Histories

Meanwhile Arcesilaus was in +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, collecting all the men that he could and promising them a new division of land; and while a great army was thus gathering, he made a journey to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, to ask the oracle about his return.

The priestess gave him this answer:

“For the lifetimes of four Battuses and four Arcesilauses, eight generations of men, Loxias grants to your house the kingship of Shahhat [21.866,32.833] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, AfricaCyrene; more than this he advises you not even to try.

But you, return to your country and live there in peace. But if you find the oven full of amphora, do not bake the amphora, but let them go unscathed. And if you bake them in the oven, do not go into the tidal place; for if you do, then you shall be killed yourself, and also the bull that is fairest of the herd.”

But he returned to Shahhat [21.866,32.833] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, AfricaCyrene with the men from +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, and having made himself master of it he forgot the oracle, and demanded justice upon his enemies for his banishment.

Some of these left the country altogether; others, Arcesilaus seized and sent away to Cyprus [33,35] (island), AsiaCyprus to be killed there. These were carried off their course to +Cnidus Nova [27.366,36.666] (deserted settlement), Mugla Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Cnidus, where the Cnidians saved them and sent them to +Thera [25.433,36.4] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Thera. Others of the Cyrenaeans fled for refuge into a great tower that belonged to one Aglomachus, a private man, and Arcesilaus piled wood around it and burnt them there.