Herodotus says that the Persians chose the most handsome boys from each city and castrated them, and chose the most beautiful girls and sent them away to the king's harem, and then burnt the temples of the cities.
Herodotos menuturkan bahwa pasukan Persia memilih anak lelaki paling tampan dari tiap kota dan mengebiri mereka, serta memilih anak perempuan paling cantik dan mengirimkan mereka ke harem raja.