History of the Peloponnesian War

It should be explained that in early times both the Hellenes and the Barbarians who dwell on the mainland near the sea,[*](e.g. Phoenicians, Carians, and probably Epirots.) as well as those on the islands, when once they began more frequently to cross over in ships to one another, turned to piracy, under the lead of their most powerful men, whose motive was their own private gain and the support of their weaker followers, and falling upon cities that were unprovided with walls and consisted of groups of villages, they pillaged them and got most of their living from that source. For this occupation did not as yet involve disgrace, but rather conferred something even of glory.