# Paches — History of the Peloponnesian War character guide

> Paches in History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0002-book-i

## Snapshot

Athenian general who presses the siege of rebellious Mytilene and must carry out whatever Athens decides about the fate of its defeated citizens.

## Who they are

Paches leads the Athenian force that finally breaks the revolt on Lesbos, a victory that puts an entire city's survival in his hands. He is a soldier caught between the demands of empire and the terrible speed of Athenian assembly politics, which can reverse a death sentence overnight. His conduct at Mytilene becomes one of the war's sharpest tests of mercy versus necessity.

## In the story

### [Book III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/book-iii)

Athenian commander who captures Mitylene and oversees the initial punishment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters/paches
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/characters