XI.  Solon’s reputation and power were greatly increased by this, but he became much more celebrated and well-known in Greece by his speeches on behalf of the temple at Delphi, in which he urged the necessity of checking the insolent conduct of the people of Kirrha towards the temple, and of rallying in defence of the god.  The Amphiktyons, prevailed upon by his eloquence, declared war, as we learn from Aristotle, among other writers, in his book about the winners of the prize at the Pythian games, in which he attributes this decision to Solon.  However, he was not made general in that war, as Hermippus relates, quoting from Evanthes of Samos; for Aeschines the orator does not mention him, and, in the records of Delphi, Alkmaeon, not Solon, is mentioned as general of the Athenians on that occasion.

XII.  Athens had long been suffering from the anger of the gods, which it had incurred by the treatment of Kylon’s party.  These conspirators took sanctuary in Athene’s temple, but were induced by Megakles the archon to quit it and stand their trial.  They fastened a thread to the shrine of the goddess, and kept hold of it so as still to be under her protection.  But as they were coming down from the Acropolis, just beside the temple of the Furies, the string broke, and Megakles and the other archons, thinking that the goddess rejected their appeal, seized them.  Some of them were stoned to death outside the temple, and some who had fled for sanctuary to the altars were slain there.  Only those who fell as suppliants at the feet of the archons’ wives were spared.  After this the archons were called accursed, and were viewed with horror; moreover, the survivors of Kylon’s party regained strength, and continued their intrigues against Megakles and the archons.  At the time of which we are speaking these dissensions had reached their height, and the city was divided into two factions, when Solon, who was already a man of great reputation, came forward with some of the noblest Athenians, and by his entreaties and arguments prevailed upon those magistrates who were called accursed, to stand trial and be judged by a jury of three hundred citizens selected from the best families.  Myron of Phlya prosecuted, and the archons were found guilty, and forced to leave the country.  The bodies of such of them as had died were dug up, and cast out beyond the borders of Attica.

During these disorders the Athenians were again attacked by the Megarians, and lost Nisaea, and were again driven out of Salamis.  The city was also a prey to superstitious terrors, and apparitions were seen, so that the prophets, after inspecting their victims, said that the city was polluted and under a curse, and that it required purification.  Upon this they sent for Epimenides the Phaestian, of Crete, who is reckoned among the seven wise men of Greece, by some of those who do not admit Periander into their number.  He was thought to enjoy the favour of Heaven, and was skilled in all the lore of the sacred