Histories

So Amphilytus spoke, being inspired; Pisistratus understood him and, saying that he accepted the prophecy, led his army against the enemy. The Athenians of the city had by this time had breakfast, and after breakfast some were dicing and some were sleeping: they were attacked by Pisistratus' men and put to flight.

So they fled, and Pisistratus devised a very subtle plan to keep them scattered and prevent them assembling again: he had his sons mount and ride forward: they overtook the fugitives and spoke to them as they were instructed by Pisistratus, telling them to take heart and each to depart to his home.

The Athenians did, and by this means Pisistratus gained Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens for the third time, rooting his sovereignty in a strong guard and revenue collected both from Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens and from the district of the river Strymon, and he took hostage the sons of the Athenians who remained and did not leave the city at once, and placed these in Nisos Naxos [25.583,32.33] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Naxos.

(He had conquered Nisos Naxos [25.583,32.33] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Naxos too and put Lygdamis in charge.) And besides this, he purified the island of Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos as a result of oracles, and this is how he did it: he removed all the dead that were buried in ground within sight of the temple and conveyed them to another part of Delos [25.2833,37.4] (Perseus)Delos.

So Pisistratus was sovereign of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens: and as for the Athenians, some had fallen in the battle, and some, with the Alcmeonids, were exiles from their native land.