44 HISTORY OF GREECE. On the retirement of the Lacedaemonian force, the Samian exiles were left destitute ; and looking out for some community to plunder, weak as well a? rich, they pitched upon the island of Siphnos. The Siphnians of that day were the wealthiest island- ers in the jEgean, from the productiveness of their gold and silver mines, the produce of which was annually distributed among the citizens, reserving a tithe for the Delphian temple. 1 Their treasure-chamber was among the most richly furnished of which that holy place could boast, and they themselves, probably, in these times of early prosperity, were numbered among the most brilliant of the lonii visitors at the Delian festival. The Samians landing at Siphnos, demanded a contribution, under the name of a loan, of ten talents : which being refused, they pro- ceeded to ravage the island, inflicting upon the inhabitants a severe defeat, and ultimately extorting from them one hundred talents. They next purchased from the inhabitants of Hennione, in the Argolic peninsula, the neighboring island of Hydrea, fa- mous in modern Greek warfare. But it appears that their plans must have been subsequently changed, for, instead of occupying it, they placed it under the care of the Troezenians, and repaired themselves to Krete, for the purpose of expelling the Zakynthian settlers at Kydonia. In this they succeeded, and were induced to establish themselves in that place. But after they had remained there five years, the Kretans obtained naval aid from JEgina, whereby the place was recovered, and the Samian intruders finally sold into slavery. 9 Such was the melancholy end of the enemies of Polykrates : meanwhile, that despot himself was more powerful and prosperous than ever. Samos, under him, was " the first of all cities, Hel- lenic or barbaric: 3 " and the great works admired by Herod- otus in the island, 4 an aqueduct for the city, tunnelled through a mountain for the length of seven furlongs, a mole to protect the harbor, two furlong? long and twenty fathoms deep, and the vast temple of Here, may probably have been enlarged and com- 1 Herodot. iii. 57. vrjcnuTlwv /j.u).iaTa tffa&nov.
- Herodot. iii, 53, 59.
1 Herodot. iii, 139. ITO/JUV TOCTCUV TrpuTTjv
- Herodot. iii, 60.
