Platæa (Peloponnesian War).
In 429 B.C., this city, held by a garrison of 400 Platæans and 80 Athenians, was besieged by the Spartans, under Archidamus. All the useless mouths were sent out of the place, only 110 women being retained to bake bread. The garrison repulsed numerous assaults, and the siege soon resolved itself into a blockade, but provisions becoming scarce, an attempt was made to break through the enemy's lines, which half the garrison succeeded in doing, with the loss of one man. The remainder held out till 427, when being on the verge of starvation, they surrendered. The survivors were tried for having deserted Bœotia for Athens, at the outbreak of the war, and 200 Platæans, and 25 Athenians were put to death.