Nicias
historical figure · 18 works · 32 mentions · 86 anchored passages
Nicias son of Niceratus · Nic. · Nicias the foreigner · Nicias, a Cretan of Gortys · Nicias, son of Niceratus · my herald · the plaintiff · the son of Niceratus · victim · your own uncle Nicias
spoken of as
2 expressionsNicias of Gortys1 mention
History of the Peloponnesian War (Greek)
For Nicias, a Cretan of Gortys, who was their proxenus, persuaded them to sail against Cydonia, telling them that he would reduce it under their power;
Nicias the foreigner1 mention
Economics (Greek)
I do assure you, Ischomachus, this last imputation would have driven me to despair, were it not that a day or two ago I came upon the horse of Nicias the foreigner.
in the texts
History of the Peloponnesian War
Athenian commander who led the expedition that seized the island of Minoa near Megara.
This having been accomplished by them in a few days, he afterwards left works on the island also, with a garrison, and retired with his forces.
From this spot, being more close at hand, Nicias wished the Athenians to keep their guard [over Nisaea], instead of from Budorum and Salamis, and to prevent the Peloponnesians from sailing out thence unobserved, as was formerly the case, with triremes and privateers;
In the course of the same summer, after the reduction of Lesbos, the Athenians made an expedition under the command of Nicias, son of Niceratus, against the island of Minoa, which lies off Megara, and which the Megareans used as a fortress, having built a tower on it.
Orations
Athenian general compelled by public trust to lead the disastrous Sicilian expedition, later captured and killed.
And Nicias, the son of Niceratus, because he was trusted by the citizens, though he knew what the expedition to Sicily would be, both from the god and from his own reasoning, was nevertheless compelled to go on the campaign, sick as he was, on account of this trust.
And after these, perhaps, you will say that certain others became daimones of the Athenians, such as Alcibiades the son of Cleinias, and Nicias and Cleon and Hyperbolus—some of them perhaps fair enough, others utterly base and harsh.
Laches
Athenian general who favors teaching young men to fight in armor and who is experienced in being cross-examined by Socrates; invited at the end to help define courage.
Come now, Nicias, and use what powers you have to assist your friends, who are caught in a storm of argument and are quite perplexed.
Further, this accomplishment will be of some benefit also in actual battle, when it comes to fighting in line with a number of other men;
Lysimachus, it looks to me, in very truth, as though you only knew Socrates at second hand— through his father—and had not conversed with him personally except in his childhood, when you may have chanced to meet him among the people of his district, accompanying his father at the temple or at some local gathering.
Against Alcibiades
Athenian statesman named as one of the three men competing in the ostracism vote alongside Alcibiades and the speaker.
The competitors for that prize are Alcibiades, Nicias, and myself.
On the Mysteries
A general heard by the Assembly before the Sicilian expedition; Eucrates is identified as his brother.
The brother of Nicias.
The Assembly had met to give audience to Nicias, Lamachus, and Alcibiades, the generals about to leave with the Sicilian expedition—in fact, Lamachus’ flag-ship was already lying offshore—when suddenly Pythonicus rose before the people and cried:
Birds
The Athenian general invoked twice as a byword for cautious, slow generalship.
it's no longer the time to delay and loiter like Nicias;
You are a great general, even greater than Nicias, where stratagem is concerned.
Constitution of the Athenians
Leader of the distinguished class, died in Sicily, praised as a fine and good statesman
The best of those who have taken part in public life at Athens after the men of old seem to have been Nicias and Thucydides and Theramenes.
When Pericles died, Nicias, who died in Sicily, was at the head of the distinguished, and of the people Cleon son of Cleaenetus, who seems above all to have corrupted the people by his impetuosity, and who was the first to shout on the platform and to use abuse, and to gird up his cloak and make a speech, while the others spoke decorously.
Letters
Messenger sent ahead to announce matters to the citizens of Satala.
We have sent Nicias ahead, so as to make known to your honourable selves what has been done, and that you may begin to celebrate and to give thanks to the Lord, who through us has counted your prayer worthy to be fulfilled.
Against Stephanus I
Stephanus' uncle, allegedly ejected from his paternal house.
but while lending money at interest and regarding the misfortunes and necessities of others as your own good fortune, you ejected your own uncle Nicias from the house of his fathers, you have taken from your own mother-in-law the resources upon which she lived, and you have, in so far as it depended upon you, rendered homeless the son of Archedemus.
For Phormio
Relative by marriage involved in the award.
You hear the award, men of the jury, which was rendered by Deinias, whose daughter the plaintiff has married, and Nicias, who is husband to her sister.
On the Crown
Person with whom the spy-case depositions were lodged.
These depositions were lodged with Nicias on the third day of Hecatombaeon.
On the False Embassy
Brother-in-law of Aeschines mocked as part of his compromised family circle.
—was the theme of his speech, while at his side stood his two brothers-in-law, the very sight of whom is enough to set you in an uproar,—the disgusting Nicias, who went to Egypt as the hireling of Chabrias, and the abominable Cyrebio, the unmasked harlequin of the pageants.
Philip’s Letter
Philip's herald whose kidnapping and detention are presented as an Athenian-backed violation of diplomatic norms.
In the first place, when Nicias, my herald, was kidnapped from my territory, you not only failed to bring the law-breakers to justice, but you kept the victim a prisoner for ten months, and the letters from me, of which he was the bearer, you read before your Assembly.
Third Olynthiac
A past Athenian leader invoked as an example of principled public counsel.
But I consider it right as a citizen to set the welfare of the state above the popularity of an orator.
On the Estate of Menecles
A deceased Athenian whose orphaned children's estate Menecles helped manage as part-lessee, generating the debt later at issue in the land dispute.
So we gave her in marriage to Elius of Sphettus, and Menecles handed over her dowry to him—for he had become part-lessee of the estate of the children of Nicias —and he gave her the garments which she had brought with her to his house and the jewelry which there was.
Against Euthynus
The plaintiff in the suit, who entrusted three talents of silver to his cousin Euthynus for safekeeping during the rule of the Thirty Tyrants and was allegedly defrauded of one talent.
I have no lack of reasons for speaking in behalf of the plaintiff Nicias;
Well, Nicias is better off than Euthynus, but has less ability as a speaker;
for he knows that Timodemus extorted thirty minas from Nicias, not by demanding the payment of a debt, but by threatening him with summary arrest.
Economics
A foreigner whose horse provides Socrates with an analogy about goodness without property.
I do assure you, Ischomachus, this last imputation would have driven me to despair, were it not that a day or two ago I came upon the horse of Nicias the foreigner.
Hellenica
Prominent Athenian statesman and general, mentioned as the father of Niceratus.
I also knew, when Niceratus, the son of Nicias, was arrested,—a man of wealth who, like his father, had never done anything to curry popular favour,—that those who were like him would become hostile to us.