and violence against the persons of the Asiatic heralds.

Fresh fuel was thus added to the anger of Darius against Athens,
and the Persian preparations went on with renewed vigour. In the
summer of 490 B.C., the army destined for the invasion was
assembled in the Aleian plain of Cilicia, near the sea. A fleet
of six hundred galleys and numerous transports was collected on
the coast for the embarkation of troops, horse as well as foot.
A Median general named Datis, and Artaphernes, the son of the
satrap of Sardis, and who was also nephew of Darius, were placed
in titular joint command of the expedition. That the real
supreme authority was given to Datis alone is probable, from the
way in which the Greek writers speak of him. We know no details
of the previous career of this officer; but there is every reason
to believe that his abilities and bravery had been proved by
experience, or his Median birth would have prevented his being
placed in high command by Darius. He appears to have been the
first Mede who was thus trusted by the Persian kings after the
overthrow of the conspiracy of the Median Magi against the
Persians immediately before Darius obtained the throne. Datis
received instructions to complete the subjugation of Greece, and
especial orders were given him with regard to Eretria and Athens.
He was to take these two cities; and he was to lead the
inhabitants away captive, and bring them as slaves into the
presence of the Great King.

Datis embarked his forces in the fleet that awaited them; and
coasting along the shores of Asia Minor till he was off Samos, he
thence sailed due westward through the AEgean Sea for Greece,
taking the islands in his way. The Naxians had, ten years