Alcatus and the Spartans in the Aegean Sea

Alcatus led the fleet out from Arathry to sail back home. When he anchored next to Ephesus, he was warned by friendly Samian envoys that his behavior and massacring men who had never raised a hand against him would alienate those who were already partial to Sparta. Alcatus thus yielded, and freed the remaining prisoners who were still alive,. But Sparta's reputation amongst many Ionian Greeks was badly tarnished because of this incident. Despite the fact that the Spartans were not quite ready to engage in decisive naval action, this marked the first time that a Spartan fleet had sailed into the eastern Aegean. Their presence could be used as a lightning rod