Classical literature; Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C.; Greece -- History -- Spartan and Theban Supremacies, 404-362 B.C.
394 B.C. Such were the land operations in the war. Meanwhile another
series of events was being enacted on the sea and within the seaboard
cities; and these I will now narrate in detail. But I shall confine my
pen to the more memorable incidents, and others of less account I shall
pass over.
In the first place, then, Pharnabazus and Conon, after defeating the
Lacedaemonians in the naval engagement of Cnidus, commenced a tour of
inspection round the islands and the maritime states, expelling from
them, as they visited them, one after another the Spartan governors. (1)
Everywhere they gave consolatory assurances to the citizens that they
had no intention of establishing fortress citadels within their walls,
or in any way interfering with their self-government. (2) Such words
fell soothingly upon the ears of those to whom they were addressed;
the proposals were courteously accepted; all were eager to present
Pharnabazus with gifts of friendship and hospitality. The satrap,
indeed, was only applying the instructions of his master Conon on these
matters--who had taught him that if he acted thus all the states would
be friendly to him, whereas, if he showed any intention to enslave them,
the smallest of them would, as Conon insisted, be capable of causing
a world of trouble, and the chances were, if apprehensions were once
excited, he would find himself face to face with a coalition of united
Hellas. To these admonitions Pharnabazus lent a willing ear.
(1) Lit. "the Laconian harmosts."
(2) See Hicks, 70, "Honours to Konon," Inscript. found at Erythrae in
Ionia. Cf. Diod. xiv. 84.
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