Histories

He said this, and no sooner said than did it. For the next day at dawn he summoned fifteen prominent Persians, and instructed them to go with Democedes and sail along the coast of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas; telling them, too, by all means to bring the physician back and not let him escape.

Having given these instructions to them, he then sent for Democedes, and asked of him that when he had shown and made clear all of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeGreece to the Persians, he would come back; and he told him to take all his movable goods to give to his father and siblings, saying that he would give him many times as much in return and would send with him a ship with a cargo of all good things.

Darius, I think, made this promise without a treacherous intent, but Democedes was afraid that Darius was testing him; therefore he was in no hurry to accept all that was offered, but answered that he would leave his own possessions where they were, so as to have them when he returned; the ship which Darius promised him to carry the gifts for his siblings, he said he would accept. Having given the same instructions to Democedes too, Darius sent them all to the coast.

They came down to the city of +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon in +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia, and there chartered two triremes, as well as a great galley laden with all good things; and when everything was ready they set sail for Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, where they surveyed and mapped the coasts to which they came; until having viewed the greater and most famous parts they reached +Taranto [17.216,40.466] (inhabited place), Taranto, Apulia, Italy, Europe Tarentum in Italy [12.833,42.833] (nation), Europe Italy.

There Aristophilides, king of the Tarentines, out of sympathy for Democedes, took the steering gear off the Median ships and put the Persians under a guard, calling them spies. While they were in this plight, Democedes made his way to +Croton [17.1333,39.0833] (Perseus) Croton; and Aristophilides did not set the Persians free and give them back what he had taken from their ships until the physician was in his own country.