Histories

For that deed the Deceleans have always had and still have freedom at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta from all dues and chief places at feasts. In fact, even as recently as the war which was waged many years after this time between the Athenians and Peloponnesians, the Lacedaemonians laid no hand on Decelea when they harried the rest of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica.[*](But in the later part of the Peloponnesian war the Lacedaemonians established themselves at Decelea and held it as a menace to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens (413 B.C.).)

From that town was Sophanes, who now was the best Athenian fighter in the battle, and about him two tales are told. According to the first, he bore an iron anchor attached to the belt of his cuirass with a chain of bronze. He would cast this anchor whenever he approached his enemies in an attack so that the enemy, as they left their ranks, might not be able to move him from his place. When they were put to flight, it was his plan that he would pull up his anchor and so pursue them.

So runs this tale. The second which contradicts with the first and relates that he wore no iron anchor attached to his cuirass, but that his shield, which he constantly whirled round and never held still, had on it an anchor as a device.

There is yet another glorious deed which Sophanes did; when the Athenians were besieging +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina, he challenged and killed Eurybates the Argive, a victor in the Five Contests. Long after this, Sophanes met his death when he was general of the Athenians with Leagrus, son of Glaucon. He was killed at Datus [*](In the attempt to establish an Athenian settlement at +Amphipolis [23.8583,40.825] (Perseus) Amphipolis in 465 (Thuc. 1.100, Thuc. 5.102). Datus was on the Thracian seaboard opposite +Thasos [24.716,40.783] (deserted settlement), Thasos, Kavalla, Macedonia, Greece, Europe Thasos.) by the Edonians in a battle for the gold-mines.