3. A Persian, who was sent by king Artaxerxes I., in B. C. 425, with a letter to Sparta. While he passed through Eion on the Strymon, he was arrested by Aristeides, the son of Archippus, and carried to Athens, where the letter of his king was opened and translated. It contained a complaint of the king, that owing to the many and discrepant messages they had sent to him, he did not know what they wanted; and he therefore requested them to send a fresh embassy back with Artaphernes, and to explain clearly what they wished. The Athenians thought this a favourable opportunity for forming connexions themselves with Persia, and accordingly sent Artaphernes in a galley, accompanied by Athenian ambassadors, to Ephesus. On their arrival there they received intelligence of the death of king Artaxerxes, and the Athenians returned home. (Thuc. 4.50.)