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Third Messenian War The uprising coincident
with the earthquake of 464 is soundly attested to, although Greek historians do
not agree on the interpretation of this event. According to Thucydides, the
helots and perioeci of Thouria and Aithaia took advantage of the earthquake to
revolt and establish a position on Mt. Ithome. He adds that most of the rebels
were of Messenian ancestry—confirming the appeal of Ithome as a historical
place of Messenian resistance—and focuses attention on the perioeci of
Thouria, a city on the Messianian coast. Conversely, historians could deduce
that a minority of the helots were Laconian, thus making this the one and only
revolt of their history. Commentators such as Stephanus of Byzantium suggest
that this Aithaia was in Laconia, thus indicating a large-scale uprising in the
region. The version of events given by Pausanias is similar. Diodorus Siculus
(XI, 63,4 – 64,1), probably influenced by Ephorus of Cyme, attributed the
uprising equally to the Messenians and the helots. This version of events is
supported by Plutarch. Finally, some authors make responsibility for the
uprising with the helots of Laconia. This is the case of Plutarch in his Life
of Cimon: the helots of the Eurotas River valley want to use the earthquake to
attack the Spartans whom they think are disarmed. The intervention of
Archidamus II, who calls the Lacedaemonians to arms, simultaneously saves them
from the earthquake and the helot attack. The helots fold, but revert to open
warfare joined by the Messenians. It is difficult to reconcile these versions.
It is nevertheless clear that in any case the revolt of 464 represented a major
traumatic event for the Spartans. Plutarch indicates that the Crypteia and
other poor treatments of the helots were instituted after this revolt. If there
is any doubt in these affirmations, they at least underscore the immediate
Spartan reaction: allies are gathered and war ensues with the same Athens that
would be faced later in the Peloponnesian War.
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