What can Gylippus actually do? Under his direction, the Syracusans, while attacking a weak point in the south wall, begin to build on a plateau, to the north, a new transverse wall(7.4.1): just in time, he manages to intercept the Athenian wall(7.6.4). The Syracusans accomplish their goal; even in the event of an Athenian victory, the investment of Syracusans is now impossible.