Curriculum
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Ambleside Online Plutarch's Life of NiciasPrepared for the Ambleside Online Curriculum by Anne White Welcome to another term of Plutarch studies! This term we will be looking at the Life of Nicias, an Athenian statesman who lived during the last days of Greece's Golden Age (the 5th century B.C.), and who was one of the military successors to Pericles, whom we have studied previously. As the story opens, the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta had been going on for a few years, and would drag on for many more (in spite of the Peace of Nicias which was signed in 421 B.C., ten years after the war started). If you aren't familiar with this war and want to know more about it, most ancient history books will provide an overview; there's also a lot of information online. Childrens' versions of parts of the story can be found in the chapter "The Siege of Syracuse" in The Story of the Greeks, by Mary MacGregor, available online at The Baldwin Project; and in the chapter "Alcibiades" in Famous Men of Greece, by John H. Haaraen & A.B. Poland, also available at The Baldwin Project. The version of Plutarch which I am using for these study notes is Dryden's translation, which can be found online at http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/nicias.html and http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/p/p6l/chapter38.html You can also read a contemporary translation at http://www.e-classics.com/nicias.htm , which can be helpful in getting a quick overview of the story. A short biography of Nicias can also be found at http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/people/a/uc_nicias.htm. NOTE ON THUCYDIDES: There are two men named Thucydides mentioned in the story, and they both come up within the first couple of pages. One is the historian Thucydides, author of The History of the Peloponnesian War; the other is a politician, the son of Melesias, and the political rival of Nicias's predecessor Pericles. NOTE ON THE NAMES OF THE GODS Some editions of Dryden's translation use Roman names for the gods (Minerva, Bacchus) and some use Greek names (Athena, Dionysus). The online version uses the Roman names. LESSON ONE INTRODUCTION In the Old Testament, kings were often labelled either good or evil in God's sight. Plutarch's characters are not always one or the other, but he usually does let you know quickly which ones he admires (Pericles) and which ones did many detestable things (Alcibiades). Nicias is kind of a wild card. Even in the first reading, you will hear that he was "eminent above the rest," but that he also tried to win over the people "by seeming afraid of them," and that he used his money shamelessly to buy their votes. Who is the real Nicias? VOCABULARY adduce - to
bring forward as evidence SECTION TO READ: The first several paragraphs of this story are a book review, by Plutarch, of Timaeus's biography of Nicias. You can skip those and read from "Such actions in Nicias's life" to "his timidity was a revenue to rogues, and his humanity to honest men." Note on the structure: In about the second paragraph in that section, Plutarch starts describing three eminent men: Nicias, Thucydides the politician, and someone named Theramenes. Then, working backward, he quickly skips through Theramenes and Thucydides and really begins the story of Nicias's political career. NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: (You may not want to narrate this first passage, since the discussion questions double as narration questions.) Plutarch clearly states his purpose in writing near the beginning of the passage: "adducing what may make [Nicias's] disposition and habits of mind understood." Try to create a mental picture of this character from the incidents and descriptions that Plutarch has included so far. What can we say about his disposition and habits of mind? It is said that Nicias won over the people "by seeming afraid of them." Can you explain this? Why would this attitude appeal to the commoners? Toughest question: can you explain the last sentence of the passage? What does that say about the character of Nicias? LESSON 2 INTRODUCTION My husband has figured out his own system for winning the game of Clue. He says that within the first few moves he can almost figure out the whole game. And he usually does win! Nicias had a system like that; he felt he had the game of Athenian politics all figured out. He noticed that men who were envied usually ended up in trouble; so he made sure everyone heard him thanking the gods for everything he did successfully. He also held back from taking part in anything risky; he didn't want to get blamed when things went wrong. You would wonder again how anyone so cowardly at heart would be able to hold onto leadership. But now and then Nicias pulls a surprise out of his bag of tricks, as he does at the end of this passage. VOCABULARY: After the long list in Lesson One, you can relax a bit with this passage: there aren't any really obscure words that I can see. However, some of the sentence structures are a little long and tricky, so read carefully. There are several references to other statesmen such as Pericles, Damon, Antiphon, and Paches; and there are several battles mentioned. Rather than getting hung up on the references (unless you're doing this as an actual study of the Peloponnesian war), try to focus on what Plutarch is saying about Nicias through these examples. SECTION TO READ: From "So cautious was he of informers" to "and carried the prisoners to Athens." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: After narrating this passage, discuss one or more of the following questions: What kind of a picture do you have now of Nicias, especially after the final events in this passage? Why did he choose rather to renounce his victory and his glory rather than let two citizens lie unburied? Does that fit with his character as you know it so far? Nicias refused to take credit for his own successes, fearing that he would be envied (and perhaps ostracized). He gave all the glory to the Greek deities. Was this an honest way of worshiping? Do Christians ever use false modesty for the same (or different) reasons? LESSON 3 INTRODUCTION This passage opens with an opportunity that the Athenians quickly seize: some enemy soldiers have been stranded on an island, and the obvious response is to besiege them and take them prisoner. However, capturing them proves difficult, and the Athenians, led by Nicias's enemy Cleon, begin to wonder loudly why this simple maneuver is taking so long, or why they didn't agree to a recent peace proposal by the Spartans (also called the Lacedaemonians).. "Were I general," Cleon says, "they should not hold out so long." The best answer to a smart-mouthed critic, Nicias decides, is to challenge him to do a better job; that should shut him up. But life is so unfair sometimes... VOCABULARY: importunity
- This word seems hard to define. North translates the same word
"procurement," which doesn't make it much clearer. One definition
might be "persistent troublesomeness." SECTION TO READ: From "When Demosthenes had fortified Pylos" to "such licence and contempt of decency as brought all into confusion." Note on a typo: if you are using the first online version referred to in the introduction, one sentence says "This the Athenians were readier to launch at...."; it should read "to laugh at." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: After narrating this passage, discuss one or more of the following questions: What was the worst result (according to Plutarch) of Cleon's unexpected capture of the Spartans? Do you think it would have been better if Cleon had lost this battle? Where does this leave Nicias? If you were Nicias, how would you have dealt with Cleon? Is there anything to be learned here about dealing with people who always think they could do it better? LESSON 4 INTRODUCTION Nicias may be a puzzle as a leader, but even he has his moments to shine; and this passage tells of one of those times. It also shows both the real desire of most people to live in peace, and their fickleness when it comes to bestowing praise or blame. Luckily for Nicias, this time he ends up on the right side of their favor...but as the beginning of this passage warns, he is also about to come up against a problem named Alcibiades. VOCABULARY: Again in this passage, there are no really obscure words! (If your students have difficulty with any of the vocabulary, please let me know and I'll add definitions to these notes.) SECTION TO READ: From "Already, too, Alcibiades was beginning to show his strength at Athens" to "and so to this day it is called the Peace of Nicias." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: After narrating this passage, discuss one or more of the following questions: Discuss this sentence: "He found the men of substance, the elder men, and the land-owners and farmers pretty generally all inclined to peace." Is that a surprise to Nicias? How is it that if all these men would prefer peace, that the war has dragged on so long? Explain the verses and proverb: "----my
lance I'll leave and "In peace, they who sleep are awaked by the cock-crow, not by the trumpet." Discuss the new Athenian idea that Pericles brought war and Nicias brought peace. If you studied Pericles previously, do you feel that criticism is justified? If not, is the praise of Nicias also caused by short memories and fickle emotions? Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Does our motivation matter when we attempt peacemaking (such as the desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize, for example), or is it the deed itself that creates blessing? LESSON 5 INTRODUCTION This passage can be divided into two sections. The first section describes the results of the Peace of Nicias, and presents a tangled web of diplomacy and double-crossing between the Athenians and their enemies, their allies, and the allies of their enemies. Although most of the troublemaking in this case was done by Alcibiades, both he and Nicias ended up on the wrong side of public opinion. The second section is a story of "who gets voted off the island," since it was officially time for an ostracism. Would it be "abominable" Alcibiades? Would it be Nicias, who found himself disliked and envied in spite of his best efforts? Or would it be... VOCABULARY: Argives
- men of Argos SECTION TO READ: From "The articles being" to "who was kin to the tyrant, was the first." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: Explain how Alcibiades double-crossed the Lacedaemonian ambassadors. A summary of the first section (from http://www.e-classics.com ) runs like this: "Because of this ambitious and talented young man [Alcibiades], Athens once again rushed off recklessly into war....The lies of Alcibiades, and his persuasive powers with the common people, convinced them that the Spartans were dishonest and would not perform their part of the bargain. Alcibiades also incited Sparta's neighbors to enter into an alliance with Athens against Sparta -- something expressly prohibited by the peace treaty." Why would a political leader ignore honesty and responsible leadership (and prolong a war) just to make himself look good? Do you think this has ever happened in more recent times? If you had a vote in the ostracism, who would you have voted for, and why? Why were Nicias and Alcibiades so willing to work together to get someone else ostracized? LESSON 6: THE DEFINING MOMENT? INTRODUCTION I recently heard a sermon about what makes a "defining moment" in a person's lifea time when they are challenged to step out of their "comfort zone," act in faith and put their trust fully in God to do something great. The speaker pointed to these moments in the lives of Noah, Abraham, David, Peter and Jesus. (Think of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on the water!) He also said that we can miss out on these life-changing moments by refusing to take that step, when we see only risk instead of an opportunity to demonstrate our faith. In this passage, Nicias has the opportunity for a "defining moment." Pushed into a risky military expedition, forced into a leadership role he doesn't want, he nevertheless could choose to act heroically. (Think of the Cowardly Lion.) Or...he could run and hide. Or...he could scare everyone else into begging to go home. What would you do? VOCABULARY prevailed -
succeeded Note on structure: The beginning of the passage is translated with a confusing sentence structure. It could be re-written as follows: "There is no judgment to be made of fortune; nor can any reasoning bring us to a certainty about it. If Nicias had run the risk with Alcibiades [over which] of the two should undergo the ostracism, he [would] have either prevailed, and, [if] his rival [had been] expelled [from] the city, he [would have] remained secure; or, being overcome, he [would have] avoided the utmost disasters, and preserved the reputation of a most excellent commander." Suggested omission: There is a sentence that begins "For even prodigies that were obvious and plain would not deter them....". I would suggest ending the sentence with "the house then occupied by Andocides" and omitting the rest of it. You could even skip most of that whole section about omens, for the sake of time. SECTION TO READ: Read from "There is no judgment to be made of fortune" to "had cast amongst the enemy was worn off and had left them." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: Narrate this passage by discussing what opportunity Nicias had for a "defining moment," and what he made of that opportunity. Plutarch says that there were certain "bad omens" around the expedition to Sicily, such as the departure taking place on a mournful holiday; and that some people did listen to Socrates' misgivings about it. Why weren't these things given more attention then? Is it true that people will listen to the prophecies that they most want to hear? See Isaiah 30:9-11. LESSON 7 INTRODUCTION The expedition to Syracuse in 415 B.C. (six years after the temporary Peace of Nicias) has been retold in many history books. (Two online sources are mentioned in the introduction to these notes.) Alcibiades, one of the co-generals, suddenly has to return to Athens. The other co-general, Lamachus, is so far below Nicias in rank that he isn't given much say in what happens. As usual, Nicias can't seem to make up his mind whether to save the day or sink the ship. This section describes several attempts--botched and successful--to take the city. And take it again. VOCABULARY without -
outside of SECTION TO READ: From "Whilst yet Alcibiades was with the fleet" to "this advance to the height of power and greatness." Suggested omission: The sentence beginning "At the last he retreated to Catana without having achieved anything, save that he demolished Hyccara, an humble town of the barbarians" can end there. NARRATION AND DISCUSSION After narrating some or all of this passage, discuss one or more of the following questions: If you can locate a map of the Peloponnesian War that includes Sicily, see if you can find Syracuse and Catana. Is there any logical way that the Athenians could have gotten to Syracuse without meeting the enemy coming in the other direction? (I found a map here: http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/Magna-Grecia.htm .) What were Lamachus's qualifications as general? Which one, Lamachus or Nicias, does Plutarch think was better qualified to advise on military matters? Why wasn't Nicias willing to take Lamachus's advice? What do you think about this issue of rank and respect? Plutarch said he admired Nicias "for what he succeeded in." Do you agree that his successes outweighed his disasters? LESSON 8 INTRODUCTION: We continue with the Athenians' attempt to take the city of Syracuse by building a wall around it. Alcibiades has left the expedition; Lamachus is also killed in the fighting, and that leaves Nicias, who makes no secret of the fact that he didn't want to come in the first place, and is now suffering from kidney stones. However, he does put aside his reluctance and his physical problems, and leads what could surely be a successful siege; until some unexpected help arrives for the Syracusans. And Nicias thought he had known the depths of despair before . . . VOCABULARY: cross-wall
- because the Athenians were building a wall around the city, the
Syracusans started building a wall going in the other direction, to cut
them off SECTION TO READ: From "Nicias, therefore, doing violence to his body" to "be wholly relieved of the command, because of his disease." (There is a typo in the first recommended version of this text; it says "he wholly relieved" instead of "be wholly relieved.) NOTE ABOUT GYLIPPUS: It's not clear right away from the text (at least it wasn't to me), but Gylippus is coming to the aid of the Syracusans, not the Athenians. NARRATION AND DISCUSSION: Narrate the events around the arrival of Gylippus. Why was so little attention paid when his troops first landed? Alternate narration/composition suggestion: write Nicias's letter to Athens, asking to be relieved of the command. Plutarch describes Gylippus as a "man of experience," who could take the "same arms, the same horses," and "the same spot of ground," and fight successfully where another general failed. We may often excuse a poor performance by blaming old equipment, difficult co-workers or team-mates, or some other problem. Can you think of any other time when you have seen a skilled person perform "miracles" with less-than-ideal equipment or circumstances? LESSON 9 INTRODUCTION This section is pretty straightforward reading. Nicias has asked for help against the Syracusans; the Athenians agree to send reinforcements under two commanders, with the promise that more help will arrive soon under Demosthenes. But caution gets put aside as the new arrivals grab at a chance for personal glory, and disaster ensues. VOCABULARY manifest -
evident SECTION TO READ: From "Before this the Athenians had been intending to send another army" to "and of the rest few came off safe with their arms." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION Imagine the conversation between Demosthenes and Nicias, as Nicias pleads with him to delay the battle in hopes that the Syracusans will give up. What are Nicias' reasons for believing this? The other commanders don't follow Nicias' advice because they know his reputation as a delayer and a bit of a coward. Do you agree, or do you think they should have respected at least the fact that he had been in the battle longer than they had and knew what was going on? Plutarch says that part of the problem was that Nicias did not speak plainly, but only made a lot of hints about the situation. Can you think of any Scriptures that describe the need to speak clearly and honestly? NOTE ON ARISTON - Plutarch mentions the strategem that Ariston used against the Athenians and which Thucydides describes in The History of the Peloponnesian War. Here is the excerpt as found at http://www.utexas.edu/courses/cc304c2/unit9rdg.html . (39) The next day the Syracusans began operations at an earlier hour, but with the same plan of attack by land and sea. The two fleets faced one another in the same fashion and again spent a great part of the day in skirmishing, until at last Ariston, son of Pyrrichos, a Corinthian, the ablest helmsman in the Syracusan service, persuaded the commanders of the Syracusan naval forces to send word to the officers in control in the city and request them to move down to the shore as quickly as possible the market in which goods are offered for sale, forcing all the hucksters to bring there whatever food supplies they had and sell them, in order that the crews might land and at once take dinner close to the ships, and then after a short interval on the same day make a second attack on the Athenians when they were not expecting it. (40) The Syracusan commanders accordingly, being won over to this plan, sent a messenger, and the market was prepared. Then the Syracusans, suddenly backed water and withdrew to the town, and at once landed and took their dinner upon the spot. But the Athenians, thinking that the enemy had withdrawn to the city because they believed themselves to be outmatched, disembarked at their leisure and busied themselves with various other duties as well as with their dinner, in the belief that for that day at least there would be no more fighting at sea. But suddenly the Syracusans manned their ships and again sailed against them; and the Athenians, in great confusion and most of them without food, embarked in disorder and with great difficulty put out to meet them....The Syracusans, having sunk seven of the Athenian ships and damaged many others, and having taken prisoner most of the men upon them and killed the rest, then withdrew and set up a trophy for both the sea-fights. They now cherished the confident belief that they were far superior to the Athenians on the sea, and they thought that they should get the better of the army on land as well. So they, on their part, proceeded to make preparations to attack the enemy again on both elements. LESSON 10 INTRODUCTION The battle at Syracuse is over, and the Athenians have lost. Nicias, at first, is not in a hurry to return to Athens where he will face scorn and probably punishment; but increasing illness among his men and fresh support for the Syracusans change his mind as well. Under cover of night, the Athenians load their ships to return home, but they are frightened by an eclipse of the moon. "They concluded it to be ominous," Plutarch says, and it probably was...but what sabotaged their escape was not fate, but fear. VOCABULARY accused -
blamed SECTION TO READ: From "Upon this disaster" to "the victory had already declared for the Syracusans." NOTE ON STRUCTURE: Starting with the sentence "Hence it was that Protagoras was banished," Plutarch lists examples of men who were persecuted for their "heretical" belief in natural science or philosophy. When reading this section to younger students or those who have not studied the lives we read previously (including Dion and Pericles), you may want to stop and make sure it's clear that the people named are not directly involved in this story. NARRATION AND DISCUSSION Why was Nicias more afraid of the Athenians than he was of the Syracusans? Plutarch says that an eclipse of the moon would actually be a very good "omen" for the Athenians, because the darkness would help them escape. How did Nicias fail to make the most of this opportunity? Describe the final battle between the Athenians and the Syracusans. Why did people feel it would lessen the power of the gods if they looked for scientific reasons for things that happened? Were they right? Should the same viewpoint limit the interest of Christians in science? LESSON 11 INTRODUCTION The aftermath of the battle continues in this section. Like someone who won't surrender in a good-as-lost game of checkers, Nicias, unexpectedly, refuses to abandon hope. He wants to believe that the Athenians can somehow get away from Syracuse without all being killed or taken captive. He becomes a too-late hero, getting "shot at, and receiving wounds eight days continually," as well as coping with his illness, but he does manage keep his men together until there is no possible reprieve. VOCABULARY dislodge -
embark for home SECTION TO READ: From "The Athenians, their loss and slaughter being very great" to "valour and manhood won a most entire victory." NARRATION AND DISCUSSION Explain Nicias's words to Gylippus: "Let pity, O Gylippus," said he, "move you in your victory; not for me, who was destined, it seems, to bring the glory I once had to this end but for the other Athenians; as you well know that the chances of war are common to all, and the Athenians used them moderately and mildly towards you in their prosperity." Why did Gylippus respond as he did? Explain why Plutarch says this was "the most signal conflict ever waged by Greeks against Greeks." Why was this battle very important in history? Discuss the fact that the soldiers had no "heart to put their trust in the gods, considering that a man so religious, who had performed to the divine powers so many and so great acts of devotion, should have no more favourable treatment than the wickedest and meanest of the army." Were they right? If you could travel back in time and speak to them as a Christian, what would you say to them about the futility of continuing to sacrifice to the gods? Consider how you would respond if they asked if your God would also allow his faithful ones to suffer. LESSON 12: The Benefit of Memory Work INTRODUCTION In this, the last passage on the life of Nicias, we hear very little more of him other than the manner of his death. This may be because so little is actually known of it; in any case, it is a sad contrast to the ends of other men we have studied such as Pericles. The attention at the end shifts to the fates of the other Athenians and their slaves. In the midst of this chaos, some of them find themselves saved by...poetry. How very Athenian. VOCABULARY forbearing -
leaving off SECTION TO READ: From "And a general assembly of the people of Syracuse" to "the calamity which he had often predicted." Note on Gylippus: Remember that although he supported the Syracusans, he actually represented the Lacedaemonians (Spartans) and their interests in these matters. DISCUSSION: What were the terms of the Syracusan victory decision? Do you feel they were fair? Would you have preferred to be sent to the quarries or to be sold as a slave? Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a time when books are outlawed. At the end of the book, the main character discovers a secret community of people who have each memorized one piece of literature...a sort of living library. Similarly, some of the Athenians escaped death or slavery by being able to repeat something they had memorized. What do you think would be most valuable to know by heart if such a thing ever happened to you? (You're allowed to choose something other than the obvious choice of Bible passages.) Set yourself the goal of learning it! Research
question: Find out more about Euripides. Why was his poetry so
much "in request among This is the end! Have a good summer, and join us in September 2004 for the life of Crassus. |
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