Greek Expedition Analysis Essay

This expedition seemed doomed because they started with three different strategies, and three different generals. The Athenians named three generals to lead the expedition. They named Alcibiades, Nicias and Lamchus as their leaders. Nicias, who had tried to convince the people of Attica not to go to Sicily, suggested that they sail towards Sicily and force a settlement between Segesta and Selinus; then after that return home. Lamachus, suggested that they could attack their real enemy, Syracuse as this would catch them off guard, and would encourage the rest of Sicily to be on the Athenian side.
Alcibiades was the expedition’s leader of the war party, and was perhaps the most influential and the strongest general that argued that they should urge the Sicilian cities to revolt. Then they would be free to place an attack on Syracuse as they would be left with no allies. …show more content…
His thoughtful logic turned against him, it actually got the Athenians more excited than ever. Athens might not have realized that Syracuse was a large and powerful city in their own right and was a force to be respected. The Athenian’s seemed to believe that they were invincible; instead of planning ahead they put their faith and confidence in the amount of ships they had instead of the skills or information on Sicily they would need to not only survive but win. Even though their morel was high and the troops belief that they were going to win was in tacked when they set sail. The evening before they set sail numerous statues of gods were destroyed throughout the city. The next morning, the Athenians along with its allies set sailed towards Sicily with aims of conquering and ruling it. They set sail with over 5,000 of their own men and with a total force of over 30,000 one of the largest of its