Histories

At that time, then, they got so far. When, on the day appointed for the answer, they came to the place upon which they had agreed, Cleomenes asked Aristagoras how many days' journey it was from the +Ionian Sea [19,39] (sea), Europe Ionian sea to the king.

Till now, Aristagoras had been cunning and fooled the Spartan well, but here he made a false step. If he desired to take the Spartans away into Asia (continent)Asia he should never have told the truth, but he did tell it, and said that it was a three months' journey inland.

At that, Cleomenes cut short Aristagoras' account of the prospective journey. He then bade his Milesian guest depart from Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta before sunset, for never, he said, would the Lacedaemonians listen to the plan, if Aristagoras desired to lead them a three months' journey from the sea.

Cleomenes went to his house after this exchange, but Aristagoras took a suppliant's garb and followed him there. Upon entering, he used a suppliant's right to beg Cleomenes to listen to him. He first asked Cleomenes to send away the child, his daughter Gorgo, who was standing by him. She was his only child, and was about eight or nine years of age. Cleomenes bade him say whatever he wanted and not let the child's presence hinder him.

Then Aristagoras began to promise Cleomenes from ten talents upwards, if he would grant his request. When Cleomenes refused, Aristagoras offered him ever more and more. When he finally promised fifty talents the child cried out, “Father, the stranger will corrupt you, unless you leave him and go away.”

Cleomenes was pleased with the child's counsel and went into another room while Aristagoras departed from Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, finding no further occasion for telling of the journey inland to the king's palace.

Now the nature of this road[*](“The royal road from Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa is far older than the Persian empire,” say How and Wells. Evidence points to the existence of a Hittite capital in +Cappadocia [36,38.5] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Cappadocia, to connect which with Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis on the one hand and Assyria on the other was the purpose of the road.) is as I will show. All along it are the king's road stations and very good resting places, and the whole of it passes through country that is inhabited and safe. Its course through Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia and Phrygia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Phrygia is of the length of twenty stages, and ninety-four and a half parasangs.

Next after Phrygia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Phrygia it comes to the river Halys River (river), Turkey, Asia Halys, where there is both a defile which must be passed before the river can be crossed and a great fortress to guard it. After the passage into +Cappadocia [36,38.5] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Cappadocia, the road in that land as far as the borders of Cilicia [34.333,36.666] (region (general)), Turkey, AsiaCilicia is of twenty-eight stages and one hundred and four parasangs. On this frontier you must ride through two defiles and pass two fortresses.

Ride past these, and you will have a journey through Cilica of three stages and fifteen and a half parasangs. The boundary of Cilicia [34.333,36.666] (region (general)), Turkey, AsiaCilicia and Armenia (region (general)), AsiaArmenia is a navigable river, the name of which is the Euphrates [47.5,31.83] (river), AsiaEuphrates. In Armenia (region (general)), AsiaArmenia there are fifteen resting-stages and fifty-six and a half parasangs. Here too there is a fortress. From Armenia (region (general)), AsiaArmenia the road enters the Matienian land, in which there are thirty-four stages and one hundred and thirty-seven parasangs.