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[1]
Darius asked this and thirty men promised, each wanting to do it himself. Darius told them not argue but draw lots; they did, and the lot fell to Bagaeus, son of Artontes.
Darius asked this and thirty men promised, each wanting to do it himself. Darius told them not argue but draw lots; they did, and the lot fell to Bagaeus, son of Artontes.
[2]
Bagaeus, having drawn the lot, did as follows: he had many letters written concerning many things and put the seal of
Darius on them, and then went with them to
Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus)
Sardis
.
[3] When he got there and came into
Oroetes' presence, he took out each letter in turn and gave it to one of the royal scribes to read (all of the governors of the King have scribes);
Bagaeus gave the letters to test the spearmen, whether they would consent to revolt against
Oroetes.
[4] Seeing that they were greatly affected by the rolls and yet more by what was written in them, he gave another, in which were these words: “
Persians!
King Darius forbids you to be
Oroetes' guard.” Hearing this, they lowered their spears for him.
[5] When
Bagaeus saw that they obeyed the letter so far, he was encouraged and gave the last roll to the scribe, in which was written: “
King Darius instructs the
Persians in
Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus)
Sardis
to kill
Oroetes.” Hearing this the spearmen drew their scimitars and killed him at once. Thus atonement for
Polycrates the
Samian overtook
Oroetes the
Persian.
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
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