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The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes

Demosthenes · 4th century BCE (during the Olynthian crisis, i.e., before Philip II’s final subjugation of Olynthus) primary

passage 26 of 64 · (26/63)

in brief
He recommends a year-round strategy tied to winds and seasons: use Lemnos, Thasos, Sciathus, and nearby islands as winter quarters and station forces off the coast during the sailing season.

[Greek: poiaesate], adopted by Jacobs after Schaefer, is not in congruity with the sentence.] approve, that you may oppose Philip, not only by decrees and letters, but by action also.

I think it will assist your deliberations about the war and the whole arrangements, to regard the position, Athenians, of the hostile country, and consider, that Philip by the winds and seasons of the year gets the start in most of his operations, watching for the trade-winds [Footnote: The Etesian winds blowing from the northwest in July, which would impede a voyage from Athens to Macedonia and Thrace.] or the winter to commence them, when we are unable (he thinks) to reach the spot. On this account, we must carry on the war not with hasty levies, (or we shall be too late for every thing,) but with a permanent force and power. You may use as winter quarters for your troops Lemnos, and Thasus, and Sciathus, and the islands [Footnote: As Scopelus, Halonnesus, Peparethus, which were then subject to Athens.] in that neighborhood, which have harbors and corn and all necessaries for an army. In the season of the year, when it is easy to put ashore and there is no danger from the winds, they will easily take their station off the coast itself and at the entrances of the sea-ports.

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topics: naval warfare and sea power · supply, logistics, and encampment

The Olynthiacs and the Phillippics of Demosthenes · Demosthenes · 349–342 BCE