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In 415 BC Athens decided to go to war in Sicily in support of its allies. The aim was to expand the empire to the west. Some say they desired to use Sicily as a base to conquer Carthage.

The chief advocate and one of the three commanders of the war was the young and ambitious orator Alcibiades. Though history would remember him as a sort of con man and traitor, in fact he was an exceptionally talented military commander as well as orator. However fate would deny him the chance to lead the expedition.

On the eve of the fleet's setting sail from Athens an atrocity occurred. A number of Hermai, statues of Hermes, had their penises vandalized. Alcibiades' detractors accused him of the crime. This he denied but offered to stand trial. Not to delay the expedition, he was told to leave with the fleet but was sentenced to death in absentia. His enemies wanted his supporters in the army away from Athens during the sentencing.

Meanwhile in Sicily planning the battle, Alcibiades was ordered to return to Athens for execution. He refused and betrayed his people, eventually defecting to the Spartans. This left the war in the hands of less enthusiastic commanders and the expedition turned into a major disaster. The loss of the army left Athens under defended and ultimately conquered by Sparta.

If the Hermai were not desecrated Alcibiades would remain in command and the war had a decent chance of success (although long term occupation was in doubt). This success could usher unprecedented prestige upon Athens and make a campaign against Carthage possible. Not to mention an entirely different outcome in the Peloponnesian War. It's also likely that had he remained a prominent Athenian, his teacher Socrates would not have been sentenced to death.
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