Thank you for listening to Power Corrupts. We make this show because we think it's important not to make money,

but it does cost money to make episodes. If you want to help us stay editorially independent,

please consider supporting our work in one of two ways.

First, pre-order my new book, Corruptible, Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us,

which comes out on November 9, 2021.

It's an exploration of the bizarre fascinating ways in which humans relate to

power that ranges from everything from corrupt beehives to the time I took a ski lesson with a man who

once ruled Iraq. If you like this

podcast I promise you love the book. Second, join a community of

supporters and get access to exclusive bonus content by going to Patreon.com slash power corrupts.

For just three dollars a month you'll get access to early episodes and at different tiers

you can get bonus content like uncut interviews as well as the possibility of a

Zoom meet and greet with my producer George and myself. If you don't support the

show I'll be forced to bombard you with ads about socks and job recruitment schemes and

mortgage websites and nobody wants that.

But seriously, thank you for listening and for your support. More than 2,500 years ago in 590 BC, several Greek city states launched a siege

against the rogue city of Kira. Kira had angered the gods and so divine guidance had been given to the siege leaders

that total war was justified.

According to later accounts, the siege leader Klysthenes located, quote,

a hidden pipe carrying a great flow of spring water.

They severed it cutting off the city's water supply.

Then, after waiting a few days, they repaired it.

...