Today's Passage
This passage describes the corruption of Pausanias, the Spartan regent and victor at Plataea (479 BCE), through his secret correspondence with the Persian King Xerxes.
Crawley Translation (1910)
This was all that was revealed in the writing, and Xerxes was pleased with the letter. He sent off Artabazus, son of Pharnaces, to the sea with orders to supersede Megabates, the previous governor in the satrapy of Daskylion, and to send over as quickly as possible to Pausanias at Byzantium a letter which he entrusted to him; to show him the royal signet, and to execute any commission which he might receive from Pausanias on the King’s matters with all care and fidelity. Artabazus on his arrival carried the King’s orders into effect, and sent over the letter, which contained the following answer: “Thus saith King Xerxes to Pausanias. For the men whom you have saved for me across sea from Byzantium, an obligation is laid up for you in our house, recorded for ever; and with your proposals I am well pleased. Let neither night nor day stop you from diligently performing any of your promises to me; neither for cost of gold nor of silver let them be hindered, nor yet for number of troops, wherever it may be that their presence is needed; but with Artabazus, an honourable man whom I send you, boldly advance my objects and yours, as may be most for the honour and interest of us both.”
Before held in high honour by the Hellenes as the hero of Plataea, Pausanias, after the receipt of this letter, became prouder than ever, and could no longer live in the usual style, but went out of Byzantium in a Median dress, was attended on his march through Thrace by a bodyguard of Medes and Egyptians, kept a Persian table, and was quite unable to contain his intentions, but betrayed by his conduct in trifles what his ambition looked one day to enact on a grander scale. He also made himself difficult of access, and displayed so violent a temper to every one without exception that no one could come near him. Indeed, this was the principal reason why the confederacy went over to the Athenians.
The above-mentioned conduct, coming to the ears of the Lacedaemonians, occasioned his first recall. And after his second voyage out in the ship of Hermione, without their orders, he gave proofs of similar behaviour. Besieged and expelled from Byzantium by the Athenians, he did not return to Sparta; but news came that he had settled at Colonae in the Troad, and was intriguing with the barbarians, and that his stay there was for no good purpose; and the ephors, now no longer hesitating, sent him a herald and a scytale with orders to accompany the herald or be declared a public enemy. Anxious above everything to avoid suspicion, and confident that he could quash the charge by means of money, he returned a second time to Sparta. At first thrown into prison by the ephors (whose powers enable them to do this to the King), soon compromised the matter and came out again, and offered himself for trial to any who wished to institute an inquiry concerning him.
Modern Translation
This was everything the letter revealed, and Xerxes was delighted with its contents. He dispatched Artabazus, son of Pharnaces, to the coast with instructions to replace Megabates, the current governor of the Daskylion satrapy, and to deliver as swiftly as possible to Pausanias at Byzantium a letter he had entrusted to him. He was to display the royal seal and to carry out with utmost care and loyalty any commission Pausanias might give him regarding the King's affairs. Upon arriving, Artabazus executed the King's commands and transmitted the letter, which contained this response: "Thus speaks King Xerxes to Pausanias: For the men you saved for me across the sea from Byzantium, an eternal debt of gratitude is recorded in our royal archives. Your proposals please me greatly. Let neither night nor day prevent you from diligently fulfilling your promises to me; let them not be hindered by the expense of gold or silver, nor by the number of troops required, wherever their presence might be necessary. Together with Artabazus, an honorable man whom I send to you, boldly advance both my interests and yours in whatever way brings the greatest honor and advantage to us both."
Pausanias, already highly esteemed by the Greeks as the victor of Plataea, became even more arrogant after receiving this letter. He could no longer tolerate living in the customary manner but left Byzantium dressed in Persian attire, traveled through Thrace accompanied by a bodyguard of Medes and Egyptians, dined at a Persian-style table, and proved utterly incapable of concealing his ambitions. Through trivial actions, he revealed what he hoped to accomplish on a much larger scale in the future. He also became increasingly inaccessible and displayed such a violent temper toward everyone without distinction that no one could approach him. This behavior was indeed the primary reason why the allied states transferred their allegiance to Athens.
When the Spartans learned of this conduct, they recalled him for the first time. After he sailed out again on the ship from Hermione without their permission, he exhibited similar behavior. When the Athenians besieged and expelled him from Byzantium, he didn't return to Sparta but settled instead at Colonae in the Troad. News arrived that he was negotiating with the Persians and that his presence there served no legitimate purpose. The ephors, hesitating no longer, sent him a herald bearing a scytale with orders to return with the herald or be declared an enemy of the state. Desperate to avoid suspicion and confident he could dismiss the charges through bribery, he returned to Sparta a second time. The ephors immediately imprisoned him (their authority permits them to do this even to the King), but he soon negotiated his release and offered to stand trial before anyone who wished to bring charges against him.
Historical Context
This passage describes the corruption of Pausanias, the Spartan regent and victor at Plataea (479 BCE), through his secret correspondence with the Persian King Xerxes. After commanding Greek forces at Byzantium, Pausanias began negotiating with Persia, offering to help subjugate Greece in exchange for power and a Persian princess in marriage. The letter from Xerxes shows the King's enthusiasm for this treachery, promising unlimited resources through his satrap Artabazus. Pausanias's subsequent adoption of Persian customs and his tyrannical behavior alienated the Greek allies, contributing to Sparta's loss of leadership in the Delian League to Athens. This episode illustrates how personal ambition could override patriotic loyalty and demonstrates the ongoing Persian attempts to influence Greek politics through bribery and promises of power, even after their military defeats.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Persian Satrapal System
The satrapy of Daskylion was a key administrative region in northwestern Anatolia, controlling the Asian shore of the Propontis. Satraps like Artabazus wielded considerable autonomous power while serving as the King's representatives, managing taxation, military forces, and diplomatic relations.
Learn more →Spartan Ephorate
The five ephors were Sparta's most powerful magistrates, elected annually. They could prosecute and even temporarily imprison kings, as shown here. This institutional check on royal power was unique in Greece and reflected Sparta's complex constitution balancing different elements of government.
Learn more →Medism in Greek Politics
"Medism" referred to collaboration with Persia (the Medes). Pausanias's adoption of Persian dress and customs was particularly shocking given his role in defeating Persia. Such cultural betrayal was seen as both personal corruption and political treason in Greek society.
Learn more →Battle of Plataea
The 479 BCE battle where Pausanias commanded the allied Greek forces to victory over the Persians, effectively ending the Persian invasion. This victory had made him the most celebrated military leader in Greece, making his subsequent betrayal all the more dramatic.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Aristides (23.1-3)
Plutarch provides additional details about Pausanias's Persian negotiations and how his behavior at Byzantium led the allies to approach Aristides and the Athenians for leadership, corroborating Thucydides's account of the transfer of hegemony.
Read passage →Herodotus: Histories (9.82)
Describes Pausanias's behavior after Plataea, showing early signs of the luxury and arrogance that would later lead to his downfall, including his interest in Persian wealth and customs even immediately after the victory.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (11.44-46)
Provides a parallel account of Pausanias's treachery and correspondence with Xerxes, including additional details about his promises to enslave Greece and his request to marry a Persian princess.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Pausanias's transformation illustrate the corrupting influence of power? What specific behaviors mark his decline from Greek hero to Persian sympathizer?
- What does this passage reveal about the delicate balance between personal ambition and civic duty in ancient Greek political culture?
- How did the institutional differences between Sparta (with its ephors and dual kingship) and Persia (with its absolute monarchy) create opportunities for corruption and betrayal?
- In what ways does Thucydides use this episode to explain the shift of leadership from Sparta to Athens in the Delian League? Is his explanation convincing?