The Phocaeans would have bought the islands called Oenussae from the Chians;Between Chios [26,38.366] (island), Khios, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Chios and the mainland. but the Chians would not sell them, because they feared that the islands would become a market and so their own island be cut off from trade: so the Phocaeans prepared to sail to Corsica [9,42] (region), France, EuropeCyrnus,Corsica [9,42] (region), France, EuropeCorsica. where at the command of an oracle they had built a city called Aleria [9.5,42.83] (inhabited place), Haute-Corse, Corsica, France, EuropeAlalia twenty years before.

Arganthonius was by this time dead. While getting ready for their voyage, they first sailed to Foca [26.75,38.666] (inhabited place), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaPhocaea, where they destroyed the Persian guard to whom Harpagus had entrusted the defense of the city; and when this was done, they called down mighty curses on any one of them who should stay behind when the rest sailed.

Not only this, but they sank a mass of iron in the sea, and swore never to return to Foca [26.75,38.666] (inhabited place), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Phocaea before the iron should appear again. But while they prepared to sail to Cyrnus, more than half of the citizens were overcome with longing and pitiful sorrow for the city and the life of their land, and they broke their oath and sailed back to Foca [26.75,38.666] (inhabited place), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Phocaea. Those of them who kept the oath put out to sea from the Oenussae.