Histories · Chapter
Book VI: Erato explained
This chapter recounts the aftermath of the Ionian Revolt, including the capture of Miletos, the fate of Histiaios, and the Persian campaigns under Mardonios.
What happens
This chapter recounts the aftermath of the Ionian Revolt, including the capture of Miletos, the fate of Histiaios, and the Persian campaigns under Mardonios. It details the subjugation of Caria, the conquest of Chios, and the Persian demand for earth and water from Greek states, which leads to tensions between Athens and Aegina. The chapter also explores Spartan internal politics, particularly the conflict between Cleomenes and Demaratos.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Tyranny
The Persians exert control over Ionia by deposing despots and establishing democracies, while also demanding submission from Greek states through earth and water.
Deception and Cunning
Histiaios attempts to save his life by revealing his identity in Persian, hoping for clemency from Darius, but is thwarted by Artaphrenes.
Fate and Inevitability
The Chians receive ominous signs—a plague among youths and a school roof collapse—foreshadowing their defeat by Histiaios and the Persians.
Characters to notice
- Histiaios
Histiaios the Milesian, after the fall of Miletos, seizes merchant vessels at Byzantion, fights the Chians, and is eventually captured by the Persian commander Harpagos.
- Darius
King Darius sends heralds to demand earth and water from Greek states, and orders the Thasians to dismantle their walls and bring ships to Abdera.
- Mardonios
Mardonios, son of Gobryas, leads a large Persian expedition, deposing Ionian despots and establishing democracies, but suffers losses from a storm at Athos and an attack by Brygian Thracians.
- Cleomenes
Cleomenes, king of Sparta, crosses to Aegina to seize those who gave earth and water to Darius, but is opposed by the Aeginetans and accused by Demaratos.
- Demaratos
Demaratos, the other Spartan king, stays behind in Sparta and brings charges against Cleomenes, highlighting the rivalry between the two kings.
- Artaphrenes
Artaphrenes, governor of Sardis, is involved in the capture of Histiaios, ensuring he does not escape punishment.
- Harpagos
Harpagos, a Persian commander, captures Histiaios after a battle at Atarneus.
Key passages
“After the sea-battle which was fought for Miletos, the Phoenicians by the command of the Persians restored to Samos Aiakes the son of Syloson, since he had been to them of much service and had done for them great things; and the Samians alone of all who revolted from Darius, because of the desertion of their ships which were in the sea-fight, had neither their city nor their temples burnt.”
Following the naval battle for Miletos, the Persians ordered the Phoenicians to reinstate Aiakes as ruler of Samos because of his valuable service; as a result, the Samians were the only rebels whose city and temples were spared destruction, due to their ships' desertion during the battle.
This passage highlights the Persian policy of rewarding loyalty and punishing rebellion, and the unique fate of Samos.
“And heaven is wont perhaps to give signs beforehand whenever great evils are about to happen to a city or a race of men; for to the Chians also before these events remarkable signs had come.”
Heaven often sends omens before major disasters befall a city or people; the Chians experienced such signs—a plague killing most of a chorus sent to Delphi and a school roof collapse killing nearly all the children—shortly before their defeat.
Herodotus interprets these events as divine warnings of the impending Persian conquest of Chios.
“Mardonios deposed all the despots of the Ionians and established popular governments in the cities.”
Mardonios removed the Ionian tyrants and set up democratic governments in their place.
This action by Mardonios is presented as a surprising move by a Persian commander, contrasting with typical Persian support for autocratic rule.
