HISTIAEUS (d. 494 B.C.), tyrant of Miletus under the Persian king Darius, son of Hystaspes. According to Herodotus he rendered service to Darius while he was in Scythia by per suading his fellow-despots not to destroy the bridge over the Danube by which the Persians must return. In reward for this he was given some rich territory near Amphipolis. Darius became alarmed at his influence in Ionia and invited him to Susa, whence he would not let him return. Aristagoras, his son-in-law, mean while ruled Miletus in his place. Finding his position in danger, Aristagoras meditated revolt and was finally induced to attempt to raise Ionia against Persia, according to Herodotus, by a mes sage tattooed on the head of a slave. The revolt assumed a formidable character and Histiaeus persuaded Darius that he alone could quell it. He was allowed to leave Susa, but on his arrival at the coast found himself suspected by the satrap, and was driven to establish himself (Herodotus says as a pirate) at Byzan tium. Eventually he was captured by the Persian Harpagus and crucified by Artaphernes at Sardis in 494 B.C. His head was em balmed and sent to Darius, who gave it honourable burial.