TERPSICHORE. 213

conspicuous. Whilst the armies were engaged by
land, the following incident happened to the two gen­
erals : Artybius, mounted on his horse, rushed against
Onesilus, who, as he had concerted with his servant,
aimed a blow at him as he approached: and whilst
the horse reared up his feet against the shield of One­
silus, the Carian cut them off with an axe. The horse,
with his master, fell instantly to the ground.

CXIII. In the midst of the battle, Stesenor, prince
of Curium, with a considerable body of forces, went
over to the enemy (it is said that the Curians are an
Argive colony); their example was followed by the
men of Salamis, in their chariots of war; from which
events the Persians obtained a decisive victory. The
Cyprians fled. Among the number of the slain was
Onesilus, son of Chersis, and the principal instigator
of the revolt; the Solian prince Aristocyprus also
fell, son of that Philocyprus, whom Solon of Athens,
when at Cyprus, celebrated in verse among other
sovereign princes.

CXIV. In revenge for his besieging them, the Ama-
thusians took the head of Onesilus, and carrying it
back in triumph, fixed it over their gates: some time
afterwards, when the inside of the head was decayed,
a swarm of bees settling within it, filled it with honey.
The people of Amathus consulted the oracle on the
occasion, and were directed to bury the head, and
every year to sacrifice to Onesilus as to a hero. Their
obedience involved a promise of future prosperity;
and even within my remembrance, they have perform­
ed what was required of them.

CXV. The Ionians, although successful in the naval
engagement off Cyprus, as soon as they heard of the
defeat and death of Onesilus, and that all the cities
of Cyprus were closely blockaded, except Salamis,
which the citizens had restored to Gorgus, their for­
mer sovereign, returned with all possible expedition
to Ionia. Of all the towns in Cyprus, Soli made the
longest and most vigorous defence; but of this, by un­
dermining the place, the Persians obtained possession
after a five months' siege.

CXVI. Thus the Cyprians, having enjoyed their