1In the Peloponnesian War it was through his advice and influence that the Athenians declared war on the Syracusans. 1He himself was chosen as commander to conduct it, and two colleagues were given him besides, Nicias and Lamachus. 2While it was being prepared, before the fleet sailed, it happened that in a single night all the Herms in the town of Athens were thrown down except one, which stood before the door of Andocides (and so it was afterwards commonly called the Mercury of Andocides). 3Since it was clear that this had not been done without a great conspiracy of many people, one that concerned not private but public affairs, great fear was struck into the populace that some sudden violence might arise in the state to crush the people's liberty.
4This seemed to fit Alcibiades above all, because he was thought to be both more powerful and greater than a private citizen: for he had bound many to himself by his generosity, and had made still more his own by his services in the courts. 5As a result, whenever he appeared in public, he drew all eyes to himself, and no one in the state was ranked as his equal. 5So they placed in him not only the greatest hope but also fear, because he could do both the greatest harm and the greatest good. 6He was also tainted with ill repute, because he was said to perform the mysteries in his own house (which was sacrilege by the custom of the Athenians), and this was thought to have to do not with religion but with conspiracy.