Histories

Furthermore, they were spurred on by the oracles[*](The Pisistratid family appears to have had a special knowledge of current oracles: cp. Hdt. 5.93, and Hdt. 7.6.) which foretold that many deeds of enmity would be perpetrated against them by the Athenians. Previously they had had no knowledge of these oracles but now Cleomenes brought them to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, and the Lacedaemonians learned their contents. It was from the Athenian acropolis that Cleomenes took the oracles, which had been in the possession of the Pisistratidae earlier. When they were exiled, they left them in the temple from where they were retrieved by Cleomenes.

Now the Lacedaemonians, when they regained the oracles and saw the Athenians increasing in power and in no way inclined to obey them, realized that if the Athenians remained free, they would be equal in power with themselves, but that if they were held down under tyranny, they would be weak and ready to serve a master. Perceiving all this, they sent to bring Pisistratus' son Hippias from Sigeum on the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont, the Pisistratidae's place of refuge.

When Hippias arrived, the Spartans sent for envoys from the rest of their allies and spoke to them as follows: “Sirs, our allies, we do acknowledge that we have acted wrongly, for, led astray by lying divinations, we drove from their native land men who were our close friends and promised to make Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens subject to us. Then we handed that city over to a thankless people which had no sooner lifted up its head in the freedom which we gave it, than it insolently cast out us and our king. Now it has bred such a spirit of pride and is growing so much in power, that its neighbors in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia and +Chalcis [23.6083,38.4667] (Perseus) Chalcis have really noticed it, and others too will soon recognize their error.