Marcel Mernitz / The Digital Hill Project / plutarch

University Of Leipzig

These files originate from the double biographies of Plutarch, the one of Pericles and the one of Themistocles. The “life of Pericles” files cover the summary of the Revolt of Samos, as well as him enrolling his illegitimate son into the phratry lists and his epitaph for those warriors who had fallen during the revolt. The passage from the life of Themistocle tries to correct the chronology of Stresimbrotos, who said that Themistocle and not Pericles fought against Melissos at the siege of Samos.

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Marcel Mernitz / The Digital Hill Project / plutarch

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Marcel Mernitz / The Digital Hill Project / plutarch

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Marcel Mernitz / The Digital Hill Project / plutarch

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Marcel Mernitz / The Digital Hill Project / plutarch
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
ἐκ τούτου ψηφίζεται τὸν εἰς Σάμον πλοῦν , αἰτίαν ποιησάμενος κατʼ αὐτῶν ὅτι τὸν πρὸς Μιλησίους κελευόμενοι διαλύσασθαι πόλεμον οὐχ ὑπήκουον . ἐπεὶ δ᾽ Ἀσπασία χαριζόμενος δοκεῖ πρᾶξαι τὰ πρὸς Σαμίους , ἐνταῦθα ἂν εἴη καιρὸς διαπορῆσαι μάλιστα περὶ τῆς ἀνθρώπου , τίνα τέχνην ἢ δύναμιν τοσαύτην ἔχουσα τῶν τε πολιτικῶν τοὺς πρωτεύοντας ἐχειρώσατο καὶ τοῖς φιλοσόφοις οὐ φαῦλον οὐδ᾽ ὀλίγον ὑπὲρ αὑτῆς παρέσχε λόγον . ὅτι μὲν γὰρ ἦν Μιλησία γένος , Ἀξιόχου θυγάτηρ , ὁμολογεῖται · φασὶ δ᾽ αὐτὴν Θαργηλίαν τινὰ τῶν παλαιῶν Ἰάδων ζηλώσασαν ἐπιθέσθαι τοῖς δυνατωτάτοις ἀνδράσι . καὶ γὰρ ἡ Θαργηλία τό τ᾽ εἶδος εὐπρεπὴς γενομένη καὶ χάριν ἔχουσα μετὰ δεινότητος πλείστοις μὲν Ἑλλήνων συνῴκησεν ἀνδράσι , πάντας δὲ προσεποίησε βασιλεῖ τοὺς πλησιάσαντας αὐτῇ , καὶ ταῖς πόλεσι μηδισμοῦ δι᾽ ἐκείνων ὑπέσπειρεν ἀρχὰς δυνατωτάτων ὄντων καὶ μεγίστων . τὴν δ᾽ Ἀσπασίαν οἱ μὲν ὡς σοφήν τινα καὶ πολιτικὴν ὑπὸ τοῦ Περικλέους σπουδασθῆναι λέγουσι · καὶ γὰρ Σωκράτης ἔστιν ὅτε μετὰ τῶν γνωρίμων ἐφοίτα , καὶ τὰς γυναῖκας ἀκροασομένας οἱ συνήθεις ἦγον εἰς αὐτήν , καίπερ οὐ κοσμίου προεστῶσαν ἐργασίας οὐδὲ σεμνῆς , ἀλλὰ παιδίσκας ἑταιρούσας τρέφουσαν · Αἰσχίνης δέ φησι καὶ Λυσικλέα τὸν προβατοκάπηλον ἐξ ἀγεννοῦς καὶ ταπεινοῦ τὴν φύσιν Ἀθηναίων γενέσθαι πρῶτον , Ἀσπασίᾳ συνόντα μετὰ τὴν Περικλέους τελευτήν . ἐν δὲ τῷ Μενεξένῳ τῷ Πλάτωνος , εἰ καὶ μετὰ παιδιᾶς τὰ πρῶτα γέγραπται , τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἱστορίας ἔνεστιν , ὅτι δόξαν εἶχε τὸ γύναιον ἐπὶ ῥητορικῇ πολλοῖς Ἀθηναίων ὁμιλεῖν . φαίνεται μέντοι μᾶλλον ἐρωτική τις ἡ τοῦ Περικλέους ἀγάπησις γενομένη πρὸς Ἀσπασίαν . ἦν μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ γυνὴ προσήκουσα μὲν κατὰ γένος , συνῳκηκυῖα δ᾽ Ἱππονίκῳ πρότερον , ἐξ οὗ Καλλίαν ἔτεκε τὸν πλούσιον · ἔτεκε δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῷ Περικλεῖ Ξάνθιππον καὶ Πάραλον . εἶτα τῆς συμβιώσεως οὐκ οὔσης αὐτοῖς ἀρεστῆς , ἐκείνην μὲν ἑτέρῳ βουλομένην συνεξέδωκεν , αὐτὸς δὲ τὴν Ἀσπασίαν λαβὼν ἔστερξε διαφερόντως . καὶ γὰρ ἐξιών , ὥς φασι , καὶ εἰσιὼν ἀπ᾽ ἀγορᾶς ἠσπάζετο καθ᾽ ἡμέραν αὐτὴν μετὰ τοῦ καταφιλεῖν . ἐν δὲ ταῖς κωμῳδίαις Ὀμφάλη τε νέα καὶ Δηϊάνειρα καὶ πάλιν Ἥρα προσαγορεύεται . Κρατῖνος δ᾽ ἄντικρυς παλλακὴν αὐτὴν εἴρηκεν ἐν τούτοις · Ἥραν τέ οἱ Ἀσπασίαν τίκτει Καταπυγοσύνη παλλακὴν κυνώπιδα . δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ τὸν νόθον ἐκ ταύτης τεκνῶσαι , περὶ οὗ πεποίηκεν Εὔπολις ἐν Δήμοις αὐτὸν μὲν οὕτως ἐρωτῶντα · ὁ νόθος δέ μοι ζῇ ; τὸν δὲ Μυρωνίδην ἀποκρινόμενον · καὶ πάλαι γ᾽ ἂν ἦν ἀνήρ , εἰ μὴ τὸ τῆς πόρνης ὑπωρρώδει κακόν . οὕτω δὲ τὴν Ἀσπασίαν ὀνομαστὴν καὶ κλεινὴν γενέσθαι λέγουσιν ὥστε καὶ Κῦρον τὸν πολεμήσαντα βασιλεῖ περὶ τῆς τῶν Περσῶν ἡγεμονίας τὴν ἀγαπωμένην ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ μάλιστα τῶν παλλακίδων Ἀσπασίαν ὀνομάσαι , καλουμένην Μιλτὼ πρότερον . ἦν δὲ Φωκαῒ τὸ γένος , Ἑρμοτίμου θυγάτηρ · ἐν δὲ τῇ μάχῃ Κύρυ πεσόντος ἀπαχθεῖσα πρὸς βασιλέα πλεῖστον ἴσχυσε . ταῦτα μὲν ἐπελθόντα τῇ μνήμῃ κατὰ τὴν γραφὴν ἀπώσασθαι καὶ παρελθεῖν ἴσως ἀπάνθρωπον ἦν . τὸν δὲ πρὸς Σαμίους πόλεμον αἰτιῶνται μάλιστα τὸν Περικλέα ψηφίσασθαι διὰ Μιλησίους Ἀσπασίας δεηθείσης . αἱ γὰρ πόλεις ἐπολέμουν τὸν περὶ Πριήνης πόλεμον , καὶ κρατοῦντες οἱ Σάμιοι , παύσασθαι τῶν Ἀθηναίων κελευόντων καὶ δίκας λαβεῖν καὶ δοῦναι παρʼ αὐτοῖς , οὐκ ἐπείθοντο . πλεύσας οὖν ὁ Περικλῆς τὴν μὲν οὖσαν ὀλιγαρχίαν ἐν Σάμῳ κατέλυσεν , τῶν δὲ πρώτων λαβὼν ὁμήρους πεντήκοντα καὶ παῖδας ἴσους εἰς Λῆμνον ἀπέστειλε . καίτοι φασὶν ἕκαστον μὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ὁμήρων διδόναι τάλαντον ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ , πολλὰ δʼ ἄλλα τοὺς μὴ θέλοντας ἐν τῇ πόλει γενέσθαι δημοκρατίαν . ἔτι δὲ Πισσούθνης ὁ Πέρσης ἔχων τινὰ πρὸς Σαμίους εὔνοιαν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτῷ μυρίους χρυσοῦς , παραιτούμενος τὴν πόλιν . οὐ μὴν ἔλαβε τούτων οὐδὲν ὁ Περικλῆς , ἀλλὰ χρησάμενος ὥσπερ ἐγνώκει τοῖς Σαμίοις καὶ καταστήσας δημοκρατίαν ἀπέπλευσεν εἰς τὰς Ἀθήνας . οἱ δʼ εὐθὺς ἀπέστησαν , ἐκκλέψαντος αὐτοῖς τοὺς ὁμήρους Πισσούθνου καὶ τἆλλα παρασκευάσαντος πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον . αὖθις οὖν ὁ Περικλῆς ἐξέπλευσεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς οὐχ ἡσυχάζοντας οὐδὲ κατεπτηχότας , ἀλλὰ καὶ πάνυ προθύμως ἐγνωκότας ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῆς θαλάττης . γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς ναυμαχίας περὶ νῆσον ἣν Τραγίας καλοῦσι , λαμπρῶς ὁ Περικλῆς ἐνίκα , τέσσαρσι καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ναυσὶν ἑβδομήκοντα καταναυμαχήσας , ὧν εἴκοσι στρατιώτιδες ἦσαν . ἅμα δὲ τῇ νίκῃ καὶ τῇ διώξει τοῦ λιμένος κρατήσας ἐπολιόρκει τοὺς Σαμίους , ἁμῶς γέ πως ἔτι τολμῶντας ἐπεξιέναι καὶ διαμάχεσθαι πρὸ τοῦ τείχους . ἐπεὶ δὲ μείζων ἕτερος στόλος ἦλθεν ἐκ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν καὶ παντελῶς κατεκλείσθησαν οἱ Σάμιοι , λαβὼν ὁ Περικλῆς ἑξήκοντα τριήρεις ἔπλευσεν εἰς τὸν ἔξω πόντον , ὡς μὲν οἱ πλεῖστοι λέγουσι , Φοινισσῶν νεῶν ἐπικούρων τοῖς Σαμίοις προσφερομένων ἀπαντῆσαι καὶ διαγωνίσασθαι πορρωτάτω βουλόμενος , ὡς δὲ Στησίμβροτος , ἐπὶ Κύπρον στελλόμενος · ὅπερ οὐ δοκεῖ πιθανὸν εἶναι . ὁποτέρῳ δʼ οὖν ἐχρήσατο τῶν λογισμῶν , ἁμαρτεῖν ἔδοξε . πλεύσαντος γὰρ αὐτοῦ Μέλισσος ὁ Ἰθαγένους , ἀνὴρ φιλόσοφος στρατηγῶν τότε τῆς Σάμου , καταφρονήσας τῆς ὀλιγότητος τῶν νεῶν ἢ τῆς ἀπειρίας τῶν στρατηγῶν , ἔπεισε τοὺς πολίτας ἐπιθέσθαι τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις . καὶ γενομένης μάχης νικήσαντες οἱ Σάμιοι καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν αὐτῶν ἄνδρας ἑλόντες , πολλὰς δὲ ναῦς διαφθείραντες , ἐχρῶντο τῇ θαλάσσῃ καὶ παρετίθεντο τῶν ἀναγκαίων πρὸς τὸν πόλεμον ὅσα μὴ πρότερον εἶχον . ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ Μελίσσου καὶ Περικλέα φησὶν αὐτὸν Ἀριστοτέλης ἡττηθῆναι ναυμαχοῦντα πρότερον . οἱ δὲ Σάμιοι τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἀνθυβρίζοντες ἔστιζον εἰς τὸ μέτωπον γλαῦκας · καὶ γὰρ ἐκείνους οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι σάμαιναν . ἡ δὲ σάμαινα ναῦς ἐστιν ὑόπρωρος μὲν τὸ σίμωμα , κοιλοτέρα δὲ καὶ γαστροειδής , ὥστε καὶ φορτοφορεῖν καὶ ταχυναυτεῖν . οὕτω δʼ ὠνομάσθη διὰ τὸ πρῶτον ἐν Σάμῳ φανῆναι , Πολυκράτους τυράννου κατασκευάσαντος . πρὸς ταῦτα τὰ στίγματα λέγουσι καὶ τὸ Ἀριστοφάνειον ᾐνίχθαι · Σαμίων ὁ δῆμός ἐστιν ὡς πολυγράμματος . πυθόμενος δ᾽ οὖν ὁ Περικλῆς τὴν ἐπὶ στρατοπέδου συμφορὰν ἐβοήθει κατὰ τάχος . καὶ τοῦ Μελίσσου πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀντιταξαμένου κρατήσας καὶ τρεψάμενος τοὺς πολεμίους εὐθὺς περιετείχιζε , δαπάνῃ καὶ χρόνῳ μᾶλλον ἢ τραύμασι καὶ κινδύνοις τῶν πολιτῶν περιγενέσθαι καὶ συνελεῖν τὴν πόλιν βουλόμενος . ἐπεὶ δὲ δυσχεραίνοντας τῇ τριβῇ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους καὶ μάχεσθαι προθυμουμένους ἔργον ἦν κατασχεῖν , ὀκτὼ μέρη διελὼν τὸ πᾶν πλῆθος ἀπεκλήρου , καὶ τῷ λαβόντι τὸν λευκὸν κύαμον εὐωχεῖσθαι καὶ σχολάζειν παρεῖχε τῶν ἄλλων μαχομένων . διὸ καί φασι τοὺς ἐν εὐπαθείαις τισὶ γενομένους λευκὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην ἀπὸ τοῦ λευκοῦ κυάμου προσαγορεύειν . Ἔφορος δὲ καὶ μηχαναῖς χρήσασθαι τὸν Περικλέα , τὴν καινότητα θαυμάσαντα , Ἀρτέμωνος τοῦ μηχανικοῦ παρόντος , ὃν χωλὸν ὄντα καὶ φορείῳ πρὸς τὰ κατεπείγοντα τῶν ἔργων προσκομιζόμενον ὀνομασθῆναι περιφόρητον . τοῦτο μὲν οὖν Ἡρακλείδης ὁ Ποντικὸς ἐλέγχει τοῖς Ἀνακρέοντος ποιήμασιν , ἐν οἷς ὁ περιφόρητος Ἀρτέμων ὀνομάζεται πολλαῖς ἔμπροσθεν ἡλικίαις τοῦ περὶ Σάμον πολέμου καὶ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐκείνων · τὸν δ᾽ Ἀρτέμωνά φησι τρυφερόν τινα τῷ βίῳ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς φόβους μαλακὸν ὄντα καὶ καταπλῆγα τὰ πολλὰ μὲν οἴκοι καθέζεσθαι , χαλκῆν ἀσπίδα τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ δυεῖν οἰκετῶν ὑπερεχόντων , ὥστε μηδὲν ἐμπεσεῖν τῶν ἄνωθεν , εἰ δὲ βιασθείη προελθεῖν , ἐν κλινιδίῳ κρεμαστῷ παρὰ τὴν γῆν αὐτὴν περιφερόμενον κομίζεσθαι , καὶ διὰ τοῦτο κληθῆναι περιφόρητον . ἐνάτῳ δὲ μηνὶ τῶν Σαμίων παραστάντων ὁ Περικλῆς τὰ τείχη καθεῖλε καὶ τὰς ναῦς παρέλαβε καὶ χρήμασι πολλοῖς ἐζημίωσεν , ὧν τὰ μὲν εὐθὺς ἤνεγκαν οἱ Σάμιοι , τὰ δʼ ἐν χρόνῳ ῥητῷ ταξάμενοι κατοίσειν ὁμήρους ἔδωκαν . Δοῦρις δʼ ὁ Σάμιος τούτοις ἐπιτραγῳδεῖ πολλὴν ὠμότητα τῶν Ἀθηναίων καὶ τοῦ Περικλέους κατηγορῶν , ἣν οὔτε Θουκυδίδης ἱστόρηκεν οὔτʼ Ἔφορος οὔτʼ Ἀριστοτέλης · ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἀληθεύειν ἔοικεν , ὡς ἄρα τοὺς τριηράρχους καὶ τοὺς ἐπιβάτας τῶν Σαμίων εἰς τὴν Μιλησίων ἀγορὰν ἀγαγών καὶ σανίσι προσδήσας ἐφʼ ἡμέρας δέκα κακῶς ἤδη διακειμένους προσέταξεν ἀνελεῖν , ξύλοις τὰς κεφαλὰς συγκόψαντας , εἶτα προβαλεῖν ἀκήδευτα τὰ σώματα . Δοῦρις μὲν οὖν οὐδʼ ὅπου μηδὲν αὐτῷ πρόσεστιν ἴδιον πάθος εἰωθὼς κρατεῖν τὴν διήγησιν ἐπὶ τῆς ἀληθείας , μᾶλλον ἔοικεν ἐνταῦθα δεινῶσαι τὰς τῆς πατρίδος συμφορὰς ἐπὶ διαβολῇ τῶν Ἀθηναίων . ὁ δὲ Περικλῆς καταστρεψάμενος τὴν Σάμον ὡς ἐπανῆλθεν εἰς τὰς Ἀθήνας , ταφάς τε τῶν ἀποθανόντων κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον ἐνδόξους ἐποίησε καὶ τὸν λόγον εἰπών , ὥσπερ ἔθος ἐστίν , ἐπὶ τῶν σημάτων ἐθαυμαστώθη . καταβαίνοντα δʼ αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ βήματος αἱ μὲν ἄλλαι γυναῖκες ἐδεξιοῦντο καὶ στεφάνοις ἀνέδουν καὶ ταινίαις ὥσπερ ἀθλητὴν νικηφόρον , ἡ δʼ Ἐλπινίκη προσελθοῦσα πλησίον · ταῦτʼ ἔφη θαυμαστά , Περίκλεις , καὶ ἄξια στεφάνων , ὃς ἡμῖν πολλοὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς ἀπώλεσας πολίτας οὐ Φοίνιξι πολεμῶν οὐδὲ Μήδοις , ὥσπερ οὑμὸς ἀδελφὸς Κίμων , ἀλλὰ σύμμαχον καὶ συγγενῆ πόλιν καταστρεφόμενος . ταῦτα τῆς Ἐλπινίκης λεγούσης ὁ Περικλῆς μειδιάσας ἀτρέμα λέγεται τὸ τοῦ Ἀρχιλόχου πρὸς αὐτὴν εἰπεῖν · οὐκ ἂν μύροισι γραῦς ἐοῦσʼ ἠλείφεο . θαυμαστὸν δέ τι καὶ μέγα φρονῆσαι καταπολεμήσαντα τοὺς Σαμίους φησὶν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἴων , ὡς τοῦ μὲν Ἀγαμέμνονος ἔτεσι δέκα βάρβαρον πόλιν , αὐτοῦ δὲ μησὶν ἐννέα τοὺς πρώτους καὶ δυνατωτάτους Ἰώνων ἑλόντος . καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἄδικος ἡ ἀξίωσις , ἀλλʼ ὄντως πολλὴν ἀδηλότητα καὶ μέγαν ἔσχε κίνδυνον ὁ πόλεμος , εἴπερ , ὡς Θουκυδίδης φησί , παρʼ ἐλάχιστον ἦλθε Σαμίων ἡ πόλις ἀφελέσθαι τῆς θαλάττης τὸ κράτος Ἀθηναίους .
After that he voted the ships to Samos after he made an accusation against them , that they did not give hear , after they were urged to break off the war against the Milesians . And now may be the time to raise the very question about the woman , who had some art or a force so large to both overcome the foremost statesmen and to allow the philosophers neither a foul nor few word about her , since it seems , that the things that had been done against the Samians so that Aspasia was gratified . For it is generally agreed , that she indeed was Milesian kin , the daughter of Axiochos . And they say , that she applies herself to the most powerful men , since she emulates some Thargelia , an ancient Ionian . And since Thargelia dwelled with most Greek men , both because her shape became decent and she had grace with cleverness and she attached all of her consorts to the king and implanted into the cities the foundation of Medism by that persons who were the mightiest and the biggest . And they say , that Aspasia was treated with respect by Pericles for some wisdom and political sense . And since it was , that Socrates came in regularly with his aquaintances and the aquiantants brought the wifes to her to listen , even though she was before a business neither modest nor reverend , since she educated maidens to be companions . And Aischines said , that Lysicles the sheepdealer , both of low birth and of humble nature , became the first of the Athenians to live with Aspasia after Pericles' death . And in the Platonian Menexos there is this story , if he had written the firsts with childish play , that it has the expectation , that the little woman addressed on the art of speaking to many Athenians . However the affection of Pericles , that grow for Aspasia , appears rather somehow erotic . Since his wife was indeed related to him by kin , she bred with him Kallias the wealthy , after she dwelled with Hipponicus before . And she also bred for Pericles Xanthippos and Paralon . Then he handed over her to another man , as she wished , since their companionship was not acceptable and after he married Aspasia he loved her especially . Since he greeted her during the day with kisses both when he went out and when he entered from the market , as they say . And in the comedies she is greeted as both young Omphale and Deianeira and again as Hera . And Kratinos speaks of her straight as concubine in those lines . And unnatural lust breeds Hera , his Aspasia , the shameless concubine . And it seems , that he beget the bastard by her , about whom Eupolis has made reference in the Demes , when he asks in this way : And lives the bastard of mine ? And he makes Myronides answer : And he was a men for a long time , if he did not dread the bad of the harlot . And they say , that Aspasia became in this way notable and famous and that Cyrus , when he fought the king for the Persian supremacy , therefore named his most desired of the concubines , who was called before Milto , Aspasia . And she was Phoenicean kin , daughter of Hermotimos . And she was most powerful after Cyrus fel in battle and after she was carried off to the king . Indeed it would be equal inhuman , to reject this , that comes upon the mind during the writing and pass it . And they very accused the war against the Samians , that Pericles voted for the Milesians , since Aspasia asked . Since the cities fought the war for Priene and after the Athenians urged that they both stopped and estimated right and give to them , they were not persuaded , since the Samians were powerful . Then Pericles destroyed the oligarchy that was in Samos , ather he sailed there and , after having taken fifty hostages of the foremost families and as much children , they send them off to Lemnos . And further they say , that each of the hostages indeed gave him a talent for themselves and those , who did not wish , that there was democracy in the city gave even more . And even the Persian Pissuthnes , who had some goodwill for the Samians , sent him ten thousand gold coins , since he begged for the city . But Pericles did not take anything of that , but he perceived with the Samians as he had proclaimed and sailed off to Athens after he had established democracy . And they revolted straight , after Pissuthnes stole off the hostages for them and equipped the rest for the war . Then Pericles sailed off for them again , since they were neither lazy nor did they cower , but since they perceived very willing to lay hold of the sea . And Pericles won clearly , when a potent seafight happened , near the island , that is called Tragia , since he beat seventy ships , of which twenty were transporters , in a seafight with fourty and four ships . And he besieged the Samians , who in some way or another somehow yet dared to proceed against and fight in front of the walls , as soon as he ruled over the harbour after the victory and the chase . And after the bigger of two armies arrived from Athens and the Samians were shut in completely , Pericles sailed out to the outer sea , taking sixty triremes , since he wished to meet in battle and struggle as far as possible against the Phoenician ships , that were brought as helpers for the Samians , as the most say , but as Stresimbrotos shortens , for Cyprus . This seems not to be true . And he chose yet the argument of two , he seems to go wrong . Since Melissos , the son of Ithagenos , a philosophic man , who was then leader of Samos , persuaded , that the citizens attacked the Athenians , when he sailed against him , because he despised the fewness of the ships and the inexperience of the leaders . And the Samians , since they were victorious when a fight happened and they both took many of his men prisoner indeed and destroyed many ships utterly , dealt with the sea and they placed beside the necessities for the war as much as they have not done before . And Aristotle says about Melissos , that even Pericles himself was defeated , when they were fighting at sea earlier . And the Samians branded the prisoners an owl on the forehead as retailiation upon the Athenians . Since the Athenians also branded their prisoners a Samaina . And the Samaina is a hollow and round ship , the upcoming bow indeed is shaped like a swine's nose , that is in as much for both carrying a load and sailing fast . And it is called in this way cause its first appearance was in Samos , when Polycrate the tyrant built them . And they say , that Arisophanes speaks in riddles to this mark : The Samian folk is as marked with many letters . And Pericles indeed came to help with speed when he learned of the mishap around the army . And after Melissos fought against him and after he was superior and turned the hostiles to flight , he surrounded them straight with a wall since he wished to seize the city and be superior to the city rather in cost and time than in dangers and wounds for the citizens . And it was work to hold back the Athenians since they were unable to endure the delay and since they were willing to fight and he chose by lot , after he had divided the entire army into eight parts and he granted those who had taken the white bean to entertain and to have leisure and the others to fight . And therefor they say , that those , who happen to be in some comfort , greet that thing as a white day because of the white bean . And Ephoros says , that Pericles used also siege engines since he marvelled the newness and the engineer Artmonos stood by , who was named the portable , since he was lame and he was carried in a litter , when he supervised the works . But Herakleides of Ponticos refutes this in the fiction of Anacreon , in which a portable Artemon is mentioned many generations before the Samian war and these acts . And he says that Artemon sits the whole time at home , since he is panic stricken and both has a somehow delicate live is cowardly of the fear and two slaves hold a shield made of copper over his head so that nothing may fall on it from above and if he was forced to travel , he provided that he was carried in an hammock litter near the ground and because of that he was called portable . And , after the Samians had surrendered in the ninth month , Pericles both took down the walls and took the ships and punished with much money of which the Samians had to pay some part straight indeed and some part they gave in a specified time since they agreed on providing hostages . And Duris the Samian made a tragic story of them as he accuses many crudeness to the Athenians and Pericles on which neither Thucydides nor Ephoros nor Aristotle give an account . But it seems , that he does not speak the truth when he describes , that he had there and then the Samian trierarchs and marines taken up and carried off and brought to the Milesian market , and be bound on timber and were displayed ill already for ten days and then had their heads smashed in with wood and that the bodies then were thrown away unburied . There it rather seems that Duris exaggerates the mishap of the fatherlands in slander of the Athenians , though he is not in wont indeed to add where he has in fact no own experience to rule over the truth in his narration . And when Pericles returned to Athens , after he had ruined Samos , he both made the burial for those who were fallen during this remarkable war and was magnified , since he said the speech on the grave , as it is habit . And the other women indeed greeted him with the right hand , when he came down from the tribune and decorated him with crown and band like a victorious athlete , when Elpinike came close . She said , Pericles , that is admirable and worth a crown , that you killed us many and good citizens since you neither fought with Phoenicians nor with Medians as my brother Cimon but by ruining a city allied and akin . Pericles said , after Elpinike had said that , to her smiling without motion the word of Archilochos : Do not anoil the skin with sweet oil when you are an old women . And Ion says that he was well aware of something marvellous and big when he defeated the Samians , since Agammenon seized a barbaric town in ten years , he seized the first and most powerful of the Ionians in nine months . And the dignity was not unjust , since the war actually brought much uncertainty and big danger , if really the city of Samos came , as Thucydides says , within a little to take away the Athenian supremacy over the sea .

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