The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

306 -THE FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE
result, the Spartan force became "much more enthusiastic. " 56 We
should not forget that Cyrus was hardly more than a boy; no doubt
he was moved by generous feelings of friendship and admiration for
the courteous Spartan commander. At the same time, his interests
required that he win the confidence and friendship of the Spartans
and reverse the negative trend the naval war had taken. Moreover,
only a royal prince, and the queen's favorite at that, could have raised
the Spartans' pay on the spot without consulting Susa.
When Lysander returned to Ephesus, he brought enough money to
raise the spirits of his men and promises of more, but he had received
only enough to carry on for a month. However sincere Cyrus' rhetoric
and intentions mar have been, Lysander remained on a leash to the
prince; to get mor~ money he would need to stay in Cyrus' good graces
and account to him. 57 That may have been one reason that Lysander
took steps to gain the support of the aristocrats of Ionia when he
returned from his trip to Sardis. He called the most powerful men
from the various cities to a meeting at Ephesus. There he urged them
to form political organizations (hetairiai) and promised that if he succeeded
and overthrew the Athenian Empire he would put down the
democracies and give each of their groups control of its city. The
immediate result was gratifying: he aroused great enthusiasm and collected
impressive contributions toward his conduct of the war. 58 If
Plutarch is right, he also used the occasion to build a political base for
his own ambitions, doing favors for, encouraging, and collaborating
with these men and "planting in them the seeds of the revolutionary
decarchies he would later bring into being. " 59 Although Plutarch may
56
Xen. 1.5.6-7.
57
Bommelaer, Lysandre, 86. With zoo men per ship, each trireme cost about 133
drachmas each day at the new rate of 4 obols. Lysander's fleet of seventy ships,
therefore, cost 9,210 drachmas a day and 276,Joo drachmas, or abom 46 talents, each
month. At that rate, the royal money would last almost eleven months. Lysander,
however, planned to increase his fleet and did, so the money would run out even
sooner. No doubt Cyrus could also have used the revenues fmm his province, as well,
before turning to his own money. In any case, we should not credit the assertion by
Diodorus (IJ.70.J) that Cyrus had instructions from his father to give the Spanans
whatever they might want. Diodorus and Plutarch (Lys. 4.6) say that Cyrus gave
Lysander tO,ooo darics on the spot. We cannot be sure of the value of the daric at this
time, although it seems to have been worth 20 drachmas. Lewis (Sparta and Perria, 131,
n. q6) says "it certainly is less than the arrears plus a month's pay."
58 Diod. IJ.70+ Plutarch (Lys. 6.3) places this assembly after the battle ofNotium,
but as Lotze (Lysander, 18, n. 1) points out, he does so chiefly for artistic reasons.
Diodorus' placement of the event is preferable.
59
Plut. Lys. 6. 3-4.