Demosthenes
Demosthenes
Athenian general, victor of Pylos 425 BC (Thuc. 4.3–41, the campaign where he first trapped the Spartan force on Sphacteria and Cleon converted the surrender into political capital). Sent to Sicily in summer 413 with a second armada of 73 triremes and 5000 hoplites to rescue the failing expedition (Thuc. 7.42). On arrival at Syracuse he recognised the strategic situation was already lost — the Syracusans had extended their counter-wall past the Athenian circumvallation, Gylippus had galvanised the defence, the Athenian camp was in the marsh-fevers — and urged immediate evacuation. Nicias refused. After Demosthenes's night-assault on Epipolae failed catastrophically (Thuc. 7.43–44) and the harbour was closed in the great sea-battle of September 413 (7.69–72), the two generals led the retreat by land; Demosthenes's rear column was trapped in an orchard, surrendered to save his troops, and was executed by the Syracusans with Nicias (7.81–82 + 7.86). Distinct from the fourth-century Athenian orator of the same name.