Then the Euboeans, because the Corinthians did not sail into the gulf to meet them, wished to draw their enemies in. So at dawn they put to sea, and sailed close to the shore first away from the gulf and then back toward it. On their right they had placed their twenty finest triremes, in order that in the event of the Corinthians attacking them, the ships should envelop them. However, five of the older ships lagged behind the fleet, and seemed to be in trouble.
When Eumelus [the Corinthian admiral], saw what the Euboeans were attempting, he thought he saw his opportunity, and at once dashed in with sixty of his triremes, believing both that Erasistratus was uncertain in his command, and that he could thus destroy the enemy fleet.
However, the previous day Erasistratus had warned his aeronauts, who had previously been the eyes of the fleet and nothing more, that he wished them to keep their fires burning and to be prepared to move at a moment's notice. Therefore, when the chief aeronaut saw Eumelus' ships charging in against those of Erasistratus, he recalled his orders, and sent his men to their balloons.
Erasistratus, in turn recognising the crucial moment, sent a signal to his men on the five ships that appeared to be in danger. Then these ships turned their helms toward the Corinthians', and began to row as quickly as possible. The previous day cords had been so tied as to connect these ships to the balloons, and the lines swiftly became taut, pulling the balloons toward even as they lifted aloft.
Eumelus was not much perturbed, for from his vantage point on his ship he could see no ropes and nothing strange. So on he came with his ships, and the gap between the five slow Euboean vessels and the new ships under Erasistratus seemed too great. There was no doubt that Eumelus would destroy the older ships, then turn on the still outnumbered ships of Erasistratus.
Then the captains of the slower ships, which had been specially crewed with all those men who loved to swim, ordered their men to swim back to the shore. Eumelus saw this, and believed that the Euboeans were panicking, and he signalled his fleet to close the fleeing enemy and cut them down.
However, as the very first of the Corinthian ships reached the position of the old ships, the men in the balloons above dropped burning cinders from above her, and threw rocks. Then the ship caught fire and no longer in full control, turned in circles as a seed does.
At this unexpected and amazing feat Eumelus and his squadron fell into confusion, and their hearts were seized by terror. The oarsmen were unwilling to row while the ship was on fire, and some of them sank their oars into the water, checking the headway of their vessels, intending to put out the flames - a serious mistake to make in the face of Erasistratus' ships, which were now almost upon them. Other captains, unfamiliar with the waters, panicked and ran aground, where they were set upon by the Euboean crews who had swum ashore and by a small detachment of hoplites commanded by Gorgias of Leucimme.
Erasistratus, when he saw what was happening, took courage, and uttered a single word of command that sent his small fast squadron charging the larger Corinthian force. But the Corinthians had made so many mistakes and were then in such disorder that, despite resisting briefly, they soon turned and fled to Aegina, whence they had come.
The Euboeans gave chase, and not only captured thirteen of the Corinthian vessels at sea, but also a further six which had run aground. In addition, it is reported by Callias of Olynthus* that eight ships were also so badly burned that they were no longer useful. Eumelus himself, when he saw that the battle was lost, killed himself with his own sword.
After this battle both sides began to take care to employ more archers on their vessels so as to guard against the dangers of the aeronauts and fire. Thus ended the summer of the third year of the war.
* Author of The Catalogues, a lost work.
