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Athens wins at Arginusae, then condemns its generals

406 BCE, Arginusae and Athens. An event.

Where and when

406 BCEArginusae and Athens

2,431 years ago

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, Arginusae and Athens

Athens wins a sea battle off the Arginusae islands. The assembly then condemns eight of the generals in a single vote, and the six in Athens are executed.

After this they condemned the generals who took part in the battle, eight in all; and the six who were in Athens were put to death.

Xenophon, Hellenica 1.7.34Translated by Carleton L. Brownson (1918)Read the full passage (Xenophon, Hellenica 1.7.34, opens scaife.perseus.org)

Background: Battle of Arginusae, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

The Athenians soon came to regret executing the generals, and charges were brought against those who had pushed for the executions.

Based on Wikipedia: Battle of Arginusae

The Athenians soon came to regret their decision in the case of the generals, and charges were brought against the principal instigators of the executions.

Wikipedia, Battle of Arginusae (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-08-19. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 406 BCEThis momentAthens wins at Arginusae, then condemns its generals
  2. set in 406 BCESame year Socrates alone holds to the law Rests on this eventAlso in Athens
  3. set in 406 BCESame year Xenophon on the Arginusae generals Rests on this eventAlso in AthensAlso about democracy and governmentAlso about justice and law
  4. c. 406 BCE0.10000000000002274 years later Euripides and Sophocles die Also in Athens
  5. 405 BCE1 year later The Athenian fleet is lost at Aegospotami Same years
  6. 404 BCE1.8000000000000114 years later Athens surrenders and its walls come down Same years
  7. 404 BCE2 years later The Thirty take power in Athens Same years
  8. 403 BCE3 years later Democracy returns to Athens, with an amnesty Also about democracy and government
  9. set in 399 BCE7 years later Socrates on not returning wrong for wrong Also about justice and law

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