This, then, is what Darius said, and after appointing Artaphrenes, his father's son, to be viceroy of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he rode away to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, taking Histiaeus with him. First, however, he made Otanes governor of the people on the coast. Otanes' father Sisamnes had been one of the royal judges,Cp. Hdt. 3.31. and Cambyses had cut his throat and flayed off all his skin because he had been bribed to give an unjust judgment. Then he cut leather strips of the skin which had been torn away and with these he covered the seat upon which Sisamenes had sat to give judgment.

After doing this, Cambyses appointed the son of this slain and flayed Sisamnes to be judge in his place, admonishing him to keep in mind the nature of the throne on which he was sitting.