31, HISTORY OF GREECE. >n th. tr v.-j>age at Korkyra, and to lend whatever aid might be needed. 1 But during the course of this voyage, an incident occurred elsewhere, neither foreseen nor imagined by any one. which gave a new character and promise to the whole war, illustrating forcibly the observations of Perikles and Archidamus before its commencement, on the impossibility of calculating what turn events might take. 2 So high did Demosthenes stand in the favor of his country- men, after his brilliant successes in the Ambrakian gulf, that they granted him permission, at his own request, to go aboard and to employ the fleet in any descent which he might think expedient on the coast of Peloponnesus. The attachment of this active officer to the Messenians at Naupaktus, inspired him with the idea of planting a detachment of them on some well-chosen mari- time post in the ancient Messenian territory, from whence they would be able permanently to harass the Lacedaemonians and provoke revolt among the Helots, the more so, from their analogy of race and dialect. The Messenians, active in priva- teering, and doubtless well acquainted with the points of this coast, all of which had formerly belonged to their ancestors, had probably indicated to him Pylus, on the southwestern shore. That ancient and Homeric name was applied specially and prop- erly to denote the promontory which forms the northern termi- nation of the modern bay of Navarino, opposite to the island of Sphagia, or Sphakteria; though in vague language the whole neighboring district seems also to have been called Pylus. Accordingly, in circumnavigating Laconia, Demosthenes requested that the fleet might be detained at this spot long enough to enable him to fortify it, engaging himself to stay afterwards and maintain it with a garrison. It was an uninhabit- ed promontory, about forty-five miles from Sparta ; that is, as far distant as any portion of her territory, presenting rugged cliffs, and easy of defence both by sea and land : but its great additional recommendation, with reference to the maritime power of Athens, consisted in its overhanging the spacious and secure basin now called the bay of Navarino. That basin was fronted and protected by the islet called Sphakteria, or Sphagia, untrod-
1 Thucyd. iv. > <* 2 Thucvd. i, 140 ; ii, 11,
