Callias: A Tale of the Fall of Athens by Alfred John Church
Author's Postscript.
It is impossible for the writer of historical fiction, especially if hewishes to suggest to his readers as many subjects of interest aspossible, to adapt the literary necessities of his work to fit in withthe actual course of events. But he is bound to point out suchdepartures from historical accuracy as he feels constrained to make. Itis quite possible that a correction may serve to impress the real factsupon his readers more deeply than an originally accurate statement wouldhave done. I therefore append to my tale a list of
_CORRIGENDA._
1. I was anxious to include the Battle of Arginusae in my story. It wasthe first scene in the last act of the great drama of the Peloponnesianwar. At the same time I felt bound, having made up my mind to give adescription of a Greek comedy, to choose the _Frogs_. It has a literaryinterest such as no other Aristophanic play possesses, and it is at oncemore important and more intelligible to a modern reader. But to bringthe two things together it was necessary to ante-date the representationof the play. I have put it in the year 406 B. C. It really took place in405. I have also made the battle happen somewhat earlier than in allprobability, it really did. The festival of the Great Dionysia, at whichnew plays were produced, was celebrated in March. We do not knowprecisely the date of Arginusae, but it is likely that it was later inthe year. A similar correction must be made about the embassy ofDionysius. It may have taken place when the play was really produced,but in 406 Dionysius was too busy with his war with Carthage to think ofsuch things.
2. I have ante-dated, this time by several years, the capture ofPoseidonia by the native Italians. Here again we have no record of theprecise time; but it probably happened somewhat later in the century.
3. I do not know whether I am wrong in making Alcibiades escape from hiscastle in Thrace immediately after the battle AEgos Potami. Plutarchwould give one rather to understand that he fled after the capture ofAthens. It is quite possible, however, that he recognized the defeat asfatal to Athenian influence of the Thracian coast, and that feeling hisown position to be no longer tenable, he retired from it at once.
4. I have taken some liberties with the text of Xenophon's narrative.The trial of the generals by their own soldiers, the athletic sports,and the entertainment described in my story are all taken from the_Anabasis_, but they do not come so close together as I have found itconvenient to put them.
5. It is a moot point among historians whether Xenophon returned toAthens after he had quitted the Ten Thousand. Mr. Grote thinks that hedid; and his authority is perhaps sufficient to shelter such a humbleperson as myself. It has also been debated whether he was banished in399 or some years later. I am inclined to think that here I am accurate.
6. I need hardly say that the Thracian national song is of my owninvention. Xenophon simply says that the Thracian performers went offthe stage singing the "Sitalces." That this was a song celebrating theachievement of the king of that name (for which see a classicaldictionary) cannot be doubted. But we know nothing more about it, and Ihave supplied the words.
7. It is not necessary to say that the "diary" of Callias is aninvention. To be quite candid I do not think it was at all likely that ayoung soldier would have kept one, or even been able to write it updaily. But I wanted to give some prominent incidents from Xenophon'sstory, and had not space for the whole, while a mere epitome would havebeen tedious.
8. I must caution my readers against supposing my hero to be historical.There was a Callias, son of Hipponicus, at this time, a very differentman.
9. I have taken the defence of Socrates from Plato's _Apology_, not fromXenophon. The former is immeasurably superior.
INDEX.
AEGOS POTAMI, BATTLE OF, 148-150.
AGIS, 164.
ALCIBIADES. Home, 120 Appearance, 124 Career in Thrace, 134 Defense, 137-140 Farewell to his men, 151-154 Assassination, 190-194.
ALIEN, 21-22.
ANABASIS, THE, 209-211.
APATURIA, THE, 92.
APOLLODORUS, 301.
ARGOS, 164.
ARGINUSAE, BATTLE OF, 51-57.
ARIAEUS, 210, 214, 215.
ARISTIDES, 169.
BISANTHE, 120.
CALENDAR, 223.
CALLICRATIDAS, 39, 44-50, 53, 55, 63.
CALLIXENUS, 93.
CHERSONESUS, 143.
CHIOS, 32, 62.
CHIRISOPHUS, 219.
CIMON, 52.
CLEARCHUS, 210, 213.
CLEON, 12.
CONON, 16, 17, 36.
COS, 89.
CRITIAS, 276, 277.
CRITO, 301, 304-320.
CUNAXA, BATTLE OF, 209-211.
CYBELE, 157.
CYRUS, 48, 49, 142, 153, 211.
CYRUS, THE YOUNGER, 207, 208, 211.
DELIUM, 130.
DIOMEDON, 54-57, 58.
DIONYSIUS, 2, 197, 199-206.
DRESS, 46.
EPHORS, 164.
EUPATRID, 114.
EURYPTOLEMUS, 94, 96, 99-101.
EXILE, 324.
GAMES. President, 242 Foot-races, 243, 244 The Pentathlon, 244 Leaping the Bar, 245 Running, 246 Quoit Throwing, 246-247 Hurling the Javelin, 247 Wrestling, 248, 249 Horse-race, 251.
GORDIUM, 155, 158.
GOVERNMENT. Public Guests, 66 Popular Trials, 90-102, 287-302 The Bema, 95 Balloting, 101-102 The Eleven, 102 Capital Punishment, 103.
HELLESPONT, 18, 120.
HERMAE, 139.
HIPPOCRATES, 264.
HOUSES. Arrangement, 30, 34 Servants, 30 Clocks, 123.
HUNTING, 132, 133.
LYSANDER, 141, 142, 144, 160.
MARATHON, 32, 173, 179.
MEDICAL SCIENCE, 265, 266, 269, 271.
MONEY, 46.
MYRONIDES, 67.
MITYLENE, 16, 38, 43.
NAVY, 51, 52, 54.
NICIAS, 138.
NOTIUM, BATTLE OF, 26, 28.
OENOPHYTA, 67, 68.
OLIGARCHY, 276.
OMENS, 216, 218.
PAINTING, 127.
PARATHERAEA, THE, 27.
PAUSANIAS, 165.
PERSIANS, 48, 324.
PHARNABAZUS, 154.
PHASIS, RIVER, 232.
PHAEDO, 307, 308.
PHORMION, 52.
PLATO, 301.
POSEIDONIA, 22.
POTIDAEA, 130.
PROPONTIS, 120.
PROXENUS, 208, 215.
RHODES, 186.
RETREAT OF TEN THOUSAND, 212-237 Murder of the Generals, 214 Xenophon in Command, 216, 217 Plan of March, 219 First Skirmish, 220 Cavalry Organized, 221 Armenia, 228 Snowfall, 229 Banqueting In Villages, 231 Taking a Pass, 233 The Sea Reached, 236 At Trapezus, 237 Return to Greece, 280-285.
SACRIFICES, 241.
SAILING SEASON, 119.
SAMOS, 53.
SAMOTHRACE, 120.
SEUTHES, 133, 282-284.
SIEGE OF ATHENS, 162-171.
SMYRNA, 188.
SOCIAL LIFE. Calls, 33, 34 Knocking, 34, 279 At Table, 84, 125 Food, 35 Libations, 35, 40, 125 Banquets, 70-78, 258-262 Rhapsodist, 71 Dancers, 74, 261, 262 Colonial Society, 135 Hospitality, 239.
SOCRATES. Conversations, 82-86 Refusal to Sanction Illegal Motion, 98 Alcibiades' Tribute, 129-131 Conduct during the Siege, 167 Dionysius Inquires About Him, 202 His Trial, 287-302 His Defense, 294-302 Conversation in Prison, 308-309 Last Day of Life, 310-318 Argument for Immortality, 312 Death, 318-320.
SPARTANS, 44.
SYBARIS, 22, 26.
SYRACUSE, 31, 193, 198.
TARSUS, 207.
TEN GENERALS, THE The System, 60 Report of Victory, 87, 88 The Trial Commenced, 90, 91 Plots, 92-94 Trial Continued
THASUS, 119.
THEATER, THE The Curtain, 3 "The Frogs," 3-11 Aristophanes, 11 Old Comedy and New, 11 The Audience, 12, 13 Arrangement, 15 Author as Prompter, 16.
THEMISTOCLES, 17.
THERAMENES, 60, 89, 168, 276.
THIRTY TYRANTS, 276.
THRACIANS. Intemperance, 126 Extravagance, 136.
THRASYBULUS, 60, 89.
TIGRIS, RIVER, 222.
TISSAPHERNES, 159, 212, 223.
TOWN HALL, 16, 66.
TRAPEZUS, 237.
WALLS, THE LONG, 109, 165.
WARFARE. Armor, 210, 221 Archers, 221 Cavalry, 221 Character of Mercenaries, 226.
WOMEN. In Lucania, 23-25 At Table, 34 Wine Drinking, 35 Marriage, 180-183 Dependence, 82-85.
XENOPHON. At the Banquet, 78 Describes Socrates, 79-81 Explains the Expedition against the Great King, 207 Elected a General, 217 Reproof of a Soldier, 225 Energy in the Cold Weather, 229, 230 Repartee with Chirisophus, 232 Answers Charges, 254-258.