Editing Battle of Syme

{{Short description|Naval battle during the Peloponnesian War (411 BC)}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox military conflict|
colour_scheme=background:#cccccc;color:#2222cc|
image=|caption=|
conflict=Battle of Syme|
partof=the [[Peloponnesian War]]|
date=411 BC|
place=Off [[Symi|Syme]]|
result=Spartan victory|
combatant1=[[Sparta]]|
combatant2=[[Athens]]|
commander1=Astyoches|
commander2=Charminus|
strength1=At least 27 ships|
strength2=About 20 ships|
casualties1=3 ships|
casualties2=6 ships|
}}
{{Campaignbox Peloponnesian War}}
The '''Battle of Syme''' was a naval battle in 411 BC between [[Sparta]] and [[Athens]], during the [[Peloponnesian War]]. It took place near the island of [[Symi|Syme]] in the south-eastern [[Aegean Sea]].<ref>J. B. Bury, Russell Meiggs, Istoria Greciei până la moartea lui Alexandru cel Mare, p. 308</ref>

In 411 the Spartans made an alliance with [[Achaemenid Empire|Persia]]. The alliance was made by Therimenes, who handed the Spartan fleet over to [[Astyochus (Spartan navarch)|Astyochus]] once the negotiations were complete; Therimenes later drowned at sea. Astyochus was instructed to sail to [[Cnidus]] to meet up with twenty-seven ships from [[Kaunos|Caunus]], equipped for them by the Persians. Meanwhile, the Athenian fleet was stationed at [[Samos]] under the command of Charminus. Charminus knew the Spartans were coming, having been informed by the [[Melos|Melians]], and prepared to meet Astyochus at Syme.

The fleets met during a storm, with poor visibility, and after many of the Spartan ships had become separated from the main fleet. With about twenty ships Charminus battled with the Spartan left wing, the only portion visible to him, and sank three ships. However, the rest of the Spartan fleet then arrived and surrounded the Athenians. Charminus retreated to [[Halicarnassus]] after losing six ships. The rest of the Athenian fleet came out from Samos and sailed to Cnidus, but neither side was willing to fight another battle.

{{Coord missing|Greece}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Syme}}
[[Category:Naval battles of the Peloponnesian War|Syme]]
[[Category:411 BC]]
[[Category:410s BC conflicts]]
[[Category:Ancient Aegean Sea]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving ancient Athens|Syme]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving Sparta|Syme]]


{{AncientGreece-battle-stub}}