The total number of prisoners taken it would be
difficult to state exactly, but it could not have been less than seven
thousand.

This was the greatest Hellenic achievement of any in thig war, or, in my
opinion, in Hellenic history; at once most glorious to the victors, and
most calamitous to the conquered. They were beaten at all points and
altogether; all that they suffered was great; they were destroyed,
as the saying is, with a total destruction, their fleet, their army,
everything was destroyed, and few out of many returned home. Such were
the events in Sicily.

BOOK VIII

CHAPTER XXIV

_Nineteenth and Twentieth Years of the War--Revolt of Ionia--
Intervention of Persia--The War in Ionia_

When the news was brought to Athens, for a long while they disbelieved
even the most respectable of the soldiers who had themselves escaped
from the scene of action and clearly reported the matter, a destruction
so complete not being thought credible. When the conviction was forced
upon them, they were angry with the orators who had joined in promoting
the expedition, just as if they had not themselves voted it, and were
enraged also with the reciters of oracles and soothsayers, and all
other omen-mongers of the time who had encouraged them to hope that
they should conquer Sicily. Already distressed at all points and in all
quarters, after what had now happened, they were seized by a fear and
consternation quite without example. It was grievous enough for the
state and for every man in his proper person to lose so many heavy
infantry, cavalry, and able-bodied troops, and to see none left to
replace them; but when they saw, also, that they had not sufficient
ships in their docks, or money in the treasury, or crews for the ships,
they began to despair of salvation. They thought that their enemies in
Sicily would immediately sail with their fleet against Piraeus, inflamed
by so signal a victory; while their adversaries at home, redoubling
all their preparations, would vigorously attack them by sea and land at
once, aided by their own revolted confederates. Nevertheless, with
such means as they had, it was determined to resist to the last, and to
provide timber and money, and to equip a fleet as they best could, to
take steps to secure their confederates and above all Euboea, to reform
things in the city upon a more economical footing, and to elect a board
of elders to advise upon the state of affairs as occasion should