Battle of the Great Harbour

 

A clash of triremes today with the battered athenians trying to force their way out of Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War

Fewer in number the syracusans form at the harbour's entrance

baiting the athenians to get closer...

Then springing into action

First blood for Athens with a side ram

Then a trireme is cleaven in two by their foes

And soon both fleets clash prow to prow

Fire arrows crisscross the sea

And vicious boarding actions are fought

The athenians gang up on a poor syracusan vessel

And get their first prey of the day

The sicilians have more hoplites on board however, and weight of numbers starts to tell in the confused melees fought ship to ship

More and more athenian triremes are captured

And some losses suffered

The northern battle has been won by Syracuse

While in the south Athens emerges triumphant

Another trireme is bruatally rammed on her side

While other galleys engage in melee

The last dregs of the southern syracusan force hold on for dear life

But it's all over for Athens that loses ships left and right

Battle comes to an end

With a crushing athenian defeat