Editing Peace of Nicias (section)

==Negotiation==

The negotiations were started by [[Pleistoanax]], [[King of Sparta]], and [[Nicias]], an Athenian general. The most amicable proposal was to return everything to the prewar state except for [[Nisaea]] and [[Plataea]]. Athens would retain control of [[Nisaea]] and [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]] would retain control over Plataea. Amphipolis would be returned to Athens and Pylos would be returned to Sparta. Athenians would release the Spartan prisoners taken at Sphacteria and Sparta together with Thebes would return Athenian prisoners. Temples throughout Greece would be open to worshipers from all cities, and the [[Oracle of Delphi|oracle]] at [[Delphi]] would regain its autonomy. Athens would continue to collect tribute from the states from which it had received it since the time of [[Aristides]], but Athens could not force them to become allies. Athens also agreed to come to Sparta's aid if the [[helots]] revolted. Few of Sparta's allies agreed to sign the peace. [[Boeotia]], [[Corinth, Greece|Corinth]], [[Ancient Elis|Elis]], [[Megara]] and [[Amphipolis]] opposed the treaty. 

It is noted that some polis declared neutrality to prevent being involved in the conflicts between Sparta and Athens. The Peace of Nicias designated 6 cities as neutral to ensure their safety by preventing reprisals from the Athenians. According to Thucydides, Argilus, Stagirus, Acanthus, Stolus, Olynthus and Spartolus were listed as neutral cities, not aligning themselves with either Sparta or Athens in the peace treaty. However, it was specified that if the Athenians were successful in convincing these cities, it would be legitimate for them to form allies with these cities, respecting their wills and autonomy. <ref>[[Thucydides]], ''[[History of the Peloponnesian War]]'', Book 5, chapter 18</ref> It is suggested that the declaration of neutrality by these six cities in the Peace of Nicias has largely been seen as a temporary compromise aimed at safeguarding against Athenian revenge following Sparta's retreat from Thrace. <ref>Bauslaugh, Robert A. “From the Peace of Nicias to the End of the Peloponnesian War (421-404).” In The Concept of Neutrality in Classical Greece, 142-65. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520909335-010</ref>

Seventeen representatives from each side swore an oath to uphold the treaty, which was meant to last for fifty years. The Spartan representatives were the kings Pleistoanax and [[Agis II]], Pleistolas, Damagetus, Chionis, Metagenes, Acanthus, Daithus, Ischagoras, Philocharidas, Zeuxidas, Antiphus, Tellis, Alcindas, Empedias, Menas, and Laphilus. The Athenian representatives were Lampon, Isthmonicus, Nicias, [[Laches (general)|Laches]], Euthydemus, Procles, Pythodorus, Hagnon, Myrtilus, Thrasycles, Theagenes, Aristocrates, Iolcius, Timocrates, Leon, [[Lamachus]], and [[Demosthenes (general)|Demosthenes]]. However, Athens's chief goal, the restoration of Amphipolis, was denied when Clearidas obtained from the Spartans a clause in the treaty negating the transfer. <ref>[[Donald Kagan]], ''The Peloponnesian War'', 2004, pp. 197–209.</ref>