A Remarkable Naval Battle at the Dardanelles: Battle of Aegospotami in 405 BC

Fought at the end of the Peloponnesian War in 405 BC, the Battle of Aegospotami was a decisive Spartan naval victory over the Athenians.The Athenian fleet was sent off to the Black Sea in order to secure safe passage for the Athenian grain carriers, which were providing grain for the daily Athenian bread. The Spartans had at that time developed a strong fleet and Lysander, a Spartan commander, positioned the Spartan fleet of 170 Peloponnesian ships at Lampsacus (today’s Lapseki) at the southern shore of the Dardanelles. Lampsacus was the only safe port in the area and when the Athenians arrived with some 180 triremes they had to anchor at Aegospotami (which means “Goat’s River”), opposite Lampsacus. Aegospotami was no safe harbour and apparently the Athenians had to haul out their boats at unfavourable weather conditions. …