Histories

In this year[*](493.) the Persians caused no further trouble for the Ionians, and at this same time certain things happened which greatly benefited the Ionians. Artaphrenes governor of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis summoned ambassadors from the cities and compelled the Ionians to make agreements among themselves that they would abide by the law and not rob and plunder each other.

He compelled them to do this, and he measured their lands by parasangs, which is the Persian name for a distance of thirty stadia, and ordered that each people should according to this measurement pay a tribute which has remained fixed as assessed by Artaphrenes ever since that time up to this day; the sum appointed was about the same as that which they had rendered before. This then kept them peaceable.

But at the beginning of spring[*](492.) the other generals were deposed by the king from their offices, and Mardonius son of Gobryas, a man young in years and recently married to Darius' daughter Artozostre, came down to the coast at the head of a very great army and fleet.

When Mardonius reached Cilicia [34.333,36.666] (region (general)), Turkey, AsiaCilicia at the head of this army, he himself embarked on shipboard and sailed with the rest of his ships, while other captains led the land army to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont.

When Mardonius arrived in Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia in his voyage along the coast of Asia (continent)Asia, he did a thing which I here set down for the wonder of those Greeks who will not believe Otanes to have declared his opinion among the Seven that democracy was best for Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia:[*](Hdt. 3.80) Mardonius deposed all the Ionian tyrants and set up democracies in their cities.

He did this and hurried to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont. When a great multitude of ships and a great army were assembled, the Persians crossed the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont on shipboard and marched through Europe (continent)Europe, with +Eretria [23.8083,38.3917] (Perseus) Eretria and Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens as their goal.

This was the stated end of their expedition, but they intended to subdue as many of the Greek cities as they could. Their fleet subdued the Thasians, who did not so much as lift up their hands against it; their land army added the Macedonians to the slaves that they had already, for all the nations nearer to them than Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia had been made subject to the Persians before this.

Crossing over from +Thasos [24.716,40.783] (deserted settlement), Thasos, Kavalla, Macedonia, Greece, Europe Thasos they travelled near the land as far as Acanthus, and putting out from there they tried to round +Mount Athos [24.316,40.166] (inhabited place), Pangaion Oros, Macedonia, Greece, Europe Athos. But a great and irresistible north wind fell upon them as they sailed past and dealt very roughly with them, driving many of their ships upon +Mount Athos [24.316,40.166] (inhabited place), Pangaion Oros, Macedonia, Greece, Europe Athos.