedon arrive with 73 ships and nearly 5,000 hoplites |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Demosthenes ravages the banks of the Anapus and tries siege engines against the Syracusan wall, but they are burned and the attempt fails |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Syracuse attacks the wall and defeats 70 Athenian cavalry and some hoplites |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | In the Great Harbor battle the Syracusans kill Eurymedon, drive the Athenian fleet ashore and capture 18 ships |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Syracuse lashes ships and merchantmen side by side to close the mouth of the Great Harbor (about a mile) |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | The final Great Harbor battle: Athens tries to break through the barrier first, and many ships tangle in the cramped space |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | After a long fight the Syracusan allies rout Athens and drive it ashore |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | About 40,000 men begin an overland retreat, leaving the wounded and the dead behind |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | At the Anapus crossing they break through the Syracusan defenders and advance about 4.5 miles |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | They attack the heights before the Acraean cliff but are stopped by arrows, thunder and rain, and fall back |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | Demosthenes' division is trapped in an enclosure of an olive grove with a wall and is attacked by missiles from all sides |
| 413 BC | Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War | About 6,000 men of Demosthenes' division lay down their arms and surrender on condition of no killing or imprisonment |