Histories

“Men of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos, this is the message to you from King Xerxes. Perses our forefather had, as we believe, Perseus son of Danae for his father, and Andromeda daughter of Cepheus for his mother; if that is so, then we are descended from your nation. In all right and reason we should therefore neither march against the land of our forefathers, nor should you become our enemies by aiding others or do anything but abide by yourselves in peace. If all goes as I desire, I will hold none in higher esteem than you.”

The Argives were strongly moved when they heard this, and although they made no promise immediately and demanded no share, they later, when the Greeks were trying to obtain their support, did make the claim, because they knew that the Lacedaemonians would refuse to grant it, and that they would thus have an excuse for taking no part in the war.

This is borne out, some of the Greeks say, by the tale of a thing which happened many years afterwards. It happened that while Athenian envoys, Callias son of Hipponicus, and the rest who had come up with him, were at Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, called the Memnonian,[*](Cp. Hdt. 5.53.) about some other business,[*](In 448, apparently. See How and Wells ad loc. for a full discussion of the matter.) the Argives also had at this same time sent envoys to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, asking of Xerxes' son Artoxerxes whether the friendship which they had forged with Xerxes still held good, as they desired, or whether he considered them as his enemies. Artoxerxes responded to this that it did indeed hold good and that he believed no city to be a better friend to him than Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos.”