This page needs to be proofread.

244 HISTORY OF GREECE. already stated that Iphikrates had married the daughter of Kotya king of Thrace, and had acquired a maritime settlement called Drys, on the Thracian coast. In the years 373-372 B. c., we /ind Timotheus also in great favor with Amyntas, testified by a valuable present sent to him at Athens ; a cargo of timber, the best produce of Macedonia. 1 Amyntas was at this period on the best footing with Athens, sent his deputies as a confederate to the regular synod there assembled, and was treated with considerable favor. 2 The battle of Leuktra (July 371 B. c.) tended to knit more closely the connection between Amyntas and the Athenians, who were now the auxiliaries most likely to sustain him against the ascendency of Jason. It produced at the same time the more important effect of stimulating the ambition of Athens in every direction. Not only her ancient rival, Sparta, beaten in the field and driven from one humiliation to another, was disabled from opposing her, and even compelled to solicit her aid, but new rivals, the Thebans, were suddenly lifted into an ascendency inspiring her with mingled jealousy and apprehension. Hence fresh hopes as well as fresh jealousies conspired to push Athens in a career of aspiration such as had never appeared open to her since the disasters of 404 B. c. Such enlargement of her views was manifested conspicuously by the step taken two or three months after the battle of Leuktra (mentioned in my preceding chapter), of causing the peace, which had already been sworn at Sparta in the preceding month of June, to be resworn under the presidency and guarantee of Athens, by cities binding them- selves mutually to each other as defensive allies of Athens ; 3 thus silently disenthroning Sparta and taking her place. On land, however, Athens had never held, and could hardly ex- pect to hold, anything above the second rank, serving as a bulwark against Theban aggrandizement. At sea she already occupied the first place, at the head of an extensive confederacy ; and it was to 1 Demosthen. cont. Timotheum, c. 8, p. 1194; Xenoph. Hellen. vi, 1, 11. 2 ^Eschines, De Fals. Leg. c. 13, p. 248. rr)v irarptKijv evvoiav, Kal T&C tvep-yeaias df iyzeif virrip^arE 'A-uvvra, rw QMtTTrov KO.T(H, etc. Demosthen. cont. Aristokrat. c. 30, p. 660. TJJV irarpiKrjv tydiav aviveovr* &ai (Philip to the Athenians) : compare ibid. c. 29, p 657.

  • Xen. Hellen. vi, 5, 2.