History of the Peloponnesian War

At the very beginning of the following[*](414 B.C.) spring, the Athenians in Sicily set out from Catana and proceeded along the coast toward Megara, from which, as has been stated before,[*](cf. 6.4.2.) the Syracusans in the time of the tyrant Gelon had expelled the inhabitants, holding their territory themselves. Here they landed and ravaged

the fields; then, attacking a stronghold of the Syracusans without success, they went back again along the coast with both land-force and fleet to the river Terias, and going inland ravaged the plain and set fire to the grain. Meeting with a small force of Syracusans, they killed some of them and after setting up a trophy withdrew to their ships. Having sailed back then to Catana and supplied themselves with provisions from there, they advanced with their whole army to Centoripa,[*](Now Centorbi, twenty-seven miles north-west from Catana and near Mt. Aetna.) a

Sicel town; and when they had brought it over by capitulation they returned, burning at the same time the grain of the Inessians[*](The site of Inessa is doubtful (cf. 3.103.1).)