Page:History of Greece Vol IX.djvu/277

 ASIATIC PROCEEDINGS. 255 of the expedition of Brasidas into Thrace) which helped to bring about the Asiatic expedition of Agesilaus, as an outlet for brave malcontents on distant and lucrative military service. Derkyllidas had now been carrying on war in Asia Minor fof near three years, against Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus, with so much efficiency and success, as both to protect the Asiatic Greeks on the coast, and to intercept all the revenues which those satraps either transmitted to court or enjoyed themselves. Pharnabazus had already gone up to Susa (during his truce with Derkyllidas in 397 B. c.), and besides obtaining a reinforcement which acted under himself and Tissaphernes in 396 B. c. against Derkyllidas in Lydia, had laid schemes for renewing the maritime war against Sparta. 1 It is now that we hear again mentioned the name of Konon, who, having saved himself with nine triremes from the defeat of -ZEgospotami, had remained for the last seven years under the protection of Evagoras, prince of Salamis, in Cyprus, Konon, having married at Salamis, and having a son 2 born to him there, indulged but faint hopes of ever returning to his native city, when, fortunately for him as well as for Athens, the Persians again became eager for an efficient admiral and fleet on the coast of Asia Minor. Through representations from Pharnabazus, as well as from Evagoras in Cyprus, and through correspondence of the latter with the Greek physician Ktesias, who wished to become personally employed in the negotiation, and who seems to have had considerable influence with queen Parysatis, 3 orders were obtained, and funds provided, to equip in Phoenicia and Ki- likia a numerous fleet, under the command of Konon. While that officer began to show himself, and to act with such triremes as he 1 Diodor. xiv, 39 ; Xen. Hellen. iii, 3, 13. 2 Lysias, Orat. xix, (De Bonis Aristophanis ) s. 38. 3 See Ktesias, Fragmenta, Persica, c. 63, ed. Bahr ; Plutarch, Artax. c. 21 We cannot make out these circumstances with any distinctness ; but the general fact is plainly testified, and is besides very probable. Another Gre- cian surgeon (besides Ktesias) is mentioned as concerned, Polykritus of Mende; and a Kretan dancer named Zeno, both established at the Per- sian court. There is no part of the narrative of Kv.esias, the loss of which is so much to be regretted as this ; relating transactions, in which he was him seK concerned, an 1 seemingly giving original letters.