ady mentioned that he
succeeded Aristides in the command of the allied fleet. His first
exploits were the capture of Eion on the Strymon, and the reduction of
the island of Scyros (B.C. 476). A few years afterwards we find the
first symptoms of discontent among the members of the Confederacy of
Delos. Naxos, one of the confederate islands, and the largest of the
Cyclades, revolted in B.C. 466, probably from a feeling of the growing
oppressiveness of the Athenian headship. It was immediately invested
by the confederate fleet, reduced, and made tributary to Athens. This
was another step towards dominion gained by the Athenians, whose
pretensions were assisted by the imprudence of the allies. Many of the
smaller states belonging to the confederacy, wearied with perpetual
hostilities, commuted for a money payment the ships which they were
bound to supply; and thus, by depriving themselves of a navy, lost the
only means by which they could assert their independence.

The same year was marked by a memorable action against the Persians.
Cimon at the head of 200 Athenian triremes, and 100 furnished by the
allies, proceeded to the coast of Asia Minor. The Persians had
assembled a large fleet and army at the mouth of the river Eurymedon in
Pamphylia. After speedily defeating the fleet, Cimon landed his men
and marched against the Persian army which was drawn up on the shore to
protect the fleet. The land-force fought with bravery, but was at
length put to the rout.

The island of Thasos was the next member of the confederacy against
which the Athenians directed their arms. After a siege of more than
two years that island surrendered, when its fortifications were razed,
and it was condemned to pay tribute (B.C. 463).

The expedition to Thasos was attended with a circumstance which first
gives token of the coming hostilities between Sparta and Athens. At an
early period of the blockade the Thasians secretly applied to the
Lacedaemonians to make a diversion in their favour by invading Attica:
and though the Lacedaemonians were still ostensibly allied with Athens,
they were base enough to comply with this request. Their treachery,
however, was prevented by a terrible calamity which befel themselves.
In the year B.C. 461 their capital was visited by an earthquake which
laid it in ruins and killed 20,000 of the citizens. But this was only
part of the calamity. The earthquake was immediately followed by a
revolt of the H