Histories

If you so do, I have a great sum of money at your disposal, over and above the costs of the force, for it is only fair that we, who bring you, should furnish that. Furthermore, you will win new dominions for the king, +Nisos Naxos [25.583,32.33] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Naxos itself and the islands which are its dependents, +Nisos Paros [25.2,37.1] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Paros, +Andros [24.9,37.816] (inhabited place), Nisos Andros, Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Andros, and the rest of those that are called +Cyclades [24.916,37.416] (department), Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Cyclades.

Making these your starting point, you will easily attack +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea, which is a great and a wealthy island, no smaller than Cyprus [33,35] (island), AsiaCyprus and very easy to take. A hundred ships suffice for the conquest of all these.”

“This plan which you set forth,” Artaphrenes answered, “is profitable for the king's house, and all your advice is good except as regards the number of the ships. Not one hundred but two hundred ships will be ready for you when the spring comes. The king too, however, must himself consent to this.”

When Aristagoras heard that, he went away to Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus in great joy. Artaphrenes sent a messenger to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa with the news of what Aristagoras said, and when Darius himself too had consented to the plan, he equipped two hundred triremes and a very great company of Persians and their allies in addition. For their general he appointed Megabates, a Persian of the Achaemenid family, cousin to himself and to Darius. This was he whose daughter (if indeed the tale is true) Pausanias the Lacedaemonian, son of Cleombrotus, at a later day betrothed to himself, since it was his wish to possess the sovereignty of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. After appointing Megabates general, Artaphrenes sent his army away to Aristagoras.