Histories

While Cambyses was still ill, the following events occurred. The governor of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis appointed by Cyrus was Oroetes, a Persian. This man had an impious desire; for although he had not been injured or spoken badly of by Polycrates of +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, and had in fact never even seen him before, he desired to seize and kill him, for the following reason, most people say.

As Oroetes and another Persian whose name was Mitrobates, governor of the province at Dascyleium, sat at the king's doors, they fell from talking to quarreling; and as they compared their achievements Mitrobates said to Oroetes,

“You are not to be reckoned a man; the island of +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos lies close to your province, yet you have not added it to the king's dominion—an island so easy to conquer that some native of it revolted against his rulers with fifteen hoplites, and is now lord of it.”[*](See hdt. 3.39.)

Some say that Oroetes, angered by this reproach, did not so much desire to punish the source of it as to destroy Polycrates utterly, the occasion of the reproach.

A few people, however, say that when Oroetes sent a herald to +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos with some request (it is not said what this was), the herald found Polycrates lying in the men's apartments, in the company of Anacreon of +Teos [26.8,38.1667] (Perseus) Teos;

and, whether on purpose to show contempt for Oroetes, or by mere chance, when Oroetes' herald entered and addressed him, Polycrates, then lying with his face to the wall, never turned or answered him.

These are the two reasons alleged for Polycrates' death; believe whichever you like. But the consequence was that Oroetes, then at Magnesia ad Meander [27.416,37.833] (deserted settlement), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaMagnesia which is above the river +Buyukmenderes Nehri [27.183,37.466] (river), Turkey, Asia Maeander, sent Myrsus son of Gyges, a Lydian, with a message to +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, having learned Polycrates' intention;