Deception was an aspect of warfare the Greeks had a special relationship with. By the time of the Peloponnesian War, the two greatest wars in their history had been decided by guile, rather than might. Thucydides demonstrates that the lessons taught by the Trojan and Persian Wars were learned by the Greeks of his time. However, Thucy dides clearly depicts these tricksters in a harsh, unforgiving light, holding them directly accountable for the chaos that resulted from their deception. In Books 6, 7, and 8, of his the Peloponnesian War he showcases the deceit and subterfuge employed by the Sicilian’s and the Athenians during the ill-fated Sicilian Expedition, and the war after, and shows how this played a major, cataclysmic role in changing the outcome of the war.

-Jordan Butler