Lamachus

Lamachus was one of the three commanders of the Sicilian expedition and the only one whose advice would have worked. Born around 470 BC, he was an Athenian of no great wealth — he is mocked in Aristophanes' Acharnians as a bombastic soldier, and the joke works partly because he genuinely was poor and needed the pay. He served under Pericles in the Black Sea, commanded ten ships in the Pontus, and lost them at Heraclea when a flash flood swept them onto the shore. He was a signatory of the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC and had a solid reputation as a fighting officer rather than a politician. In 415 BC the assembly voted an enormous expedition against Syracuse and appointed three generals with equal authority: Alcibiades, who had promoted it; Nicias, who had opposed it; and Lamachus. The three met in council on arrival and each proposed a different plan. Nicias wanted a demonstration and a return home. Alcibiades wanted to spend time gathering Sicilian allies first. Lamachus argued for sailing directly on Syracuse and attacking at once, while the city was unprepared and frightened and before its defences were improved. Thucydides makes it clear that this was the right answer, and Lamachus deferred to Alcibiades when outvoted. Alcibiades was then recalled and defected. Nicias delayed through the winter, and Syracuse built walls and sent for help. Lamachus was killed in 414 BC in a skirmish at the siege works, having crossed a ditch with a small party and been cut off.

• Lived: 470 BCE – 414 BCE
• Nationality: Greek
• Roles: general