People > Coes of Mytilene

Coes of Mytilene

Background

Coes of Mytilene supported King Darius Hystaspes of Persia in his Scythian expedition as commander of the Mytilenaeans. Coes dissuaded the king from breaking up his bridge of boats over the Danube, and so cutting off his own retreat. For this good counsel he was rewarded by Darius on his return with the tyranny of Mytilene. In 499 BC, when the Ionians had been encouraged to revolt by Aristagoras, Coes, with several of the other tyrants, was seized by Aristagoras at Myus, where the Persian fleet that had been engaged at Naxos was lying. They were delivered up to the people of their cities. Most of them were allowed to go unhurt into exile other than Coes who was stoned to death by the Mytileneans.

References

Mellersh, H.E.L., Chronology of the Ancient World - 10,000 BC to 799 AD, 1976, pg 104