Histories

when he was taking omens in Hera's temple a flame of fire had shone forth from the breast of the image, and so he learned the truth of the matter, that he would not take Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos. If the flame had come out of the head of the image, he would have taken the city from head to foot utterly; but its coming from the breast signified that he had done as much as the god willed to happen. This plea of his seemed to the Spartans to be credible and reasonable, and he far outdistanced the pursuit of his accusers.

But Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos was so wholly deprived of men that their slaves took possession of all affairs, ruling and governing until the sons of the slain men grew up. Then they recovered Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos for themselves and cast out the slaves; when they were driven out, the slaves took possession of +Tiryns [22.8167,37.6] (Perseus) Tiryns by force.

For a while they were at peace with each other; but then there came to the slaves a prophet, Cleander, a man of Phigalea in +Arcadia [22.25,37.583] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Arcadia by birth; he persuaded the slaves to attack their masters. From that time there was a long-lasting war between them, until with difficulty the Argives got the upper hand.[*](About 468, apparently.)

The Argives say this was the reason Cleomenes went mad and met an evil end; the Spartans themselves say that Cleomenes' madness arose from no divine agent, but that by consorting with Scythians he became a drinker of strong wine, and the madness came from this.

The nomadic Scythians, after Darius had invaded their land, were eager for revenge, so they sent to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta and made an alliance. They agreed that the Scythians would attempt to invade Media by way of the river +Poti [41.683,42.183] (inhabited place), regions under republican jurisdiction, Georgia, Asia Phasis, and they urged the Spartans to set out and march inland from +Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Ephesus and meet the Scythians.