Towards a rehabilitation of Plutarch’s Nicias

There has long been a broad consensus among Plutarchan scholars that Plutarch has a very negative (and unfair) image of Nicias. In his Life of Nicias, he characterizes him as a cowardly and superstitious politician who is responsible for the failure of the Sicilian expedition. In this article, I argue against this position. Plutarch’s Nicias is, in my view, essentially a good and pious man who follows a cautious course both in politics and on the battlefield. Usually, his caution is fully justified, although that does not mean Nicias is entirely without fault. His weaknesses, however, should rather be seen as shortcomings in virtue than as wickedness. A brief comparison with the approach of the overconfident Crassus further confirms this conclusion.