### q5 Athens broke their promise to pay tribute to Persia > Interestingly, Athens itself actually comes closer to fitting what you described. In 510 BCE, faced with a Spartan invasion, an Athenian delegation actually submitted "earth and water," a promise to be subjects and pay tribute to Persia. When these delegates went home, the crisis had been averted without bloodshed and the Athenians refused to abide by their delegates' oaths. - [[Persian Accounts of the Greek Wars#q5 Athens broke their promise to pay tribute to Persia|View in Vault]]