I shall relate the facts to you from the beginning as well as I can. My father, men of the jury, is Sopaeus; all who sail to the Pontus know that his relations with SatyrusSatyrus was king of Bosporus (407-393 B.C.); cf. Lys. 16.4. are so intimate that he is ruler of an extensive territory and has charge of that ruler's entire forces.

Having heard reports both of this state and of the other lands where Greeks live, I desired to travel abroad. And so my father loaded two ships with grain,Athens imported great quantities of grain from the Pontus; cf. Dem. 20.31-35. gave me money, and sent me off on a trading expedition and at the same time to see the world.Cf. Hdt. 1.29 where Solon leaves Athens “to see the world” ( KATA\ QEWRI/AN). Pythodorus, the Phoenician, introduced Pasion to me and I opened an account at his bank.