Under the reign of Darius Ochus, the Athenians, seduced by the
persuasions of Aristagoras, embarked in an ill-fated expedition against
the city of Sardis. We say ill-fated, although they burnt the city,
with the exception of the citadel, because this unprovoked attack
was the source of all the subsequent wars between Greece and Persia,
which produced so many calamities to both countries. The city being
principally built of reeds, was soon fired, and as quickly destroyed;
but the citadel proved impregnable. The Lydians and Persians, highly
exasperated, drove the Athenians and Ionians back to Ephesus, and
destroyed many of their ships. Darius being informed of the burning of
Sardis, and of the part the Athenians had taken in the affair, resolved
from that time to make war upon Greece; and, that he might never forget
this resolution, he commanded one of his officers to cry out to him
with a loud voice, every night, when he was at supper: “Sire, remember
the Athenians!” In the burning of Sardis, a temple of Cybele, the
peculiar goddess of that country, was consumed, which was the reason
the Persians, in their invasions of Greece, destroyed every sacred
edifice that fell in their power.