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198 STRABO. CASATJB. 478. even the bands of pirates were recruited. During the stay of Dorylaiis in the island, a war happened to break out be- tween the Cnossians and the Gortynians. He was appointed general by the Cnossians, and having finished the war speed- ily and successfully, he obtained the highest honours. A short time afterwards, being informed that Euergetes had been treacherously put to death by his courtiers at Sinope, and that he was succeeded in the government by his wife and children, he abandoned everything there, remained at Cnos- sus, and married a Macedonian woman of the name of Ste- rope, by whom he had two sons, Lagetas and Stratarchas, (the latter I myself saw when in extreme old age,) and one daughter. Of the two sons of Euergetes, he who was sur- named Eupator succeeded to the throne when he was eleven years of age ; Dorylaiis, the son of Philetserus, was his foster- brother. Philetserus was the brother of Dorylaiis the Tac- tician. The king had been so much pleased with his intimacy with Dorylaiis when they lived together as children, that on attaining manhood he not only promoted Dorylaiis to the high- est honours, but extended his regard to his relations and sent for them from Cnossus. At this time Lagetas and his brother had lost their father, and were themselves grown up to manhood. They quitted Cnossus, and came to Mithridates. My mother's mother was the daughter of Lagetas. While he enjoyed prosperity, they also prospered ; but upon his downfal (for he was detected in attempting to transfer the kingdom to the Romans with a view to his own appointment to the sovereignty) the affairs of Cnossus were involved in his ruin and disgrace ; and all intercourse with the Cnossians, who themselves had experienced innumerable vicissitudes of fortune, was suspended. So much then respecting Cnossus. 11. After Cnossus, the city Gortyna seems to have held the second place in rank and power. For when these cities acted in concert they held in subjection all the rest of the in- habitants, and when they were at variance there was discord throughout the island ; and whichever party Cydonia espoused, to them she was a most important accession. The city of the Gortynians lies in a plain, and was perhaps anciently protected by a wall, as Homer also intimates,