Kitap 7
They were condemned to die, but when Xerxes heard of it, he blamed the judgment of his generals and sent some of his guards, charging them to bring the spies before him if they should be found alive.
They were found still living and brought into the king's presence; then Xerxes, having inquired of them the purpose of their coming, ordered his guards to lead them around and show them his whole army. When the spies had seen all to their heart's content, they were to send them away unharmed to whatever country they pleased.
The reason alleged for his command was this: had the spies been put to death, the Greeks would not so soon have learned the unspeakable greatness of his power, and the Persians would have done their enemy no great harm by putting three men to death. Xerxes said that if they should return to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, the Greeks would hear of his power and would surrender their peculiar freedom before the expedition with the result that there would be no need to march against them.
This was like that other saying of Xerxes when he was at Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos and saw ships laden with corn sailing out of the +Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Pontus through the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont on their way to +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina and the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese. His counsellors, perceiving that they were enemy ships, were for taking them, and looked to the king for orders to do so.
Xerxes, however, asked them where the ships were sailing, and they answered: “To your enemies, Sire, carrying corn.” Xerxes then answered, “And are not we too sailing to the same places as they, with corn among all our other provisions? What wrong are they doing us in carrying food there?”
So the spies were sent back after they had seen all and returned to Europe (continent)Europe. After sending the spies, those of the Greeks who had sworn alliance against the Persian next sent messengers to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos.
Now this is what the Argives say of their own part in the matter. They were informed from the first that the foreigner was stirring up war against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. When they learned that the Greeks would attempt to gain their aid against the Persian, they sent messengers to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi to inquire of the god how it would be best for them to act, for six thousand of them had been latelyIn the battle of +Tiryns [22.8167,37.6] (Perseus) Tiryns, 494; cp. Hdt. 6.77. slain by a Lacedaemonian army and Cleomenes son of Anaxandrides its general. For this reason, they said, the messengers were sent.
The priestess gave this answer to their question: Hated by your neighbors, dear to the immortals, Crouch with a lance in rest, like a warrior fenced in his armor, Guarding your headThat is, those with full citizenship, the nucleus of the population;σῶμα being the remainder. from the blow, and the head will shelter the body. This answer had already been uttered by the priestess when the envoys arrived in Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos and entered the council chamber to speak as they were charged.
Then the Argives answered to what had been said that they would do as was asked of them if they might first make a thirty years peace with Lacedaemonia and if the command of half the allied power were theirs. It was their right to have the full command, but they would nevertheless be content with half.
This, they say, was the answer of their council, although the oracle forbade them to make the alliance with the Greeks; furthermore, they, despite their fear of the oracle, were eager to secure a thirty years treaty so that their children might have time in those years to grow to be men. If there were to be no such treaty—so they reasoned—then, if after the evil that had befallen them the Persian should deal them yet another blow, it was to be feared that they would be at the Lacedaemonians' mercy.
Then those of the envoys who were Spartans replied to the demands of the council, saying that they would refer the question of the truce to their own government at home; as for the command, however, they themselves had been commissioned to say that the Spartans had two kings, and the Argives but one. Now it was impossible to deprive either Spartan of his command, but there was nothing to prevent the Argive from having the same right of voting as their two had.
At that, say the Argives, they decided that the Spartans' covetousness was past all bearing and that it was better to be ruled by the foreigners than give way to the Lacedaemonians. They then bade the envoys depart from the land of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos before sunset, for they would otherwise be treated as enemies.
Such is the Argives' account of this matter, but there is another story told in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, namely that before Xerxes set forth on his march against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, he sent a herald to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos, who said on his coming (so the story goes),
“Men of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos, this is the message to you from King Xerxes. Perses our forefather had, as we believe, Perseus son of Danae for his father, and Andromeda daughter of Cepheus for his mother; if that is so, then we are descended from your nation. In all right and reason we should therefore neither march against the land of our forefathers, nor should you become our enemies by aiding others or do anything but abide by yourselves in peace. If all goes as I desire, I will hold none in higher esteem than you.”
The Argives were strongly moved when they heard this, and although they made no promise immediately and demanded no share, they later, when the Greeks were trying to obtain their support, did make the claim, because they knew that the Lacedaemonians would refuse to grant it, and that they would thus have an excuse for taking no part in the war.
This is borne out, some of the Greeks say, by the tale of a thing which happened many years afterwards. It happened that while Athenian envoys, Callias son of Hipponicus, and the rest who had come up with him, were at Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, called the Memnonian,Cp. Hdt. 5.53. about some other business,In 448, apparently. See How and Wells ad loc. for a full discussion of the matter. the Argives also had at this same time sent envoys to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, asking of Xerxes' son Artoxerxes whether the friendship which they had forged with Xerxes still held good, as they desired, or whether he considered them as his enemies. Artoxerxes responded to this that it did indeed hold good and that he believed no city to be a better friend to him than Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos.”
Now, whether it is true that Xerxes sent a herald with such a message to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos, and that the Argive envoys came up to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa and questioned Artoxerxes about their friendship, I cannot say with exactness, nor do I now declare that I consider anything true except what the Argives themselves say.
This, however, I know full well, namely if all men should carry their own private troubles to market for barter with their neighbors, there would not be a single one who, when he had looked into the troubles of other men, would not be glad to carry home again what he had brought.The general idea,—rather obscurely expressed,—seems to be that some who judge the Argives harshly have really just as many κακά and αἰσχρά (which Herodotus appears to confuse) of their own.
The conduct of the Argives was accordingly not utterly shameful. As for myself, although it is my business to set down that which is told me, to believe it is none at all of my business. This I ask the reader to hold true for the whole of my history, for there is another tale current, according to which it would seem that it was the Argives who invited the Persian into Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, because the war with the Lacedaemonians was going badly, and they would prefer anything to their present distresses.
Such is the end of the story of the Argives. As for Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily, envoys were sent there by the allies to hold converse with Gelon, Syagrus from Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon among them. The ancestor of this Gelon, who settled at +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela, was from the island of +Nisos Tilos [27.416,36.416] (island), Sporades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Telos which lies off Triopium. When the founding of +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela by Antiphemus and the Lindians of +Rhodes [28,36.166] (island), Sporades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Rhodes was happening, he would not be left behind.
His descendants in time became and continue to be priests of the goddesses of the underworld; Demeter and Persephone. this office had been won, as I will show, by Telines, one of their forefathers. There were certain Geloans who had been worsted in party strife and had been banished to the town of Mactorium, inland of +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela.
These men Telines brought to +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela with no force of men but only the holy instruments of the goddesses worship to aid him. From where he got these, and whether or not they were his own invention, I cannot say; however that may be, it was in reliance upon them that he restored the exiles, on the condition that his descendants should be ministering priests of the goddesses.
Now it makes me marvel that Telines should have achieved such a feat, for I have always supposed that such feats cannot be performed by any man but only by such as have a stout heart and manly strength. Telines, however, is reported by the dwellers in Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily to have had a soft and effeminate disposition.
At the deathIn 498. of Cleandrus son of Pantares, who had been tyrant of +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela for seven years, and had been slain by a man of that city named Sabyllus, the sovereignty passed to Cleandrus' brother Hippocrates. While Hippocrates was tyrant, Gelon, a descendant of the ministering priest Telines, was one of Hippocrates' guard, as were Aenesidemus son of Pataecus and many others.
In no long time he was appointed for his worth to be captain of the entire cavalry, for his performance had been preeminent while he served under Hippocrates in the assaults against +Gallipoli [17.983,40.5] (inhabited place), Lecce, Apulia, Italy, Europe Callipolis, +Naxos [15.283,37.816] (deserted settlement), Messina, Sicily, Italy, Europe Naxos, +Zancle [15.5667,38.1833] (Perseus) Zancle, Leontini, +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse, and many other of the foreigners' towns. None of these cities, with the exception of +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse, escaped enslavement by Hippocrates; the Syracusans were defeated in battle on the river Elorus.
They were, however, rescued by the Corinthians and Corcyraeans, who made a peace for them on the condition that the Syracusans should deliver up to Hippocrates Camarina, which had formerly been theirs.
When Hippocrates, too, after reigning the same number of years as his brother Cleandrus, came to his end near the town of Hybla—from where he had marched against the Sicels—then Gelon made a pretence of serving the cause of Hippocrates' sons Euclides and Cleandrus, whose rule the citizens would no longer bear. When he had defeated the men of +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela, however, he deposed the sons of Hippocrates and held sway himself.
After this stroke of good fortune, Gelon brought back from the town of Casmena to +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse both the so-called landed gentry of +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse, who had been driven into exile by the common people, and their slaves, the Cyllyrians. He then took possession of that city also, for the Syracusan common people surrendered themselves and it to Gelon at his coming.
When he had made +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse his own, he took less account of his rule over +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela, which he gave in charge to his brother Hiero; over +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse he reigned, and all his care was for +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse.
Straightway that city grew and became great, for not only did Gelon bring all the people of Camarina to +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse and give them its citizenship, razing the township of Camarina, but he did the same thing to more than half of the townsmen of +Gela [14.25,37.0667] (Perseus) Gela, and when the Megarians At Hybla, N. of +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse, on the E. coast of Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily. in Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily surrendered to him on terms after a siege, he took the wealthier of them, who had made war on him and expected to be put to death for this, and brought them to +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse to be citizens there. As for the common people of +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara, who had had no hand in the making of that war and expected that no harm would be done them, these too he brought to +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse and sold them for slaves to be taken out of Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily.
He dealt in a similar way with the Euboeans A colony from +Chalcis [23.6083,38.4667] (Perseus) Chalcis, at Leontini. of Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily, making the same distinction. The reason for his treating the people of both places in this way was that he held the common people to be exceedingly disagreeable to live with.
By these means Gelon had grown to greatness as a tyrant, and now, when the Greek envoys had come to +Syracuse [15.3,37.0667] (Perseus) Syracuse, they had audience with him and spoke as follows: “The Lacedaemonians and their allies have sent us to win your aid against the foreigner, for it cannot be, we think, that you have no knowledge of the Persian invader of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, how he proposes to bridge the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont and lead all the hosts of the east from Asia (continent)Asia against us, making an open show of marching against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, but actually with intent to subdue all Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas to his will.
Now you are rich in power, and as lord of Sicily [14,37.5] (region), Italy, Europe Sicily you rule what is not the least part of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas; therefore, we beg of you, send help to those who are going to free Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, and aid them in so doing. The uniting of all those of Greek stock entails the mustering of a mighty host able to meet our invaders in the field. If, however, some of us play false and others will not come to our aid, while the sound part of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas is but small, then it is to be feared that all Greek lands alike will be destroyed.
Do not for a moment think that if the Persian defeats us in battle and subdues us, he will leave you unassailed, but rather look well to yourself before that day comes. Aid us, and you champion your own cause; in general a well-laid plan leads to a happy issue.”
This is what they said, and Gelon, speaking very vehemently, said in response to this: “Men of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, it is with a self-seeking plea that you have dared to come here and invite me to be your ally against the foreigners; yet what of yourselves?
When I was at odds with the Carchedonians,The Carthaginians were as influential in the west of the island as Gelon in the east; Greeks and Semites continually competed for commercial supremacy. and asked you to be my comrades against a foreign army, and when I desired that you should avenge the slaying of Dorieus Cp. Hdt. 5.42-46. son of Anaxandrides on the men of +Segesta [12.85,37.95] (deserted settlement), Trapani, Sicily, Italy, Europe Egesta, and when I promised to free those trading ports from which great advantage and profit have accrued to you,—then neither for my sake would you come to aid nor to avenge the slaying of Dorieus. Because of your position in these matters, all these lands lie beneath the foreigners' feet.
Let that be; for all ended well, and our state was improved. But now that the war has come round to you in your turn, it is time for remembering Gelon!
Despite the fact that you slighted me, I will not make an example of you; I am ready to send to your aid two hundred triremes, twenty thousand men-at-arms, two thousand horsemen, two thousand archers, two thousand slingers, and two thousand light-armed men to run with horsemen.Probably active infantry troops, able to keep up with the cavalry. I also pledge to furnish provisions for the whole Greek army until we have made an end of the war.
All this, however, I promise on one condition, that I shall be general and leader of the Greeks against the foreigner. On no other condition will I come myself or send others.”
When Syagrus heard that, he could not contain himself; “In truth,” he cried, “loudly would Agamemnon son of Pelops lament, when hearing that the Spartans had been bereft of their command by Gelon and his Syracusans! No, rather, put the thought out of your minds that we will give up the command to you. If it is your will to aid Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, know that you must obey the Lacedaemonians; but if, as I think, you are too proud to obey, then send no aid.”