The Adventures Of Democedes

When Pythagoras, the celebrated Greek philosopher, settled in the

ancient Italian city of Crotona (between 550 and 520 B.C.) there was

living in that town a youthful surgeon who was destined to have a

remarkable history. Democedes by name, the son of a Crotonian named

Calliphon, he strongly inclined while still a mere boy to the study of

medicine and surgery, for which arts that city had then a reputation

higher than a y part of Greece.



The boy had two things to contend with, the hard study in his chosen

profession and the high temper of his father. The latter at length grew

unbearable, and the youthful surgeon ran away from home, making his way

to the Greek island of AEgina. Here he began to practise what he had

learned at home, and, though he was very poorly equipped with the

instruments of his profession, he proved far abler and more successful

than the surgeons whom he found in that island. So rapid, indeed, was

his progress that his first year's service brought him an offer from the

citizens of AEgina to remain with them for one year, at a salary of one

talent,--the AEginetan talent being nearly equal to two thousand dollars.

The next year he spent at Athens, whose people had offered him one and

two-thirds talents. In the following year Polycrates of Samos bid higher

still, offering him two talents, and the young surgeon repaired to that

charming island.



Thus far the career of Democedes had been one of steady progress. But,

as Solon told Croesus, a man cannot count himself sure of happiness

while he lives. The good fortune which had attended the runaway surgeon

was about to be followed by a period of ill luck and degradation,

following those of his new patron. In the constant wars of Greece a free

citizen could never be sure how soon he might be reduced to slavery, and

such was the fate of Democedes.



We have already told how Polycrates was treacherously seized and

murdered by the Persian satrap Oroetes. Democedes had accompanied him

to the court of the traitor, and was, with the other attendants of

Polycrates, seized and left to languish in neglect and imprisonment.

Soon afterwards Oroetes received the just retribution for his

treachery, being himself slain. And now a third turn came to the career

of Democedes. He was classed among the slaves of Oroetes, and sent

with them in chains to Susa, the capital of Darius, the great Persian

king.



But here the wheel of fortune suddenly took an upward turn. Darius, the

king, leaping one day from his horse in the chase, sprained his foot so

badly that he had to be carried home in violent pain. The surgeons of

the Persian court were Egyptians, who were claimed to be the first men

in their profession. But, though they used all their skill in treating

the foot of the king, they did him no good. Indeed, they only made the

pain more severe. For seven days and nights the mighty king was taught

that he was a man as well as a monarch, and could suffer as severely as

the poorest peasant in his kingdom. The foot gave him such torture that

all sleep fled from his eyelids, and he and those around him were in

despair.



At length it came to the memory of one who had come from the court of

Oroetes, at Sardis, that report had spoken of a Greek surgeon among

the slaves of the slain satrap. He mentioned this, and the king, to whom

any hope of relief was welcome, gave orders that this man should be

sought and brought before him. It was a miserable object that was soon

ushered into the royal presence, a poor creature in rags, with fetters

on his hands, and deep lines of suffering upon his face; a picture of

misery, in fact.



He was asked if he understood surgery. "No," he replied; saying that he

was a slave, not a surgeon. Darius did not believe him; these Greeks

were artful; but there were ways of getting at the truth. He ordered

that the scourge and the pricking instruments of torture should be

brought. Democedes, who was probably playing a shrewd game, now admitted

that he did have some little skill, but feared to practise his small art

on so great a patient. He was bidden to do what he could, and went to

work on the royal foot.



The little skill of the Greek soon distanced the great skill of the

Egyptians. He succeeded perfectly in alleviating the pain, and soon had

his patient in a deep and refreshing sleep. In a short time the foot

was sound again, and Darius could once more stand without a twinge of

pain.



The king, who had grown hopeless of a cure, was filled with joy, and set

no bounds to his gratitude. Democedes had come before him in iron

chains. As a first reward the king presented him with two sets of chains

of solid gold. He next sent him to receive the thanks of his wives.

Being introduced into the harem, Democedes was presented to the sultanas

as the man who had saved the king's life, and whom their lord and master

delighted to honor. Each of the fair and grateful women, in reward for

his great deed, gave him a saucer-full of golden coins, which were so

many, and heaped so high, that the slave who followed him grew rich by

merely picking up the pieces that dropped on the floor.



Nor did the generosity of Darius stop here. He gave Democedes a splendid

house and furniture, made him eat at his own table, and showed him every

favor at his command. As for the unlucky Egyptian surgeons, they would

all have been crucified for their lack of skill had not Democedes begged

for their lives. He might safely have told Darius that if he began to

crucify men for ignorance and assurance he would soon have few subjects

left.



But with all the favors which Darius granted, there was one which he

steadily refused to grant. And it was one on which Democedes had set his

heart. He wanted to return to Greece. Splendor in Persia was very well

in its way, but to his patriotic heart a crust in Greece was better than

a loaf in this land of strangers. Ask as he might, however, Darius

would not consent. A sprain or other harm might come to him again. What

would he then do without Democedes? He could not let him go.



As asking had proved useless, the wily Greek next tried artifice.

Atossa, the favorite wife of the king, had a tumor to form on her

breast. She said nothing of it for a time, but at length it grew so bad

that she was forced to speak to the surgeon. He examined the tumor, and

told her he could cure it, and would do so if she would solemnly swear

to do in return whatever he might ask. As she agreed to this, he cured

the tumor, and then told her that the reward he wished was liberty to

return to Greece. But he told Atossa that the king would not grant that

favor even to her, and that it could only be had by stratagem. He

advised her how she should act.



When next in conversation with the king, Atossa told him that the

Persians expected him to do something for the glory and power of the

empire. He must add to it by conquest.



"So I propose," he replied. "I have in view an expedition against the

Scythians of the north."



"Better lead one against the Greeks of the west," she replied. "I have

heard much about the beauty of the maidens of Sparta, Athens, Argos, and

Corinth, and I want to have some of these fair barbarians to serve me as

slaves. And if you wish to know more about these Greek people, you have

near you the best person possible to give you information,--the Greek

who cured your foot."



The suggestion seemed to Darius one worth considering. He would

certainly like to know more about this land of Greece. In the end,

after conversing with his surgeon, he decided to send some confidential

agents there to gain information, with Democedes as their guide. Fifteen

such persons were chosen, with orders to observe closely the coasts and

cities of Greece, obeying the suggestions and leadership of Democedes.

They were to bring back what information they could,--and on peril of

their lives to bring back Democedes. If they returned without him it

would be a sorry home-coming for them.



The king then sent for Democedes, told him of the proposed expedition

and what part he was to take in it, but imperatively bade him to return

as soon as his errand was finished. He was bidden to take with him the

wealth he had received, as presents for his father and brothers. He

would not suffer from its loss, since as much, and more, would be given

him on his return. Lastly, orders were given that a store-ship, "filled

with all manner of good things," should be taken with the expedition.



Democedes heard all this with the aspect of one to whom it was new

tidings. Come back? Of course he would. He wished ardently to see

Greece, but for a steady place of residence he much preferred Susa and

the palace of his king. As for the gold which had been given him, he

would not take it away. He wanted to find his house and property on his

return. The store-ship would answer for all the presents he cared to

make.



His shrewd reply left no shadow of doubt in the heart of the king. The

envoys proceeded to Sidon, in Phoenicia, where two armed triremes and

a large store-ship were got ready by their orders. In these they sailed

to the coast of Greece, which they fully surveyed, and even went as far

as Italy. The cities were also visited, and the story of all they had

seen was carefully written down.



At length they arrived at Tarentum, in Italy, not far from Crotona, the

native place of Democedes. Here, at the secret suggestion of the wily

surgeon, the king seized the Persians as spies, and, to prevent their

escape, took away the rudders of their ships. Their treacherous leader

took the opportunity to make his way to Crotona, and here the Persians,

who had been released and given back their ships, found him on their

arrival. They seized him in the market-place, but he was rescued from

them by his fellow-citizens in spite of the remonstrances and threats of

the envoys. The Crotonians even took from them the store-ship, and

forced them to leave the harbor in their triremes.



On their way home the unlucky envoys suffered a second misfortune; they

were shipwrecked and made slaves,--as was the cruel way of dealing with

unfortunates in those days. An exile from Tarentum, named Gillis, paid

their ransom, and took them to Susa,--for which service Darius offered

him any reward he chose to ask. Like Democedes, all he wanted was to go

home. But this reward he did not obtain. Darius brought to bear on

Tarentum all the influence he could wield, but in vain. The Tarentines

were obdurate, and would not have their exile back again. And Gillis was

more honorable than Democedes. He did not lay plans to bring a Persian

invasion upon Greece through his selfish wish to get back to his native

land.



A few words more will tell all else we know about Democedes. His last

words to his Persian companions bade them tell Darius that he was about

to marry the daughter of Milo of Crotona, famed as the greatest wrestler

of his time. Darius knew well the reputation of Milo. He had probably

learned it from Democedes himself. And a Persian king was more likely to

admire a muscular than a mental giant. Milo meant more to him than Homer

or any hero of the pen. Democedes did marry Milo's daughter, paying a

high price for the honor, for the sole purpose, so far as we know, of

sending back this boastful message to his friend, the king. And thus

ends all we know of the story of the surgeon of Crotona.