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

384 THE FALL OF THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE
step taken to undermine the influence of Lysander by supporting his
opponents. Later, Tissaphernes would restore these anti-Lysandrian
Milesians to their city, which then became a center of hostiliry to
Cyrus and Lysander." At the same time that Pharnabazus was preparing
to check the influence of Lysander, Tissaphernes had gone with
Cyrus to Media under the guise of friendship." In fact, he was keeping
close watch on the prince, as his father's illness made a succession
crisis seem imminent. The two Persian magnates were alert to the
danger presented by the alliance of the ambitious Persian prince and
his Spartan associate.
From Miletus, Lysander continued on his way south to Caria. There
he attacked Iasus, which had returned to the Athenian side after its
conquest by the Spartans in 412. 25 He stormed the walls, killed the
men, sold the women and children as slaves, and leveled the city. From
there he sailed to Cedreiae on the Ceramic Gulf, another Athenian
ally, which he also took by storm, enslaving its population. 26 These
acts of terror against Greek cities were in sharp contrast to the Panhellenic
policies of Callicratidas, no doubt deliberately so. All of Lysander's
actions since his return demonstrated the advantages of
collaboration with him and the danger of opposition. The significant
distinction was not between Greek and barbarian but between friend
and foe. From Caria, Lysander sailed west across the Aegean. He
gained control of some islands along the way and overran Aegina and
Salamis before landing in Attica itself, where Agis came from Decelea
to meet him." The ancient writers do not explain the purpose of this
voyage, and some modern scholars have denied that it happened." No
doubt, Lysander was glad of a chance to display his power and daring,
to terrify the Athenians, and to plan a coordinated strategy with his
political ally Agis. 29 But he may have had a more pressing strategic
motive as well. Lysander's ultimate target was the Hellespont. AI-
21 Xen. Anab. I. 1.6; 9.9; 7.18.2; Polyaenus 7.18:z.
HXen. Anah. 1.1.2.
15 Diod. IJ. I04-7· Conquest by Spartans: Thuc. 8.z8.J. I accept theemendation/asos
for the Thassos or Thams of the MSS.
26
Xen. 2.1.15.
27
Rhodes: Xen. 2. 1. 16; Attica: Diod. 13· 104.8; the islands and Attica: Plut. Lys.
9-2-J.
211
Xenophon omits everything west of Rhodes, and Diodorus gives it only a sentence.
Plutarch alone gives it any substance. Beloch (GG 2 Il:z, 142J-1424) and Busolt (GG
lll:z, 1617) reject the voyage across the Aegean.
29
These are among the motives suggested by Rahe, "Lysander/' 8(}-82.