The same fund had supplied the cost of completing the south
wall of the acropolis.

Satisfied with his civic victory over his accusers, Cimon
was before long again absent from Athens on an expedition
of which, as of so many others during this period, no parti-
culars remain. But the party of his opponents had not been
idle during his absence, and the success with which they
could avail themselves of it goes far to prove that the for-
bearance of Pericles in the prosecution might be due to con-
sciousness of strength that could afford to be magnanimous.
The most ardent and active promoter of change at this
time was Ephialtes. Under which of the many influences
that dissolve the alliances of politicians he had renounced
his former connection with Cimon does not appear; the
breach was certainly serious and final. He seems to have
been one of the first among Athenian politicians who per-
ceived the advantage of uninterrupted presence at the centre
of political action. We ¹ read how, at some time after the
battle of Mycale, he sailed unmolested beyond the Cheli-
donian islands with a squadron of thirty ships, as Pericles
on another occasion with fifty, but this is the only notice that
occurs of his holding a command. He evidently united with
an energetic and even passionate character the sagacity to
discern at what point an old established system might be
assailed not only with success, but with the beat promise of
a series of successes afterwards.

There is very strong presumption that the great attack
of Ephialtes upon the Areopsgus dates several years later;
but intermediately, though at uncertain dates, very consider-
able reductions, probably due to his influence and exertions,
had been made in the authority of the archons, the council,
and other magistracies,--especially through the substitution
of appointment by lot instead of by election.

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