This was the end of Polycrates' string of successes [as Amasis king of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt had forewarned him]. But not long after, atonement for Polycrates overtook Oroetes. After the death of Cambyses and the rule of the Magi, Oroetes stayed in Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, where he did not help the Persians in any way to regain the power taken from them by the Medes,

but, to the contrary, in this confusion killed two prominent Persians, Mitrobates, the governor from Dascyleium, who had taunted him about Polycrates, and Mitrobates' son Cranaspes; and on top of many other violent acts, he set an ambush down the road after a messenger from Darius came with a message which displeased him and killed that messenger on his homeward journey, and concealed the man's body and horse.