In the days of Cambyses, Polycrates was despot of Samos, being the first who ever thought to make himself a ruler of the seas.  And he had prospered marvellously.  But Oroetes, the satrap of Sardis, compassed his death by foul treachery, and wrought many other crimes; whom Darius in turn put to death by guile, fearing to make open war upon him.  And not long afterwards, he sent Otanes to make conquest of Samos.  And during the same days there was a revolt of the Babylonians; and Darius went up against Babylon, yet for twenty months he could not take it.  Howbeit, it was taken by the act of Zopyrus, who, having mutilated himself, went to the Babylonians and told them that Darius had thus evilly entreated him, and so winning their trust, he made easy entry for the Persian army, and so Babylon was taken the second time.

III.—­Persian Arms in Europe

Now, Darius was minded to make conquest of the Scythians—­concerning which people, and the lands beyond those which they inhabit, there are many marvels told, as of a bald-headed folk called Argippaei; and the Arimaspians or one-eyed people; and the Hyperborean land where the air is full of feathers.  Of these lands are legends only; nothing is known.  But concerning the earth’s surface, this much is known, that Libya is surrounded by water, certain Phoenicians having sailed round it.  And of the unknown regions of Asia much was searched out by order of Darius.

The Scythians themselves have no cities; but there are great rivers in Scythia, whereof the Ister is the greatest of all known streams, being greater even than the Nile, if we reckon its tributaries.  The great god of the Scythians is Ares; and their war customs are savage exceedingly, and all their ways barbarous.  Against this folk Darius resolved to march.

His plan was to convey his army across the Bosphorus on a bridge of boats, while the Ionian fleet should sail up to the Ister and bridge that, and await him.  So he crossed the Bosphorus and marched through Thrace, subduing on his way the Getse, who believe that there is no true death.  But when he passed the Ister, he would have taken the Ionians along with him; but by counsel of Coes of Mitylene, he resolved to leave them in charge of the bridge, giving order that, after sixty days, they might depart home, but no sooner.

Then the Scythians, fearing that they could not match the great king’s army, summoned the other barbaric peoples to their aid; among whom were the Sauromatians, who are fabled to be the offspring of the Amazons.  And some were willing, but others not.  Therefore the Scythians retired before Darius, first towards those peoples who would not come to their help; and so enticed him into desert regions, yet would in no wise come to battle with him.