Hellenica

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[9] See "Anab." VI. vi. 12.

[10] March B.C. 399. See the final sentence of the "Anabasis."

[11] See "Anab." VII. viii. 8-16.

[12] Seventy stades S.E. of Cyme in the Aeolid. See Strabo, xiii. 621.
For the origin of the name cf. "Cyrop." VII. i. 45.

He had already reached Ephesus, and was on the point of marching into
Caria, when Dercylidas arrived to take command of his army. The new
general was a man whose genius for invention had won him the nickname
of Sisyphus. Thus it was that Thibron returned home, where on his
arrival he was fined and banished, the allies accusing him of allowing
his troops to plunder their friends.

Dercylidas was not slow to perceive and turn to account the jealousy
which subsisted between Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus. Coming to terms
with the former, he marched into the territory of the latter,
preferring, as he said, to be at war with one of the pair at a time,
rather than the two together. His hostility, indeed, to Pharnabazus
was an old story, dating back to a period during the naval command[13]
of Lysander, when he was himself governor in Abydos; where, thanks to
Pharnabazus, he had got into trouble with his superior officer, and
had been made to stand "with his shield on his arm"--a stigma on his
honour which no true Lacedaemonian would forgive, since this is the
punishment of insubordination.[14] For this reason, doubtless,
Dercylidas had the greater satisfaction in marching against
Pharnabazus. From the moment he assumed command there was a marked
difference for the better between his methods and those of his
predecessor. Thus he contrived to conduct his troops into that portion
of the Aeolid which belonged to Pharnabazus, through the heart of
friendly territory without injury to the allies.

[13] Technically "navarchy," in B.C. 408-407. "Hell." I. v. 1.

[14] See Plut. "Aristid." 23 (Clough, ii. p. 309).

This district of Aeolis belonged to Pharnabazus,[15] but had been held
as a satrapy under him by a Dardanian named Zenis whilst he was alive;
but when Zenis fell sick and died, Pharnabazus made preparation to
give the satrapy to another. Then Mania the wife of Zenis, herself
also a Dardanian, fitted out an expedition, and taking with her gifts
wherewith to make a present to Pharnabazus himself, and to gratify his
concubines and those whose power was greatest with Pharnabazus, set
forth on her journey. When she had obtained audience with him she
spoke as follows: "O Pharnabazus, thou knowest that thy servant my
husband was in all respects friendly to thee; moreover, he paid my
lord the tributes which were thy due, so that thou didst praise and
honour him. Now therefore, if I do thee service as faithfully as my
husband, why needest thou to appoint another satrap?--nay but, if in
any matter I please thee not, is it not in thy power to take from me
the government on that day, and to give it to another?" When he had
heard her words, Pharnabazus decided that the woman ought to be
satrap. She, as soon as she was mistress of the territory, never
ceased to render the tribute in due season, even as her husband before
her had done. Moreover, whenever she came to the court of Pharnabazus
she brought him gifts continually, and whenever Pharnabazus went down
to visit her provinces she welcomed him with all fair and courteous
entertainment beyond what his other viceroys were wont to do. The
cities also which had been left to her by her husband, she guarded
safely for him; while of those cities that owed her no allegiance, she
acquired, on the seaboard, Larisa and Hamaxitus and Colonae--attacking
their walls by aid of Hellenic mercenaries, whilst she herself sat in
her carriage and watched the spectacle. Nor was she sparing of her
gifts to those who won her admiration; and thus she furnished herself
with a mercenary force of exceptional splendour. She also went with
Pharnabazus on his campaigns, even when, on pretext of some injury
done to the king's territory, Mysians or Pisidians were the object of
attack. In requital, Pharnabazus paid her magnificent honour, and at
times invited her to assist him with her counsel.[16]

[15] I.e. as suzerain.

[16] Grote, "H. G." ix. 292; cf. Herod. viii. 69.

Now when Mania was more than forty years old, the husband of her own
daughter, Meidias--flustered by the suggestions of certain people who
said that it was monstrous a woman should rule and he remain a private
person[17]--found his way into her presence, as the story goes, and
strangled her. For Mania, albeit she carefully guarded herself against
all ordinary comers, as behoved her in the exercise of her "tyranny,"
trusted in Meidias, and, as a woman might her own son-in-law, was
ready to greet him at all times with open arms. He also murdered her
son, a youth of marvellous beauty, who was about seventeen years of
age. He next seized upon the strong cities of Scepsis and Gergithes,
in which lay for the most part the property and wealth of Mania. As
for the other cities of the satrapy, they would not receive the
usurper, their garrisons keeping them safely for Pharnabazus.
Thereupon Meidias sent gifts to Pharnabazus, and claimed to hold the
district even as Mania had held it; to whom the other answered, "Keep
your gifts and guard them safely until that day when I shall come in
person and take both you and them together"; adding, "What care I to
live longer if I avenge not myself for the murder of Mania!"

[17] Or, "his brains whimsied with insinuations."

Just at the critical moment Dercylidas arrived, and in a single day
received the adhesion of the three seaboard cities Larisa, Hamaxitus,
and Colonae--which threw open their gates to him. Then he sent
messengers to the cities of the Aeolid also, offering them freedom if
they would receive him within their walls and become allies.
Accordingly the men of Neandria and Ilium and Cocylium lent willing
ears; for since the death of Mania their Hellenic garrisons had been
treated but ill. But the commander of the garrison in Cebrene, a place
of some strength, bethinking him that if he should succeed in guarding
that city for Pharnabazus, he would receive honour at his hands,
refused to admit Dercylidas. Whereupon the latter, in a rage, prepared
to take the place by force; but when he came to sacrifice, on the
first day the victims would not yield good omens; on the second, and
again upon the third day, it was the same story. Thus for as many as
four days he persevered in sacrificing, cherishing wrath the while--
for he was in haste to become master of the whole Aeolid before
Pharnabazus came to the succour of the district.

Meanwhile a certain Sicyonian captain, Athenadas by name, said to
himself: "Dercylidas does but trifle to waste his time here, whilst I
with my own hand can draw off their water from the men of Cybrene";
wherewith he ran forward with his division and essayed to choke up the
spring which supplied the city. But the garrison sallied out and
covered the Sicyonian himself with wounds, besides killing two of his
men. Indeed, they plied their swords and missiles with such good
effect that the whole company was forced to beat a retreat. Dercylidas
was not a little annoyed, thinking that now the spirit of the
besiegers would certainly die away; but whilst he was in this mood,
behold! there arrived from the beleaguered fortress emissaries of the
Hellenes, who stated that the action taken by the commandant was not
to their taste; for themselves, they would far rather be joined in
bonds of fellowship with Hellenes than with barbarians. While the
matter was still under discussion there came a messenger also from the
commandant, to say that whatever the former deputation had proposed
he, on his side, was ready to endorse. Accordingly Dercylidas, who, it
so happened, had at length obtained favourable omens on that day,
marched his force without more ado up to the gates of the city, which
were flung open by those within; and so he entered.[18] Here, then, he
was content to appoint a garrison, and without further stay advanced
upon Scepsis and Gergithes.

[18] Grote ("H. G." ix. 294) says: "The reader will remark how
Xenophon shapes the narrative in such a manner as to inculcate the
pious duty in a general of obeying the warnings furnished by the
sacrifice--either for action or for inaction. . . . Such an
inference is never (I believe) to be found suggested in
Thucydides." See Brietenbach, "Xen. Hell." I et II, praef. in
alteram ed. p. xvii.

And now Meidias, partly expecting the hostile advance of Pharnabazus,
and partly mistrusting the citizens--for to such a pass things had
come--sent to Dercylidas, proposing to meet him in conference provided
he might take security of hostages. In answer to this suggestion the
other sent him one man from each of the cities of the allies, and bade
him take his pick of these, whichsoever and how many soever he chose,
as hostages for his own security. Meidias selected ten, and so went
out. In conversation with Dercylidas, he asked him on what terms he
would accept his alliance. The other answered: "The terms are that you
grant the citizens freedom and self-government." The words were
scarcely out of his mouth before he began marching upon Scepsis.
Whereupon Meidias, perceiving it was vain to hinder him in the teeth
of the citizens, suffered him to enter. That done, Dercylidas offered
sacrifice to Athena in the citadel of the Scepsians, turned out the
bodyguards of Meidias, and handed over the city to the citizens. And
so, having admonished them to regulate their civic life as Hellenes
and free men ought, he left the place and continued his advance
against Gergithes. On this last march he was escorted by many of the
Scepsians themselves; such was the honour they paid him and so great
their satisfaction at his exploits. Meidias also followed close at his
side, petitioning that he would hand over the city of Gergithians to
himself. To whom Dercylidas only made reply, that he should not fail
to obtain any of his just rights. And whilst the words were yet upon
his lips, he was drawing close to the gates, with Meidias at his side.
Behind him followed the troops, marching two and two in peaceful
fashion. The defenders of Gergithes from their towers--which were
extraordinarily high--espied Meidias in company of the Spartan, and
abstained from shooting. And Dercylidas said: "Bid them open the
gates, Meidias, when you shall lead the way, and I will enter the
temple along with you and do sacrifice to Athena." And Meidias, though
he shrank from opening the gates, yet in terror of finding himself on
a sudden seized, reluctantly gave the order to open the gates. As soon
as he was entered in, the Spartan, still taking Meidias with him,
marched up to the citadel and there ordered the main body of his
soliders to take up their position round the walls, whilst he with
those about him did sacrifice to Athena. When the sacrifice was ended
he ordered Meidias's bodyguard to pile arms[19] in the van of his
troops. Here for the future they would serve as mercenaries, since
Meidias their former master stood no longer in need of their
protection. The latter, being at his wits' end what to do, exclaimed:
"Look you, I will now leave you; I go to make preparation for my
guest." But the other replied: "Heaven forbid! Ill were it that I who
have offered sacrifice should be treated as a guest by you. I rather
should be the entertainer and you the guest. Pray stay with us, and
while the supper is preparing, you and I can consider our
obligations, and perform them."

[19] I.e. take up a position, or "to order arms," whilst he addressed
them; not probably "to ground arms," as if likely to be mutinous.

When they were seated Dercylidas put certain questions: "Tell me,
Meidias, did your father leave you heir to his estates?" "Certainly he
did," answered the other. "And how many dwelling-houses have you? what
landed estates? how much pasturage?" The other began running off an
inventory, whilst some of the Scepsians who were present kept
interposing, "He is lying to you, Dercylidas." "Nay, you take too
minute a view of matters," replied the Spartan. When the inventory of
the paternal property was completed, he proceeded: "Tell me, Meidias,
to whom did Mania belong?" A chorus of voices rejoined, "To
Pharnabazus." "Then must her property have belonged to Pharnabazus
too." "Certainly," they answered. "Then it must now be ours," he
remarked, "by right of conquest, since Pharnabazus is at war with us.
Will some one of you escort me to the place where the property of
Mania and Pharnabazus lies?" So the rest led the way to the dwelling-
place of Mania which Meidias had taken from her, and Meidias followed
too. When he was entered, Dercylidas summoned the stewards, and
bidding his attendants seize them, gave them to understand that, if
detected stealing anything which belonged to Mania, they would lose
their heads on the spot. The stewards proceeded to point out the
treasures, and he, when he had looked through the whole store, bolted
and barred the doors, affixing his seal, and setting a watch. As he
went out he found at the doors certain of the generals[20] and
captains, and said to them: "Here, sirs, we have pay ready made for
the army--a year's pay nearly for eight thousand men--and if we can
win anything besides, there will be so much the more." This he said,
knowing that those who heard it would be all the more amenable to
discipline, and would yield him a more flattering obedience. Then
Meidias asked, "And where am I to live, Dercylidas?" "Where you have
the very best right to live," replied the other, "in your native town
of Scepsis, and in your father's house."

[20] Lit. "of the taxiarchs and lochagoi."

II

Such were the exploits of Dercylidas: nine cities taken in eight days.
Two considerations now began to occupy his mind: how was he to avoid
falling into the fatal error of Thibron and becoming a burthen to his
allies, whilst wintering in a friendly country? how, again, was he to
prevent Pharnabazus from overriding the Hellenic states in pure
contempt with his cavalry? Accordingly he sent to Pharnabazus and put
it to him point-blank: Which will you have, peace or war? Whereupon
Pharnabazus, who could not but perceive that the whole Aeolid had now
been converted practically into a fortified base of operations, which
threatened his own homestead of Phrygia, chose peace.

B.C. 399-398. This being so, Dercylidas advanced into Bithynian
Thrace, and there spent the winter; nor did Pharnabazus exhibit a
shadow of annoyance, since the Bithynians were perpetually at war with
himself. For the most part, Dercylidas continued to harry[1] Bithynia
in perfect security, and found provisions without stint. Presently he
was joined from the other side of the straits by some Odrysian allies
sent by Seuthes;[2] they numbered two hundred horse and three hundred
peltasts. These fellows pitched upon a site a little more than a
couple of miles[3] from the Hellenic force, where they entrenched
themselves; then having got from Dercylidas some heavy infantry
soldiers to act as guards of their encampment, they devoted themselves
to plundering, and succeeded in capturing an ample store of slaves and
other wealth. Presently their camp was full of prisoners, when one
morning the Bithynians, having ascertained the actual numbers of the
marauding parties as well as of the Hellenes left as guards behind,
collected in large masses of light troops and cavalry, and attacked
the garrison, who were not more than two hundred strong. As soon as
they came close enough, they began discharging spears and other
missiles on the little body, who on their side continued to be wounded
and shot down, but were quite unable to retaliate, cooped up as they
were within a palisading barely six feet high, until in desperation
they tore down their defences with their own hands, and dashed at the
enemy. These had nothing to do but to draw back from the point of
egress, and being light troops easily escaped beyond the grasp of
heavy-armed men, while ever and again, from one point of vantage or
another, they poured their shower of javelins, and at every sally laid
many a brave man low, till at length, like sheep penned in a fold, the
defenders were shot down almost to a man. A remnant, it is true, did
escape, consisting of some fifteen who, seeing the turn affairs were
taking, had already made off in the middle of the fighting. Slipping
through their assailants' fingers,[4] to the small concern of the
Bithynians, they reached the main Hellenic camp in safety. The
Bithynians, satisfied with their achievement, part of which consisted
in cutting down the tent guards of the Odrysian Thracians and
recovering all their prisoners, made off without delay; so that by the
time the Hellenes got wind of the affair and rallied to the rescue,
they found nothing left in the camp save only the stripped corpses of
the slain. When the Odrysians themselves returned, they fell to
burying their own dead, quaffing copious draughts of wine in their
honour and holding horse-races; but for the future they deemed it
advisable to camp along with the Hellenes. Thus they harried and
burned Bithynia the winter through.

[1] {Pheson kai agon}, i.e. "there was plenty of live stock to lift
and chattels to make away with."

[2] For Seuthes see "Anab." VII. i. 5; and below, IV. viii. 26.

[3] Lit. "twenty stades."

[4] Or, "slipping through the enemy's fingers, who took no heed of
them, they," etc.

B.C. 398. With the commencement of spring Dercylidas turned his back
upon the Bithynians and came to Lampsacus. Whilst at this place envoys
reached him from the home authorities. These were Aracus, Naubates,
and Antisthenes. They were sent to inquire generally into the
condition of affairs in Asia, and to inform Dercylidas of the
extension of his office for another year. They had been further
commissioned by the ephors to summon a meeting of the soldiers and
inform them that the ephors held them to blame for their former
doings, though for their present avoidance of evil conduct they must
needs praise them; and for the future they must understand that while
no repetition of misdoing would be tolerated, all just and upright
dealing by the allies would receive its meed of praise. The soldiers
were therefore summoned, and the envoys delivered their message, to
which the leader of the Cyreians answered: "Nay, men of Lacedaemon,
listen; we are the same to-day as we were last year; only our general
of to-day is different from our general in the past. If to-day we have
avoided our offence of yesterday, the cause is not far to seek; you
may discover it for youselves."

Aracus and the other envoys shared the hospitality of Dercylidas's
tent, and one of the party chanced to mention how they had left an
embassy from the men of Chersonese in Lacedaemon. According to their
statement, he added, it was impossible for them to till their land
nowadays, so perpetually were they robbed and plundered by the
Thracians; whereas the peninsula needed only to be walled across from
sea to sea, and there would be abundance of good land to cultivate--
enough for themselves and as many others from Lacedaemon as cared to
come. "So that it would not surprise us," continued the envoys, "if a
Lacedaemonian were actually sent out from Sparta with a force to carry
out the project." Dercylidas kept his ears open but his counsel close,
and so sent forward the commissioners to Ephesus.[5] It pleased him to
picture their progress through the Hellenic cities, and the spectacle
of peace and prosperity which would everywhere greet their eyes. When
he knew that his stay was to be prolonged, he sent again to
Pharnabazus and offered him once more as an alternative either the
prolongation of the winter truce or war. And once again Pharnabazus
chose truce. It was thus that Dercylidas was able to leave the cities
in the neighbourhood of the satrap[6] in peace and friendship.
Crossing the Hellespont himself he brought his army into Europe, and
marching through Thrace, which was also friendly, was entertained by
Seuthes,[7] and so reached the Chersonese.

[5] See Grote, "H. G." ix. 301.

[6] Or, reading after Cobet, {tas peri ekeina poleis}--"the cities of
that neighbourhood."

[7] See "Anab." VII. vii. 51.

This district, he soon discovered, not only contained something like a
dozen cities,[8] but was singularly fertile. The soil was of the best,
but ruined by the ravages of the Thracians, precisely as he had been
told. Accordingly, having measured and found the breadth of the
isthmus barely four miles,[9] he no longer hesitated. Having offered
sacrifice, he commenced his line of wall, distributing the area to the
soldiers in detachments, and promising to award them prizes for their
industry--a first prize for the section first completed, and the rest
as each detachment of workers might deserve. By this means the whole
wall begun in spring was finished before autumn. Within these lines he
established eleven cities, with numerous harbours, abundance of good
arable land, and plenty of land under plantation, besides magnificent
grazing grounds for sheep and cattle of every kind.

[8] Lit. "eleven or twelve cities." For the natural productivity, see
"Anab." V. vi. 25.

[9] Lit. "thirty-seven stades." Mod. Gallipoli. See Herod. vi. 36;
Plut. "Pericl." xix.

Having finished the work, he crossed back again into Asia, and on a
tour of inspection, found the cities for the most part in a thriving
condition; but when he came to Atarneus he discovered that certain
exiles from Chios had got possession of the stronghold, which served
them as a convenient base for pillaging and plundering Ionia; and
this, in fact, was their means of livelihood. Being further informed
of the large supplies of grain which they had inside, he proceeded to
draw entrenchments around the place with a view to a regular
investment, and by this means he reduced it in eight months. Then
having appointed Draco of Pellene[10] commandant, he stocked the
fortress with an abundance of provisions of all sorts, to serve him as
a halting-place when he chanced to pass that way, and so withdrew to
Ephesus, which is three days' journey from Sardis.

[10] Cf. Isocr. "Panegyr." 70; Jebb. "Att. Or." ii. p. 161. Of Pellene
(or Pellana) in Laconia, not Pellene in Achaia? though that is the
opinion of Grote and Thirlwall.

B.C. 397. Up to this date peace had been maintained between
Tissaphernes and Dercylidas, as also between the Hellenes and the
barbarians in those parts. But the time came when an embassy arrived
at Lacedaemon from the Ionic cities, protesting that Tissaphernes
might, if he chose, leave the Hellenic cities independent. "Our idea,"
they added, "is, that if Caria, the home of Tissaphernes, felt the
pinch of war, the satrap would very soon agree to grant us
independence." The ephors, on hearing this, sent a despatch to
Dercylidas, and bade him cross the frontier with his army into Caria,
whilst Pharax the admiral coasted round with the fleet. These orders
were carried out. Meanwhile a visitor had reached Tissaphernes. This
was not less a person than Pharnabazus. His coming was partly owing to
the fact that Tissaphernes had been appointed general-in-chief, and
party in order to testify his readiness to make common cause with his
brother satrap in fighting and expelling the Hellenes from the king's
territory; for if his heart was stirred by jealousy on account of the
generalship bestowed upon his rival, he was not the less aggrieved at
finding himself robbed of the Aeolid. Tissaphernes, lending willing
ears to the proposal, had answered: "First cross over with me in
Caria, and then we will take counsel on these matters." But being
arrived in Caria, they determined to establish garrisons of some
strength in the various fortresses, and so crossed back again into
Ionia.

Hearing that the satraps had recrossed the Maeander, Dercylidas grew
apprehensive for the district which lay there unprotected. "If
Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus," he said to Pharax, "chose to make a
descent, they could harry the country right and left." In this mind he
followed suit, and recrossed the frontier too. And now as they marched
on, preserving no sort of battle order--on the supposition that the
enemy had got far ahead of them into the district of Ephesus--suddenly
they caught sight of his scouts perched on some monumental structures
facing them. To send up scouts into similar edifices and towers on
their own side was the work of a few moments, and before them lay
revealed the long lines of troops drawn up just where their road lay.
These were the Carians, with their white shields, and the whole
Persian troops there present, with all the Hellenic contingents
belonging to either satrap. Besides these there was a great cloud of
cavalry: on the right wing the squadrons of Tissaphernes, and on the
left those of Pharnabazus.

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