Book 3
57.1
When the Lacedaemonians were about to abandon them, the Samians who had brought an army against Polycrates sailed away too, and went to Siphnus;
57.2
for they were in need of money; and the Siphnians were at this time very prosperous and the richest of the islanders, because of the gold and silver mines on the island. They were so wealthy that the treasure dedicated by them at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi , which is as rich as any there, was made from a tenth of their income; and they divided among themselves each year's income.
57.3
Now when they were putting together the treasure they inquired of the oracle if their present prosperity was likely to last long; whereupon the priestess gave them this answer:
57.4
“When the prytaneum on Siphnus becomes white And white-browed the market, then indeed a shrewd man is wanted Beware a wooden force and a red herald.” At this time the market-place and town-hall of Siphnus were adorned with Parian marble.
58.1
They could not understand this oracle either when it was spoken or at the time of the Samians' coming. As soon as the Samians put in at Siphnus, they sent ambassadors to the town in one of their ships;
58.2
now in ancient times all ships were painted with vermilion; μιλτοπάρῃοι is one of the Homeric epithets of ships. and this was what was meant by the warning given by the priestess to the Siphnians, to beware a wooden force and a red herald.
