Histories

and, whether on purpose to show contempt for Oroetes, or by mere chance, when Oroetes' herald entered and addressed him, Polycrates, then lying with his face to the wall, never turned or answered him.

These are the two reasons alleged for Polycrates' death; believe whichever you like. But the consequence was that Oroetes, then at Magnesia ad Meander [27.416,37.833] (deserted settlement), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaMagnesia which is above the river +Buyukmenderes Nehri [27.183,37.466] (river), Turkey, Asia Maeander, sent Myrsus son of Gyges, a Lydian, with a message to +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, having learned Polycrates' intention;

for Polycrates was the first of the Greeks whom we know to aim at the mastery of the sea, leaving out of account Minos of +Knossos [25.166,35.3] (deserted settlement), Iraklion, Crete, Greece, Europe Cnossus and any others who before him may have ruled the sea; of what may be called the human race Polycrates was the first, and he had great hope of ruling Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia and the Islands.