Histories

As for +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, the Persians swept it clear and turned it over uninhabited to Syloson. But afterwards Otanes, the Persian general, helped to settle the land, prompted by a dream and a disease that he contracted in his genitals.

While the fleet was away at +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, the Babylonians revolted.[*](According to the course of Herodotus' narrative, the revolt would seem to have taken place some considerable time after Darius' accession (531 B.C.). But the +Bisitun [47.483,34.366] (inhabited place), Bakhtaran, Iran, Asia Behistun inscription apparently makes it one of the earliest events of his reign.) They had made very good preparation; for during the reign of the Magus, and the rebellion of the seven, they had taken advantage of the time and the confusion to provision themselves against the siege; and (I cannot tell how) this went undetected.

At last they revolted openly and did this:—sending away all the mothers, each chose one woman, whomever he liked of his domestics, as a bread-maker; as for the rest, they gathered them together and strangled them so they would not consume their bread.

When Darius heard of this, he collected all his forces and led them against Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, AsiaBabylon, and he marched up to the town and laid siege to it; but the Babylonians thought nothing of the siege. They came up on to the ramparts of the wall and taunted Darius and his army with gesture and word, and one of them uttered this mot: