Eurymedon
Encyclopedia
Eurymedon (died 413 BC) was one of the Athenian
generals (strategoi
) during the Peloponnesian War
.
In 428 BC he was sent by the Athenians to intercept the Peloponnesian fleet which was on its way to attack Corcyra. On his arrival, finding that Nicostratus
, with a small squadron from Naupactus
, had already secured the island on behalf of Athens, he took command of the combined fleet. Owing to the absence of the Peloponnesians, Eurymedon had no chance to distinguish himself.
In the following summer, in joint command of the Athenian land forces, he ravaged the district of Tanagra
. In 425 BC he was appointed, with Sophocles, the son of Sostratides, to the command of an expedition destined for Sicily
. He stopped at Corcyra on the way, in order to assist the democratic party against the oligarchical exiles. However, Eurymedon took no steps to prevent the massacre of the oligarchical exiles. Afterwards, Eurymedon proceeded to Sicily.
Immediately after his arrival in Sicily a pact was proposed by the Syracusan general, Hermocrates
, to which Eurymedon and Sophocles were induced to agree. The terms of the pact did not, however, satisfy the Athenians, who blamed its conclusion on bribery
. As a result, two of the chief agents in the negotiations were banished, while Eurymedon was sentenced to pay a heavy fine.
In 413 BC Eurymedon, who had been sent with Demosthenes
to reinforce the Athenians at the siege of Syracuse
, was defeated and slain before reaching land (Thucydides
iii., iv., vii.; Diodorus Siculus
xiii. 8, n, 13).
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
generals (strategoi
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
) during the Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, 431 to 404 BC, was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases...
.
In 428 BC he was sent by the Athenians to intercept the Peloponnesian fleet which was on its way to attack Corcyra. On his arrival, finding that Nicostratus
Nicostratus
Nicostratus may refer to:* Against Nicostratus, an oration by Demosthenes* On the Estate of Nicostratus, an oration by Isaeusin fiction and mythology:* Nicostrato the painter, a character in Boccaccio's Decameron...
, with a small squadron from Naupactus
Naupactus
Naupactus or Nafpaktos , is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nafpaktia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
, had already secured the island on behalf of Athens, he took command of the combined fleet. Owing to the absence of the Peloponnesians, Eurymedon had no chance to distinguish himself.
In the following summer, in joint command of the Athenian land forces, he ravaged the district of Tanagra
Tanagra
Tanagra is a town and a municipality north of Athens in Boeotia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Schimatari. It is not far from Thebes, and it was noted in antiquity for the figurines named after it...
. In 425 BC he was appointed, with Sophocles, the son of Sostratides, to the command of an expedition destined for Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. He stopped at Corcyra on the way, in order to assist the democratic party against the oligarchical exiles. However, Eurymedon took no steps to prevent the massacre of the oligarchical exiles. Afterwards, Eurymedon proceeded to Sicily.
Immediately after his arrival in Sicily a pact was proposed by the Syracusan general, Hermocrates
Hermocrates
Hermocrates was a general of Syracuse during the Athenians' Sicilian Expedition.The first historical reference to Hermocrates is at the congress of Gela in 424 BC, where he gave a speech demanding the Sicilian Greeks stop their quarrelling...
, to which Eurymedon and Sophocles were induced to agree. The terms of the pact did not, however, satisfy the Athenians, who blamed its conclusion on bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
. As a result, two of the chief agents in the negotiations were banished, while Eurymedon was sentenced to pay a heavy fine.
In 413 BC Eurymedon, who had been sent with Demosthenes
Demosthenes
Demosthenes was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by...
to reinforce the Athenians at the siege of Syracuse
Siege of Syracuse
There have been several sieges of the city of Syracuse in Sicily:* Siege of Syracuse by the Athenians during the Sicilian Expedition* Siege of Syracuse by the Carthaginians....
, was defeated and slain before reaching land (Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
iii., iv., vii.; Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian who flourished between 60 and 30 BC. According to Diodorus' own work, he was born at Agyrium in Sicily . With one exception, antiquity affords no further information about Diodorus' life and doings beyond what is to be found in his own work, Bibliotheca...
xiii. 8, n, 13).