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The Athenian empire； since the conclusion of the Thirty Years' Truce； had again become exclusively maritime。 Yet even among the subjects and allies united with Athens by the Confederacy of Delos； her sway was borne with growing discontent。 One of the chief causes of this dissatisfaction was the amount of the tribute exacted by the Athenians； as well as their misapplication of the proceeds。 In the time of Aristides and Cimon； when an active war was carrying on against the Persians； the sum annually collected amounted to 460 talents。 In the time of Pericles； although that war had been brought to a close； the tribute had nevertheless increased to the annual sum of 600 talents。 Another grievance was the transference to Athens of all lawsuits； at least of all public suits； for on this subject we are unable to draw the line distinctly。 In criminal cases； at all events； the allies seem to have been deprived of the power to inflict capital punishment。 Besides all these causes of complaint； the allies had often to endure the oppressions and exactions of Athenian officers； both military and naval； as well us of the rich and powerful Athenian citizens settled among them。
In B。C。 440 Samos； one of the free independent allies already mentioned； revolted from Athens； but even this island was no match for the Athenian power。 Pericles； who sailed against the Samians in person； defeated their fleet in several engagements； and forced the city to capitulate。 The Samians were compelled to raze their fortifications； to surrender their fleet； to give hostages for their future conduct； and to pay the expenses of the war。
The triumphs and the power of Athens were regarded with fear and jealousy by her rivals； and the quarrel between Corinth and Corcyra lighted the spark which was to produce the conflagration。 On the coast of Illyria near the site of the modern Durazzo； the Corcyraeans had founded the city of Epidamnus。 Corcyra （now Corfu） was itself a colony of Corinth； and though long at enmity with its mother country； was forced； according to the time… hallowed custom of the Greeks in such matters； to select the founder of Epidamnus from the Corinthians。 Accordingly Corinth became the metropolis of Epidamnus as well as of Corcyra。 At the time of which we speak； the Epidamnians； being hard pressed by the Illyrians； led by some oligarchical exiles of their own city； applied to Corcyra for assistance； which the Corcyraeans； being connected with the Epidamnian oligarchy； refused。 The Epidamnians then sought help from the Corinthians； who undertook to assist them。 The Corcyraeans； highly resenting this interference； attacked the Corinthian fleet off Cape Actium； and gained a signal victory （B。C。 435）。
Deeply humbled by this defeat； the Corinthians spent the two following years in active preparations for retrieving it。 The Corcyraeans； who had not enrolled themselves either in the Lacedaemonian or Athenian alliance； and therefore stood alone； were greatly alarmed at these preparations。 They now resolved to remedy this deficiency； and as Corinth belonged to the Lacedaemonian alliance； the Corcyraeans had no option； and were obliged to apply to Athens。 The majority of the Athenians were ready to comply with their request； but in order to avoid an open infringement of the Thirty Years' Truce； it was resolved to conclude only a defensive alliance with Corcyra： that is； to defend the Corcyraeans in case their territories were actually invaded by the Corinthians； but beyond that not to lend them any active assistance。 A small Athenian squadron of only 10 triremes was despatched to the assistance of the Corcyraeans。 Soon after their arrival a battle ensued off the coast of Epirus； between the Corinthian and Corcyraean fleets。 After a hard…fought day； victory finally declared in favour of the Corinthians。 The Athenians now abandoned their neutrality； and did all in their power to save the dying Corcyraeans from their pursuers。 This action took place early in the morning； and the Corinthians prepared to renew the attack in the afternoon； when they saw in the distance 20 Athenian vessels； which they believed to be the advanced guard of a still larger fleet。 They accordingly sailed away to the coast of Epirus； but finding that the Athenians did not mean to undertake offensive operations against them； they departed homewards with their whole fleet。 These events took place in the year B。C。 432。
The Corinthians were naturally incensed at the conduct of Athens； and it is not surprising that they should have watched for an opportunity of revenge。 This was soon afforded them by the enmity of the Macedonian prince Perdiccas towards the Athenians。 He incited her tributaries upon the coast of Macedonia to revolt； including Potidaea； a town seated on the isthmus of Pallene。 Potidaea； though now a tributary of Athens； was originally a colony of the Corinthians； and received from them certain annual magistrates。 Being urged as well by the Corinthians as by Perdiccas； the Potidaeans openly raised the standard of revolt （B。C。 432）。 A powerful Athenian armament was despatched to the coast of Macedonia and laid siege to Potidaea。
Meanwhile the Lacedaemonians； urged on all sides by the complaints of their allies against Athens； summoned a general meeting of the Peloponnesian confederacy at Sparta。 The Corinthians took the most prominent part in the debate； but other members of the confederacy had also heavy grievances to allege against Athens。 Foremost among these were the Megarians； who complained that their commerce had been ruined by a recent decree of the Athenians which excluded them from every port within the Athenian jurisdiction。 It was generally felt that the time had now arrived for checking the power of Athens。 Influenced by these feelings； the Lacedaemonians decided upon war； and the congress passed a resolution to the same effect； thus binding the whole Peloponnesian confederacy to the same policy。 This important resolution was adopted towards the close of B。C。 432； or early in the following year。 Before any actual declaration of war； hostilities were begun in the spring of B。C。 431 by a treacherous attack of the Thebans upon Plataea。 Though Boeotians by descent； the Plataeans did not belong to the Boeotian league； but had long been in close alliance with the Athenians。 Hence they were regarded with hatred and jealousy by the Thebans； which sentiments were also shared by a small oligarchical faction in Plataea itself。 The Plataean oligarchs secretly admitted a body of 300 Thebans into the town at night； but the attempt proved a failure； the citizens flew to arms； and in the morning all the Thebans were either slain or taken prisoner。
CHAPTER X。
ATHENS IN THE TIME OF PERICLES。
＇Note： The figures referred to in a few places in this chapter have had to be omitted from the etext。＇
At the commencement of the Peloponnesian war Athens was at the height of its glory under the brilliant administration of Pericles。 We may therefore here pause to take a brief survey of the city and of its most important buildings。 Athens is situated about three miles from the sea…coast； in the central plain of Attica。 In this plain rise several eminences。 Of these the most prominent is a lofty insulated mountain； with a conical peaked summit； now called the Hill of St。 George； and which bore in ancient times the name of LYCABETTUS。 This mountain； which was not included within the ancient walls； lies to the north…east of Athens； and forms the most striking feature in the environs of the city。 It is to Athens what Vesuvius is to Naples； or Arthur's Seat to Edinburgh。 South…west of Lycabettus there are four hills of moderate height； all of which formed part of the city。 Of these the nearest to Lycabettus and at the distance of a mile from the latter； was the ACROPOLIS； or citadel of Athens； a square craggy rock rising abruptly about 150 feet； with a flat summit of about 1000 feet long from east to west； by 500 feet broad from north to south。 Immediately west of the Acropolis is a second hill of irregular form； the AREOPAGUS。 To the south… west there rises a third hill； the PNYX； on which the assemblies of the citizens were held；