Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

Cyrus was pleased by this counsel; he relented in his anger and said he would follow Croesus' advice. Then calling Mazares, a Mede, he told him to give the Lydians the commands that Croesus advised; further, to enslave all the others who had joined the Lydians in attacking Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis; and as for Pactyes himself, by all means to bring him into his presence alive.

After giving these commands on his journey, he marched away into the Persian country. But Pactyes, learning that an army sent against him was approaching, was frightened and fled to Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus)Cyme.

Mazares the Mede, when he came to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis with the part that he had of Cyrus' host and found Pactyes' followers no longer there, first of all compelled the Lydians to carry out Cyrus' commands; and by his order they changed their whole way of life.

After this, he sent messengers to Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus)Cyme demanding that Pactyes be surrendered. The Cymaeans resolved to make the god at Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaBranchidae their judge as to what course they should take; for there was an ancient place of divination there, which all the Ionians and Aeolians used to consult; the place is in the land of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus, above the harbor of Panormus [27.2167,37.3833] (Perseus) Panormus.

The men of Kyme [24.1167,38.6333] (Perseus)Cyme, then, sent to Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Branchidae to inquire of the shrine what they should do in the matter of Pactyes that would be most pleasing to the gods; and the oracle replied that they must surrender Pactyes to the Persians.