History of the Peloponnesian War

Meanwhile the Athenians and their allies stayed on in Egypt and the war took on many forms.

At first the Athenians had the mastery in Egypt, and the King sent to Lacedaemon Megabazus a Persian with a supply of money, in order that the Lacedaemonians might be induced to invade Attica and the Athenians thus be drawn away from Egypt.

But when he found that matters did not advance and the money was being spent in vain, Megabazus betook himself back to Asia with the money that was left, and Megabyzus son of Zopyrus,[*](Hero of the capture of Babylon, Hdt. 2.115.) a Persian, was despatched with a large army.[*](Diodorus gives him with Artabazus 300,000 men (11.75) and 300 ships (11.77).)

He marched thither by land, and defeated the Egyptians and their allies in battle, drove the Hellenes out of Memphis, and finally shut them up in the island of Prosopitis, where he besieged them for a year and six months, then finally, by diverting the water into another course, drained the canal and left the ships high and dry, converting the greater part of the island into mainland; then he crossed over dry-shod and took the island.