Histories

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.

The Athenians, now persuaded, voted to send twenty ships to aid the Ionians, appointing for their admiral Melanthius, a citizen of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens who had an unblemished reputation. These ships were the beginning of troubles for both Greeks and foreigners.