Histories

However, because he had not received from those that fought at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis the honor due to his preeminence, he immediately afterwards went to Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon in order that he might receive honor there. The Lacedaemonians welcomed him and paid him high honor. They bestowed on Eurybiades a crown of olive as the reward of excellence and another such crown on Themistocles for his wisdom and cleverness. They also gave him the finest chariot in Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta,

and with many words of praise, they sent him home with the three hundred picked men of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta who are called Knights to escort him as far as the borders of Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea. Themistocles was the only man of whom we know to whom the Spartans gave this escort.

But when Themistocles returned to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens from Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, Timodemus of Aphidnae, who was one of Themistocles' enemies but not a man of note, was crazed with envy and spoke bitterly to Themistocles of his visit to Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, saying that the honors he had from the Lacedaemonians were paid him for Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens' sake and not for his own.

This he kept saying until Themistocles replied, “This is the truth of the matter: if I had been a man of Belbina I would not have been honored in this way by the Spartans, nor would you, sir, for all you are a man of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens.” Such was the end of that business.