the Eginetans were subject
to the Epidaurians, and besides other things they were wont to pass over
to Epidauros to have their disputes with one another settled by law: 71
but after this time they built for themselves ships and made revolt
from the Epidaurians, moved thereto by wilfulness. So as they were at
variance with them, they continued to inflict damage on them, since in
fact they had command of the sea, and especially they stole away from
them these images of Damia and Auxesia, and they brought them and set
them up in the inland part of their country at a place called Oia, which
is about twenty furlongs distant from their city. Having set them up
in this spot they worshipped them with sacrifices and choruses of women
accompanied with scurrilous jesting, ten men being appointed for each of
the deities to provide the choruses: and the choruses spoke evil of no
man, but only of the women of the place. Now the Epidaurians also had
the same rites; and they have also rites which may not be divulged.

84. These images then having been stolen, the Epidaurians no longer
continued to fulfil towards the Athenians that which they had agreed.
The Athenians accordingly sent and expressed displeasure to the
Epidaurians; and they declared saying that they were doing no wrong; for
during the time when they had the images in their country they continued
to fulfil that which they had agreed upon, but since they had been
deprived of them, it was not just that they should make the offerings
any more; and they bade them demand these from the men of Egina, who had
the images. So the Athenians sent to Egina and demanded the images back;
but the Eginetans said that they had nothing to do with the Athenians.

85. The Athenians then report that in one single trireme were despatched
those of their citizens who were sent by the State after this demand;
who having come to Egina, attempted to tear up from off their pedestals
the images, (alleging that they were made of wood which belonged to the
Athenians), in order to carry them back with them: but not being able
to get hold of them in this manner (say the Athenians) they threw ropes
round them and were pulling them, when suddenly, as they pulled, thunder
came on and an earthquake at the same time with the thunder; and the
crew of the trireme who were pulling were made beside themselves by
these, and being brought to this condition they killed one another as if
they were enemies, until at la