240 HISTORY OF GREECE. casion required. 1 And in addition to these administrative, finan- cial, and monetary arrangements, of which Darius was the first originator, we may 'probably ascribe to him the first introduction of that system of roads, resting-places, and permanent relays of couriers, which connected both Susa and Ekbatana with the dis- tant portions of the empire. Herodotus describes in considerable detail the imperial road from Sardis to S'isa. a journey of ninety days, crossing the Halys, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Greater and Lesser Zab, the Gyndes, and the Choaspes. And we may see by this account that in his time it was kept in excellent order, with convenience for travellers. 2 It was Darius also who first completed the conquest of the Ionic Greeks by the acquisition of the important island of Samoa. That island had maintained its independence, at the time when the Persian general Harpagus effected the conquest of Ionia. It did not yield voluntarily when Chios and Lesbos submitted, and the Persians had no fleet to attack it ; nor had the Phenicians yet been taught to round the Triopian cape. Indeed, the depres- sion which overtook the other cities of Ionia, tended rather to the aggrandizement of Samos, under the energetic and unscru- pulous despotism of Polykrates. That ambitious Samian, about ten years after the conquest of Sardis by Cyrus (seemingly be- tween 536 -532 B.C.), contrived to seize by force or fraud the government of his native island, with the aid of his brothers Pantagnotus and Syloson, and a small band of conspirators. 3 At first, the three brothers shared the supreme power ; but presently Polykrates put to death Pantagnotus, banished Syloson, and made himself despot alone. In this station, his ambition, his perfidy, and his good fortune, were alike remarkable. He con- 1 Herodot. iii, 96. 3 Herodot. v, 52-53; viii, 98. "It appears to be a favorite idea with all barbarous princes, that the badness of the roads adds considerably to the nntural strength of their dominions. The Turks and Persians are un- doubtedly of this opinion : the public highways are, therefore, neglected, and particularly so towards the frontiers." (Kinneir, Geog. Mem. cf Pers p. 43.) Th *. description of Herodotus contrasts favorably with the picture ben giien oy Mr. Kinneir. Heix>dot. iii, 120.
