Histories

Alcaeus wrote a poem about this and sent it to Mytilene [26.55,39.1] (Perseus) Mytilene. In it he relates his own misfortune to his friend Melanippus. As for the Mytilenaeans and Athenians, however, peace was made between them by Periander son of Cypselus, to whose arbitration they committed the matter, and the terms of peace were that each party should keep what it had.

It was in this way, then, that Sigeum came to be under Athenian rule, but Hippias, having come from Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon into Asia (continent)Asia, left no stone unturned, maligning the Athenians to Artaphrenes, and doing all he could to bring Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens into subjection to himself and Darius.

While Hippias was engaged in these activities, the Athenians heard of it and sent messengers to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, warning the Persians not to believe banished Athenians. Artaphrenes, however, bade them receive Hippias back, if they wanted to be safe.When his words were brought back to the Athenians, they would not consent to them, and since they would not consent, it was resolved that they should be openly at war with Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia.

It was when the Athenians had made their decision and were already on bad terms with Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia, that Aristagoras the Milesian, driven from Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta by Cleomenes the Lacedaemonian, came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, since that city was more powerful than any of the rest. Coming before the people, Aristagoras spoke to the same effect as at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, of the good things of Asia (continent)Asia, and how the Persians carried neither shield nor spear in war and could easily be overcome.

This he said adding that the Milesians were settlers from Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, whom it was only right to save seeing that they themselves were a very powerful people. There was nothing which he did not promise in the earnestness of his entreaty, till at last he prevailed upon them. It seems, then, that it is easier to deceive many than one, for he could not deceive Cleomenes of Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, one single man, but thirty thousand[*](But even in the palmiest days of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens the number of voters did not exceed 20,000.) Athenians he could.