> Note
> Jordanes, Getica XI (67)
> (written approx. 551 CE)
> http://people.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/jordgeti.html
> 'Then when Buruista
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burebista
> was king of the Goths, Dicineus
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaeneus
> came to Gothia at the time when Sulla [consul first time 88 BCE -
> retired 81 BCE] ruled the Romans. Buruista received Dicineus and
> gave him almost royal power. It was by his advice the Goths ravaged
> the lands of the Germans, which the Franks now possess.'
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Frankish_Empire_481_to_814-en.svg
>
> Which means the Dacians may have passed on Germanic POWs as slaves
> to whoever wanted to buy them (pirates). Selling your neighbour as
> usual would not have been something Burebista would want to promote.
> This might be where the Germani in Spartacus' army came from. In
> the
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mithridatic_War (88 - 84 BCE)
> and
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Mithridatic_War (83 - 81 BCE)
> the slave port of
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panticapaeon
> in the
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosporan_Kingdom
> would have been inaccessible to the Romans, and the Latin
> colonization of devastated formerly hostile Italic territory
> after the
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_War_%2891%E2%80%9388_BC%29
> would have demanded the acquisition of slaves in large numbers
>
Destroying Delos and Chios, the two greatest slave markets in the Mediterranean world, seemed to be important war objectives to Mithridates, or only to some of his generals? The sources seem both to hesitate on whether to blame Mithridates or his generals Archelaus, Menophanes and Zenobius for the destruction of those islands and to show that destruction as the result of events developing, not as a pre-planned objective, perhaps, although the driving force for his armies and their officers was to liberate their countrymen from foreign slavery, and at least reduce the slave harvesting in their peoples, Mithridates himself was aware of the need for slaves, not least in his own preparations for war.
Events in 88 BCE
Archelaus and Menophanes capture Delos and other islands in the Aegean Sea.
http://attalus.org/bc1/year88.html#54
Delos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delos
'The island had no productive capacity for food, fiber, or timber, with such being imported. Limited water was exploited with an extensive cistern and aqueduct system, wells, and sanitary drains. Various regions operated agoras (markets). The largest slave market in the larger region was also maintained here.'
On Delos is a temple of Theos Hypsistos,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypsistos
the Highest God, also worshiped in the Bosporan Kingdom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delos_Synagogue
Strabo, Geography, 10, 5, 4
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Strab.+10.5.4
'Now although Delos had become so famous, yet the razing of Corinth to the ground by the Romans [146 B.C.] increased its fame still more; for the importers changed their business to Delos because they were attracted both by the immunity which the temple enjoyed and by the convenient situation of the harbor; for it is happily situated for those who are sailing from Italy and Greece to Asia. The general festival is a kind of commercial affair, and it was frequented by Romans more than by any other people, even when Corinth was still in existence [as many as ten thousand slaves were sold there in one day (14.5.2)]. And when the Athenians took the island they at the same time took good care of the importers as well as of the religious rites. But when the generals of Mithridates, and the tyrant [Aristion, through the aid of Mithridates, made himself tyrant of Athens in 88 B.C. (cf. 9.1.20)] who caused it to revolt, visited Delos, they completely ruined it, and when the Romans again got the island, after the king withdrew to his homeland, it was desolate; and it has remained in an impoverished condition until the present time. It is now held by the Athenians.'
Pausanias, Description of Greece, 3.23.2-5
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+3.23
'2 ... After doubling the point of Malea and proceeding a hundred stades, you reach a place on the coast within the frontier of the Boeatae, which is sacred to Apollo and called Epidelium.
3 For the wooden image which is now here, once stood in Delos. Delos was then a Greek market, and seemed to offer security to traders on account of the god; but as the place was unfortified and the inhabitants unarmed, Menophanes, an officer of Mithridates, attacked it with a fleet, to show his contempt for the god, or acting on the orders of Mithridates; for to a man whose object is gain what is sacred is of less account than what is profitable.
4 This Menophanes put to death the foreigners residing there and the Delians themselves, and after plundering much property belonging to the traders and all the offerings, and also carrying women and children away as slaves, he razed Delos itself to the ground. As it was being sacked and pillaged, one of the barbarians wantonly flung this image into the sea; but the wave took it and brought it to land here in the country of the Boeatae. For this reason they call the place Epidelium.
5 But neither Menophanes nor Mithridates himself escaped the wrath of the god. Menophanes, as he was putting to sea after the sack of Delos was sunk at once by those of the merchants who had escaped; for they lay in wait for him in ships. The god caused Mithridates at a later date to lay hands upon himself, when his empire had been destroyed and he himself was being hunted on all sides by the Romans. There are some who say that he obtained a violent death as a favour at the hands of one of his mercenaries. This was the reward of their impiety.'
Appian's History of Rome: The Mithridatic Wars §28
'[88 BCE]
28 While Mithridates was thus occupied the following events took place in Greece: Archelaus, sailing thither with abundant supplies and a large fleet, possessed himself by force and violence of Delos and other strongholds which had revolted from the Athenians. He slew 20,000 men in these places, most of whom were Italians, and turned the strongholds over to the Athenians. In this way, and by boasting about Mithridates and extravagantly praising him, he brought the Athenians into alliance with him.
[87 BCE]
Archelaus sent them the sacred treasure of Delos by the hands of Aristion, an Athenian citizen, attended by 2,000 soldiers to guard the money. These soldiers Aristion made use of to make himself master of the country, putting to death immediately some of those who favored the Romans and sending others to Mithridates. And these things he did although he professed to be a philosopher of the school of Epicurus.'
Florus Epitome I, XL, III, 6-8
http://tinyurl.com/34k9c4y
'6 The first assault immediately won Bithynia; whereupon Asia was seized by a general panic, and without delay our cities and peoples revolted to the king.
7 He was on the spot, he was insistent, he practised cruelty as though it were a virtue. For what could be more outrageous than that one decree of his by which he gave orders for the murder of all those in Asia who were of Roman citizenship? At the same time the sanctity of private houses, temples and altars, and all laws, human and divine, were violated.
8 The alarm thus inspired in Asia also opened to the king the gates of Europe. He, therefore, sent his generals, Archelaus and Neoptolemus, and (except Rhodes, which supported us more loyally than ever) all the Cyclades, Delos, Euboea and Athens itself, the glory of Greece, were occupied. '
Chios:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chios
Appian's History of Rome: The Mithridatic Wars §§46-47
http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appian_mithridatic_10.html#%A746
'46 ... Being angry with the inhabitants of Chios, one of whose vessels had accidentally run against the royal ship in the naval battle near Rhodes, he first confiscated the goods of all Chians who had fled to Sulla, and then sent persons to inquire what property in Chios belonged to Romans. For a third move, his general, Zenobius, who was conducting an army to Greece, seized the walls of Chios and all the fortified places by night, stationed guards at the gates, and made proclamation that all strangers should remain quiet, and that the Chians should repair to the assembly so that he might give them a message from the king. When they had come together he said that the king was suspicious of the city on account of the Roman faction in it, but that he would be satisfied if they would deliver up their arms and give the children of their principal families as hostages. Seeing that their city was already in his hands they gave both. Zenobius sent them to Erythrae and told the Chians that the king would write to them directly.
47 A letter came from Mithridates of the following tenor: "You favor the Romans even now, and many of your citizens are still sojourning with them. You are reaping the fruits of Roman property of which you do not make returns to us. Your trireme ran against and shook my ship in the battle before Rhodes. I willingly imputed that fault to the pilots alone, hoping that you would observe the rules of safety and remain my submissive subjects. Now you have secretly sent your chief men to Sulla, and you have never proved or declared that this was done without public authority, as was the duty of those who were not cooperating with them. Although my friends consider that those who conspire against my government, and who intend to conspire against my person, ought to suffer death, I will let you off with a fine of 2,000 talents."
Such was the purport of the letter. The Chians wanted to send legates to the king, but Zenobius would not allow it. As they were disarmed and had given up the children of their principal families, and a large barbarian army was in possession of the city, they groaned aloud, but they collected the temple ornaments and the women's jewelry to the full amount of 2,000 talents.
When this sum had been made up Zenobius accused them of giving him short weight and summoned them to the theater. Then he stationed his army with drawn swords around the theater itself and along the streets leading from it to the sea. Then he led the Chians one by one out of the theater and put them in ships, the men separate from the women and children, and all treated with indignity by their barbarian captors. In this way they were dragged to Mithridates, who packed them off to Pontus on the Euxine. Such was the calamity that befell the citizens of Chios.'
Memnon: History of Heracleia 23
'23 Mithridates accused the Chians of aiding the Rhodians, and sent Dorylaus against them. Dorylaus captured the city with some difficulty. Then he allotted the land to men from Pontus, and he transported the Chians by sea to Pontus. 2 The Heracleians, who were allies of the Chians, attacked the Pontic ships carrying the captives as they sailed past and brought them back to the city without resistance, because the ships were not equipped to defend themselves. The Heracleians promptly revived the Chians by providing them unstintingly with everything they needed, and later restored them to their fatherland, after offering generous gifts to them.'
Athenaeus: The Deipnosophists 88-91
http://attalus.org/old/athenaeus6d.html#266
'88 Now of all the Greeks, I conceive that the Chians were the first people who used slaves purchased with money, as is related by Theopompus, in the seventeenth book of his Histories; where he says,- "The Chians were the first of the Greeks, after the Thessalians and Lacedaemonians, who used slaves. But they did not acquire them in the same manner as those others did; for the Lacedaemonians and the Thessalians will be found to have derived their slaves from Greek tribes, who formerly inhabited the country which they now possess: the one having Achaean slaves, but the Thessalians having Perrhaebian and Magnesian slaves; and the one nation called their slaves Helots, and the others called them Penestae. But the Chians have barbarian slaves, and they have bought them at a price." Theopompus, then, has given this account. But I think that, on this account, the Deity was angry with the Chians; for at a subsequent period they were subdued by their slaves. Accordingly, Nymphodorus the Syracusan, in his Voyage along the Coast of Asia, gives this account of them :- "The slaves of the Chians deserted them, and escaped to the mountains; and then, collecting in great numbers, ravaged the country-houses about; for the island is very rugged and much overgrown with trees. But, a little before our time, the Chians themselves relate, that one of their slaves deserted, and took up his habitation in the mountains; and, being a man of great courage and very prosperous in his warlike undertakings, he assumed the command of the runaway slaves, as a king would take the command of an army; and though the Chians often made expeditions against him, they were able to effect nothing. And when Drimacus (for that was the name of this runaway slave) saw that they were being destroyed, without being able to effect anything, he addressed them in this language: 'O Chians! you who are the masters, this treatment which you are now receiving from your servants will never cease; for how should it cease, when it is God who causes it, in accordance with the prediction of the oracle? But if you will be guided by me, and if you will leave us in peace, then I will be the originator of much good fortune to you.'
89 "Accordingly, the Chians entered into a treaty with him, and made a truce for a certain time. Drimacus prepared measures and weights, and a private seal for himself; and, throwing it to the Chians, he said, 'Whatever I take from any one of you, I shall take according to these measures and these weights; and when I have taken enough, I will then leave the storehouses, having sealed them up with this seal. And as to all the slaves who desert from you, I will inquire what cause of complaint they have; and if they seem to me to have been really subject to any incurable oppression, which has been the reason of their running away, I will retain them with me; but if they have no sufficient or reasonable ground to allege, I will send them back to their masters.' Accordingly, the rest of the slaves, seeing that the Chians agreed to this state of things very good-humouredly, did not desert nearly so much for the future, fearing the judgment which Drimacus might pass upon them. And the runaways who were with him feared him a great deal more than they did their own masters, and did everything that he required, obeying him as their general; for he punished the disobedient with great severity: and he permitted no one to ravage the land, nor to commit any other crime of any sort, without his consent. And at the time of festivals, he went about, and took from the fields wine, and such animals for victims as were in good condition, and whatever else the masters were inclined or able to give him; and if he perceived that any one was intriguing against him, or laying any plot to injure him or overthrow his power, he chastised him.
90 "Then (for the city had made a proclamation, that it would give a great reward to any one who took him prisoner, or who brought in his head,) this Drimacus, as he became older, calling one of his most intimate friends into a certain place, says to him, 'You know that I have loved you above all men, and you are to me as my child and my son, and as everything else. I now have lived long enough, but you are young and just in the prime of life. What, then, are we to do? You must show yourself a wise and brave man; for, since the city of the Chians offers a great reward to any one who shall kill me, and also promises him his freedom, you must cut off my head, and carry it to Chios, and receive the money which they offer, and so be prosperous.' But, when the young man refused, he at last persuaded him to do so; and so he cut off his head, and took it to the Chians, and received from them the rewards which they had offered by proclamation: and, having buried the corpse of Drimacus, he departed to his own country. And the Chians, being again injured and plundered by their slaves, remembering the moderation of him who was dead, erected a Heroum in their country, and called it the shrine of the Gentle Hero. And even now the runaway slaves bring to that shrine the first-fruits of all the plunder they get; and they say that Drimacus still appears to many of the Chians in their sleep, and informs them beforehand of the stratagems of their slaves who are plotting against them: and to whomsoever he appears, they come to that place, and sacrifice to him, where this shrine is."
91 Nymphodorus, then, has given this account; but in many copies of his history, I have found that Drimacus is not mentioned by name. But I do not imagine that any one of you is ignorant of what the prince of all historians, Herodotus [8.105], has said about Panionius of Chios, who castrated free boys and sold them, and the just punishment which he suffered. But Nicolaus the Peripatetic, and Poseidonius the Stoic [Fr_38], in their Histories, both state that the Chians were enslaved by Mithridates, the tyrant of Cappadocia; and were given up by him, bound, to their own slaves, for the purpose of being transported into the land of the Colchians,- so really angry with them was the Deity, as being the first people who used purchased slaves, while most other nations provided for themselves by their own industry. And, perhaps, this is what the proverb originated in, "A Chian bought a master," which is used by Eupolis, in his Friends.'
Digression: from the Wikipedia article
'During this period, the island also had become the largest exporter of Greek wine, which was noted for being of relative high quality (see Chian wine). Chian amphoras, with a characteristic sphinx emblem and bunches of grape have been found in nearly every country that the ancient Greeks traded with from as far away as Gaul, Upper Egypt and Eastern Russia.'
cf the remark on the connection between wine trade and slave trade by Diodorus Siculus, Library of History V 26, referred to by Timothy Taylor
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/66820
in full here
http://tinyurl.com/y8no64o
'...
2 Furthermore, since temperateness of climate is destroyed by the excessive cold, the land produces neither wine nor oil, and as a consequence those Gauls who are deprived of these fruits make a drink out of barley which they call zythos or beer, and they also drink the water with which they cleanse their honeycombs.
3 The Gauls are exceedingly addicted to the use of wine and fill themselves with the wine which is brought into their country by merchants, drinking it unmixed, and since they partake of this drink without moderation by reason of their craving for it, when they are drunken they fall into a stupor or a state of madness. Consequently many of the Italian traders, induced by the love of money which characterizes them, believe that the love of wine of these Gauls is their own godsend [literally "gift of Hermes," as the god of gain and good luck]. For these transport the wine on the navigable rivers by means of boats and through the level plain on wagons, and receive for it an incredible price; for in exchange for a jar of wine they receive a slave, getting a servant in return for the drink. '
Greek fire water for the natives, in other words
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece_and_wine
No wonder Burebista (or Decanaeus?) trying to top the enslavement of Dacians (I imagine) wanted to put a stop to the drinking of the Dacians. That would reduce the number of Dacian slaves sold, but leave him with a financial problem: where to get income when the economy of his country was based on the export of slaves? The solution: pick on someone else. This I think would explain Decaeneus' advice to Burebista to make war on the Germani (Bastarnae/PoieneÅti-Lukashevka? Cimbri/Przeworsk?) which he followed: we need slaves for export.
Torsten