The Syracusans skilfully availed themselves of the advantage thus
offered. The impact of prow with prow, which had hitherto been
regarded as a disgraceful evidence of bad seamanship, had now become
the most effective method of attack; and in order to execute this
simple manoeuvre without damage to their own ships, the Syracusans
shortened the prows of their triremes, and strengthened them with
heavy beams of timber, thus converting them into a broad and solid
mass, which could be driven with crushing force against the slender
beaks of the Athenian galleys.
When all was ready, Gylippus led out his troops, and assailed the
Athenian wall which faced towards Syracuse, and at the same time the
garrison stationed at Polichne left their quarters, and made another
attack on the opposite side. The assault had already commenced, when
the Syracusan fleet, which numbered eighty triremes, was seen
advancing towards the inner shore of the bay, where the ships of
Nicias lay moored; and the Athenian seamen, who had not expected to be
called into action, hastened in some confusion to man their ships,
seventy-five of which were presently engaged with the enemy. After a
day passed in irregular and desultory fighting, the battle ended
slightly in favour of the Syracusans.
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