Histories

for they were in need of money; and the Siphnians were at this time very prosperous and the richest of the islanders, because of the gold and silver mines on the island. They were so wealthy that the treasure dedicated by them at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, which is as rich as any there, was made from a tenth of their income; and they divided among themselves each year's income.

Now when they were putting together the treasure they inquired of the oracle if their present prosperity was likely to last long; whereupon the priestess gave them this answer:

1. “When the prytaneum on Siphnus becomes white
2. And white-browed the market, then indeed a shrewd man is wanted
3. Beware a wooden force and a red herald.”

They could not understand this oracle either when it was spoken or at the time of the Samians' coming. As soon as the Samians put in at Siphnus, they sent ambassadors to the town in one of their ships;

now in ancient times all ships were painted with vermilion;[*](miltopa/rh|oi is one of the Homeric epithets of ships.) and this was what was meant by the warning given by the priestess to the Siphnians, to beware a wooden force and a red herald.

The messengers, then, demanded from the Siphnians a loan of ten talents; when the Siphnians refused them, the Samians set about ravaging their lands.

Hearing this the Siphnians came out at once to drive them off, but they were defeated in battle, and many of them were cut off from their town by the Samians; who presently exacted from them a hundred talents.