Histories

For he had Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon on his hands and the Bactrian nation and the Sacae and Egyptians; he meant to lead the army against these himself, and to send another commander against the Ionians.

But no sooner had Cyrus marched away from Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis than Pactyes made the Lydians revolt from Tabalus and Cyrus; and he went down to the sea, where, as he had all the gold of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he hired soldiers and persuaded the men of the coast to join his undertaking. Then, marching to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he penned Tabalus in the acropolis and besieged him there.

When Cyrus heard of this on his journey, he said to Croesus, “What end to this business, Croesus? It seems that the Lydians will never stop making trouble for me and for themselves. It occurs to me that it may be best to make slaves of them; for it seems I have acted like one who slays the father and spares the children.