Now while the king was at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and preparing to lead his Persian army against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, Hermotimus came for some business down to the part of +Mysia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Mysia which is inhabited by Chians and called +Atarneus [26.95,39.05] (Perseus) Atarneus. There he found Panionius.

Perceiving who he was, he held long and friendly converse with him, telling him that it was to him that he owed all this prosperity and promising that he would make him prosperous in return if he were to bring his household and dwell there. Panionius accepted his offer gladly, and brought his children and his wife.

When Hermotimus had gotten the man and all his household into his power, he said to him: “Tell me, you who have made a livelihood out of the wickedest trade on earth, what harm had I or any of my forefathers done to you or yours, that you made me to be no man, but a thing of nought? You no doubt thought that the gods would have no knowledge of your former practices, but their just law has brought you for your wicked deeds into my hands. Now you will be well content with the fullness of that justice which I will execute upon you.”

With these words of reproach, he brought Panionius' sons before him and compelled him to castrate all four of them—his own children; this Panionius was compelled to do. When he had done this, the sons were compelled to castrate their father in turn. This, then, was the way in which Panionius was overtaken by vengeance at the hands of Hermotimus.