Page:History of Greece Vol III.djvu/276

 2GO HISrORY OF GREECE. gate commonwealth, or polls. Nor can we doubt that such was the unavailing aspiration of many a patriot of Miletus or Ephesus, even before the final operations of Croesus were opened against them. That prince attacked the Greek cities successively, finding or making different pretences for hostility against each. He began with Ephesus, which is said to have been then governed by a despot of harsh and oppressive character, named Pindarus, whose father Melas had married a daughter of Alyattes, and who was, therefore, himself nephew of Croesus. 1 The latter, having in vain invited Pindarus and the Ephesians to surrender the town, brought up his forces and attacked the walls : one of the towers being overthrown, the Ephesians abandoned all hope of defend- ing their town, and sought safety by placing it under the guard- ianship of Artemis, to whose temple they carried a rope from the walls, a distance not less than seven furlongs. They at the same time sent a message of supplication to Croesus, who is said to have granted them the preservation of their liberties, out of reverence to the protection of Artemis ; exacting at the same time that Pindarus should quit the place. Such is the tale of which we find a confused mention in ./Elian and Polyoenus ; but Herodotus, while he notices the fact of the long rope whereby the Ephesians sought to place themselves in contact with their divine protectress, does not indicate that Croesus was induced to treat them more favorably. Ephesus, like all the other Grecian towns on the coast, was brought under subjection and tribute to him. 2 How he dealt with them, and what degree of coercive 1 If we may believe the narrative of Nikolaus Damnskenus, Croesus had been in relations with Ephesus and with the Ephesians during the time when be was hereditary prince, and in the lifetime of Alyattes. He had borrowed a large sum of money from a rich Ephesian named Pamphaes, which was essential to enable him to perform a military duty imposed upon him by his ihther. The story is given in some detail by Nikolaus, Fragm. p. 54, ed. Orcll., I know not upon what authority. 2 Herodot. i, 26 ; ^lian, V. H. iii, 26 ; Polysen. vi, 50. The story con- tained in JElian and Polysenus seems to come from Baton of Sinope ; see Gnhl, Ephesiaca. ii, 3, p. 26, and iv, 5, p. 150. The article in Suidas, v, 'Ap/crap^of, is far too vague to be interwoven aa a positive fact into Ephesian history, as Guhl interweaves it, immcdiiit*iv consequent on the retirement of Pindarus.