Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

ESSAY II.

USURPATION OF PISISTRATUS.

339

35. The tyranny of Pisistratus and his sons occupied a space of almost exactly half a century. As Herodotus gives a tolerably full account of this period, and as it has been amply discussed by modern writers, no attempt will be made to give a connected view of it here. The " early" History of Athens-its dark and unfamiliar period-may indeed be considered to end with Solon, who stands at the close of the archaïc state of things, and at the commencement of that new phase which has been forcibly and truly said to be more modern than ancient. For this latter period, so far as it falls within the space covered by our author, such illustration as seemed necessary is given in the foot-notes.' Those who require more are referred to the thirtieth and thirty-first chapters of Mr. Grote's History, which contain the most accurate digest of the ancient authorities, and the most philosophical comment upon them, to be found in the whole range of modern literature.

From B. c. 560 to B. c. 510. It was not, however, continuous. On the pro bable arrangement of the several reigns and exiles of Pisistratus, see Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. Append. c. ii.

Book i. chs. 59-64, and Book v. chs. 55-65. Compare also, v. 94; vi. 103; vii. 6; &c.

'See especially the notes to Book i. chs. 63-4; Book iii. ch. 60, note 10; Book v. chs. 56, 65, 66, 69, 97; Book vi, ch. 103; and Book viii. ch. 79.

[ocr errors][merged small]

THE SIXTH BOOK

OF THE

HISTORY OF HERODOTUS,

ENTITLED ERATO.

1. ARISTAGORAS, the author of the Ionian revolt, perished in the way which I have described. Meanwhile Histiæus, tyrant of Miletus, who had been allowed by Darius to leave Susa, came down to Sardis. On his arrival, being asked by Artaphernes, the Sardian satrap, what he thought was the reason that the Ionians had rebelled, he made answer that he could not conceive, and it had astonished him greatly, pretending to be quite unconscious of the whole business. Artaphernes, however, who perceived that he was dealing dishonestly, and who had in fact full knowledge of the whole history of the outbreak, said to him, "I will tell thee how the case stands, Histiæus: this shoe is of thy stitching; Aristagoras has but put it on.”

2. Such was the remark made by Artaphernes concerning the rebellion. Histiæus, alarmed at the knowledge which he displayed, as soon as night fell, fled away to the coast. Thus he forfeited his word to Darius; for though he had pledged himself to bring Sardinia, the biggest island in the whole world, under the Persian yoke,' he in reality sought to obtain the direction

[ocr errors]

1 Vide supra, v. 106. "An expedition against Sardinia," as Mr. Grote observes, seems to have been among the favourite fancies of the Ionic Greeks of that day." (Hist. of Greece, vol. iv. p. 400, and compare supra, i. 170, v. 124, and Pausan. IV. xxiii. § 4.) It is curious that it was never realised. While the coasts of Sicily, Italy, Gaul, and Spain were studded with colonies from Greece, and even Corsica had at least one settlement of some note (Alalia), Sardinia, notwithstanding its great fertility (Strabo, v. p. 318, Cic. Leg. Man. 12, Polyb. i. 79) and convenient position, appears (unless we believe the tale of Iolaus, Pausan. x. 17; Steph. Byz. ad voc. 'OXBla) never to have attracted a single Hellenic colony. Perhaps the power of Carthage was fully established there, before the Greeks became familiar with the locality.

342

HISTIÆUS COMES DOWN TO THE COAST.

Book VI.

of the war against the king. Crossing over to Chios, he was there laid in bonds by the inhabitants, who accused him of intending some mischief against them in the interest of Darius. However, when the whole truth was laid before them, and they found that Histiæus was in reality a foe to the king, they forthwith set him at large again.

3. After this the Ionians inquired of him for what reason he had so strongly urged Aristagoras to revolt from the king, thereby doing their nation so ill a service. In reply, he took good care not to disclose to them the real cause, but told them that King Darius had intended to remove the Phoenicians from their own country, and place them in Ionia, while he planted the Ionians in Phoenicia, and that it was for this reason he sent Aristagoras the order. Now it was not true that the king had entertained any such intention, but Histiæus succeeded hereby in arousing the fears of the Ionians."

4. After this, Histiæus, by means of a certain Hermippus, a native of Atarneus,3 sent letters to many of the Persians in Sardis, who had before held some discourse with him concerning a revolt. Hermippus, however, instead of conveying them to the persons to whom they were addressed, delivered them into the hands of Artaphernes, who, perceiving what was on foot, commanded Hermippus to deliver the letters according to their addresses, and then bring him back the answers which were sent to Histiæus. The traitors being in this way discovered, Artaphernes put a number of Persians to death, and caused a commotion in Sardis,"

5. As for Histiæus, when his hopes in this matter were dis

2 The readiness with which this was believed proves, even better than historical instances, how frequent such transfers of population were in the great oriental empires (vide supra, iv. 204, note 3, and compare vol. ii. p. 466, note 3).

3

Atarneus, in Herodotus, is not a city, but a tract. It lies opposite Lesbos, between the range of Cané and the sea. It is reckoned in Mysia, but belongs to the Chians, being the reward which they received from Harpagus for delivering up Pactyas. (Cf. i. 160; vi. 28; vii. 42; viii. 106.) In after times there seems to have been a town of the same name upon the coast. (Scylax. Peripl. p. 88; Xen. Hellen. III. ii. 11; Strab. xiii. pp. 882-3.)

I cannot accept Mr. Grote's account of this transaction. (Hist. of Greece, vol. iv. p. 401). According to him, Histiæus laid a trap into which Artaphernes fell. The letters written were "false," and Hermippus was instructed to take care that Artaphernes got possession of them. The suspected conspirators were quite innocent, and Artaphernes damaged his own cause by killing them. It is unnecessary to point out how irreconcilable such a view is with the entire story of Herodotus.

Probably Mr. Grote was led to depart from his authority by perceiving the improbability of any Persians having joined, or thought of joining, the rebels. This is a real difficulty, which I should explain by supposing that the persons alluded to, though Persian subjects, were in reality Lydians. The event would then indicate the near approach at this time of a Lydian outbreak.

СНАР. 3-7.

SAILS TO THE HELLESPONT.

343

appointed, he persuaded the Chians to carry him back to Miletus; but the Milesians were too well pleased at having got quit of Aristagoras to be anxious to receive another tyrant into their country; besides which, they had now tasted liberty. They therefore opposed his return; and when he endeavoured to force an entrance during the night, one of the inhabitants even wounded him in the thigh. Having been thus rejected from his country, he went back to Chios; whence, after failing in an attempt to induce the Chians to give him ships, he crossed over to Mytilêné, where he succeeded in obtaining vessels from the Lesbians. They fitted out a squadron of eight triremes, and sailed with him to the Hellespont, where they took up their station, and proceeded to seize all the vessels which passed out from the Euxine, unless the crews declared themselves ready to obey his orders.

6. While Histiæus and the Mytileneans were thus employed, Miletus was expecting an attack from a vast armament, which comprised both a fleet and also a land force. The Persian captains had drawn their several detachments together,5 and formed them into a single army; and had resolved to pass over all the other cities, which they regarded as of lesser account, and to march straight on Miletus. Of the naval states, Phoenicia showed the greatest zeal; but the fleet was composed likewise of the Cyprians (who had so lately been brought under), the Cilicians, and also the Egyptians."

6

8

7. While the Persians were thus making preparations against Miletus and Ionia, the Ionians, informed of their intent, sent their deputies to the Panionium, and held a council upon the posture of their affairs. Hereat it was determined that no land force should be collected to oppose the Persians, but that the

Hitherto the Persian forces had operated in distinct detachments, and upon distant points at the same time. Daurises, Hymeas, and Otanes, had been at the head of three distinct armies (supra, v. 116-123).

6

Supra, v. 115-6.

7 Mr. Grote considers the Egyptians, Cilicians, and Cyprians to have formed the land army, and ascribes the entire fleet of 600 vessels to the Phoenicians. (History of Greece, 1. s. c.) Herodotus clearly means that the four great naval powers of Asia (infra, vii. 89-91) combined to furnish the fleet. (Vide supra, v. 108, note 8.) The special zeal of the Phoenicians, who may perhaps have furnished half the fleet, arose probably from their jealousy of the naval power and commercial prosperity of Ionia.

8

Supra, i. 141 and 148. It would appear that on the departure of Aristagoras (v. 126) the revolt entered upon a new phase. Hitherto Miletus had been a sort of dominant power, and Aristagoras had directed all affairs. On his departure, the old confederacy seems to have been restored. Probably no confidence was felt in Pythagoras, his nominee and successor, who can scarcely have retained much authority even at Miletus. Otherwise Histiæus would not have been refused ad. mission (ch. 5).

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »