Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

They came and searched, but when they did not find it, they resolved to go off and say to those who had sent them that they had carried out their orders. They then went away and said this.

Eetion's son, however, grew up, and because of his escape from that danger, he was called Cypselus, after the chest. When he had reached manhood and was seeking a divination, an oracle of double meaning was given him at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi. Putting faith in this, he made an attempt on Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth and won it.

The oracle was as follows:

  1. That man is fortunate who steps into my house,
  2. Cypselus, son of Eetion, the king of noble Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth,
  3. He himself and his children, but not the sons of his sons.
Such was the oracle. Cypselus, however, when he had gained the tyranny, conducted himself in this way: many of the Corinthians he drove into exile, many he deprived of their wealth, and by far the most he had killed.