Aristagoras (2)

The tyrant of the city of Kyzikos (Cyzicus) in the upper portion of Mysia circa 495 BCE.

• Note: this entry and that of Aristagoras of Kyme are essentially the same

When the Persian king, Darius, tried to invade Skythia (Scythia), Aristagoras and other allies were left at the Ister (Danube River) to guard the pontoon bridge which had granted Darius’ army entry into Europe and assured his return to Asia Minor.

When it became obvious that Darius was defeated and that the Skythians had outmaneuvered the Persian army, the Skythians told the allies to tear down the bridge and let them capture and kill Darius.

Aristagoras and the other allies reasoned that Darius was the source of their authority and that his death would surely mean the end of their tyrannies; the allies made a pretense of destroying the bridge to appease the Skythians and waited for Darius to arrive.

The Skythians were unable to find Darius and his army because, being strangers in Skythia, they became lost and were not where the Skythians thought they should be; Darius returned to the bridge and made his escape from Europe.

The Skythians decided that, as free men, Aristagoras and the other allies were base and unmanly but as slaves they were very good because they were subservient and loyal.

• Histories, book 4, chapter 138