37ｺ 30', but which the deposits of the Maeander have now filled up.[14281] North-west of the town, at the distance of about a mile, was the small island of Lade, now a mere hillock on the flat alluvial plain.

While the Persian land force advanced along the shore, and invested Milestus on the side towards the continent, a combined fleet of six hundred vessels[14282] proceeded to block the entrance to the bay, and to threaten the doomed city from the sea.

This fleet was drawn from four only of the countries subject to Persia--viz.

Phoenicia, Cilicia, Cyprus, and Egypt--whereof Phoenicia, we are told, "showed the greatest zeal,"[14283] and we may presume furnished by far the larger number of ships.

On their arrival in Milesian waters the captains found a strong naval force collected to meet them, which rested upon the island of Lade, and guarded the approaches to the town.