Naval engagement during the Siege of Syracuse A 19th-century engraving depicting Athenian naval forces attacking in the harbor of Syracuse in Sicily during the Peloponnesian War. Chronicle/Alamy. (more) Siege of Syracuse Peloponnesian War Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Syracuse-213-BCE Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Military History Encyclopedia on the Web - Battle of Syracuse, 415 BC Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Donald Sommerville Donald Sommerville is a writer and editor specializing in military history. He holds degrees in history and war studies from Oxford University and London University. His work appears in Encyclopaedia Britannica... Donald Sommerville Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 27, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Date: September 413 BCE (Show more) Location: Italy Sicily Syracuse (Show more) Participants: Athens Sparta (Show more) Context: Peloponnesian War Sicilian Expedition (Show more) See all related content The peace of Nicias of 421 bce did not end the Peloponnesian War. Within a few years, new Athenian leaders were looking for conquests among Sparta’s allies on Sicily, an important source of grain supplies for the Spartan confederation. Athens sent a massive expeditionary force to attack Syracuse, but it was eventually annihilated.

　　The Athenian Sicilian expedition set off in 415 bce, inspired by the idea that capturing Syracuse might bring dominance over Sicily as a whole and supply the resources that Athens would need to win its long war with Sparta. Although the initial Athenian force was very strong—with 130 triremes, 5,000 hoplite infantry, and numerous supporting ships and lighter troops—it began operations with a halfhearted attack on the city. In the spring of 414 bce, commanded by Nicias—by the account of Thucydides, an incompetent and indecisive general who had opposed making the expedition in the first place—it settled down to besiege Syracuse. Sparta and its allies sent troops and a fleet to Sicily, and a series of inconclusive land and sea battles around Syracuse followed.

　　Peloponnesian War Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Battle of Pylos July 425 BCE

　　Siege of Syracuse September 413 BCE

　　Battle of Aegospotami 405 BCE keyboard_arrow_right Athens responded with thousands of reinforcements, but they too failed to break the deadlock. Yet more enemy troops arrived from the Peloponnese, and the Athenian commanders finally decided to leave—but it was too late. The Syracusans and their allies gained the upper hand in a naval engagement in the harbor and established a blockade. In a series of hard-fought naval battles in September 413 bce, they burned or sank all the trapped Athenian ships. The Athenian army tried to escape overland, abandoning its many sick and wounded, but it was brought to battle and defeated; Nicias was executed. The survivors were captured and sold into slavery. Athens was gravely weakened, suffering its greatest defeat in the conflict, yet its war with Sparta continued.