nfederacy 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 th