Histories

When he came to Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica, however, he found the city as unpopulated as before, for, as he learned, the majority of them were on shipboard at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis. So he took the city, but without any of its men. There were ten months between the kings taking of the place and the later invasion of Mardonius.

When Mardonius came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, he sent to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis a certain Murychides, a man from Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont, bearing the same offer as Alexander the Macedonian had ferried across to the Athenians.

He sent this for the second time because although he already knew the Athenians' unfriendly purpose, he expected that they would abandon their stubbornness now that Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica was the captive of his spear and lay at his mercy.

For this reason he sent Murychides to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis who came before the council and conveyed to them Mardonius message. Then Lycidas, one of the councillors, said that it seemed best to him to receive the offer brought to them by Murychides and lay it before the people.

This was the opinion which he declared, either because he had been bribed by Mardonius, or because the plan pleased him. The Athenians in the council were, however, very angry; so too were those outside when they heard of it. They made a ring round Lycidas and stoned him to death. Murychides the Hellespontian, however, they permitted to depart unharmed.