Greek Texts & Translations

deed founded most of the settlements, some of which exist at present, and others have disappeared. Pittacus of Mitylene, one of the seven wise men, sailed to the Troad against Phryno, the Athenian general, and was defeated in a pitched battle. (It was at this time that the poet Alcaeus, as he himself says, when in danger in some battle, threw away his arms and fled. He charged a messenger with injunctions to inform those at home that Alcaeus was safe, but that he did not bring away his arms. These were dedicated by the Athenians as an offering in the temple of Minerva Glaucopis.) ^note Upon Phryno's proposal to meet in single combat, Pittacus advanced with his fishing gear, ^note enclosed his adversary in a net, pierced him with his three-pronged spear, and despatched him with a short sword. The war however still continuing, Periander was chosen arbitrator by both parties, and put an end to it. 39

Demetrius accuses Timaeus of falsehood, for saying that Periander built a wall round the Achilleium out of the stones brought from Ilium as a protection against the attacks of the Athenians, and with a view to assist Pittacus; whereas this place was fortified by the Mitylenaeans against Sigeium, but not with stones from Ilium, nor by Periander. For how should they choose an enemy in arms to be arbitrator?

The Achilleium is a place which contains the monument of Achilles, and is a small settlement. It was destroyed, as also Sigeium, by the Ilienses on account of the refractory disposition of its inhabitants. For all the sea-coast as far as Dardanus was afterwards, and is at present, subject to them.

Anciently the greatest part of these places were subject to the Aeolians, and hence Ephorus does not hesitate to call all the country from Abydos to Cume by the name of Aeolis. But Thucydides ^note says that the Mitylenaeans were deprived of the Troad in the Peloponnesian war by the Athenians under the command of Paches. 40

The present Ilienses affirm that the city was not entirely demolished when it was taken by the Achaeans, nor at any time deserted. The Locrian virgins began to be sent