Editing Delian League (section)

==Wars against Persia==
{{Main|Wars of the Delian League}}
[[File:Delian League Campaign Map.png|thumb|300px|right|Map showing the locations of battles fought by the Delian League, 477–449 BC.]]
War with the Persians continued. In 460 BC, [[Egypt]] revolted under local leaders the Hellenes called [[Inaros II|Inaros]] and [[Amyrtaeus]], who requested aid from Athens. Pericles led 250 ships, intended to attack [[Cyprus]], to their aid because it would further damage Persia. After four years, however, the Egyptian rebellion was defeated by the Achaemenid general [[Megabyzus]], who captured the greater part of the Athenian forces. In fact, according to Isocrates, the Athenians and their allies lost some 20,000 men in the expedition, while modern estimates place the figure at 50,000 men and 250 ships including reinforcements.<ref>{{harvnb|Fuller|1954–1957|p=56}}.</ref> The remainder escaped to [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] and thence returned home.

This was the Athenians' main (public) reason for moving the treasury of the League from Delos to Athens, further consolidating their control over the League. The Persians followed up their victory by sending a fleet to re-establish their control over [[Cyprus]], and 200 ships were sent out to counter them under [[Cimon]], who returned from [[ostracism]] in 451 BC. He died during the blockade of [[Citium]], though the fleet won a double victory by land and sea over the Persians off [[Salamis, Cyprus]].

This battle was the last major one fought against the Persians. Many writers report that a peace treaty, known as the [[Peace of Callias]], was formalized in 450 BC, but some writers believe that the treaty was a myth created later to inflate the stature of Athens. However, an understanding was definitely reached, enabling the Athenians to focus their attention on events in Greece proper.