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diff --git a/2456.txt b/2456.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 91b4324..0000000 --- a/2456.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14448 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History Of Herodotus, by Herodotus - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The History Of Herodotus - Volume 2 (of 2) - -Author: Herodotus - -Translator: G. C. Macaulay - -Release Date: December 19, 2009 [EBook #2456] -[Last updated: July 20, 2014] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS *** - - - - -Produced by John Bickers, Dagny, and David Widger - - - - - -THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS - -By Herodotus - -Translated into English by G. C. Macaulay - -IN TWO VOLUMES - -VOL. II - - {e Herodotou diathesis en apasin epieikes, kai tois men - agathois sunedomene, tois de kakois sunalgousa}.--Dion. - Halic. - - - - -PREPARER'S NOTE - -This text was prepared from the third edition, printed in 1914, by -MacMillan and Co., Limited, St. Martin's Street, London. - -Greek text has been transliterated and marked with brackets, as in the -opening citation above. - - - - - -THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS - - - - -BOOK V. THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED TERPSICHORE - -1. In the meantime those of the Persians who had been left behind in -Europe by Dareios, of whom Megabazos was the commander, had subdued the -people of Perinthos first of the Hellespontians, since they refused to -be subject to Dareios. These had in former times also been hardly dealt -with by the Paionians: for the Paionians from the Strymon had been -commanded by an oracle of their god to march against the Perinthians; -and if the Perinthians, when encamped opposite to them, should shout -aloud and call to them by their name, they were to attack them; but if -they should not shout to them, they were not to attack them: and thus -the Paionians proceeded to do. Now when the Perinthians were encamped -opposite to them in the suburb of their city, a challenge was made and -a single combat took place in three different forms; for they matched a -man against a man, and a horse against a horse, and a dog against a dog. -Then, as the Perinthians were getting the better in two of the three, -in their exultation they raised a shout of paion, 1 and the Paionians -conjectured that this was the very thing which was spoken of in the -oracle, and said doubtless to one another, "Now surely the oracle -is being accomplished for us, now it is time for us to act." So the -Paionians attacked the Perinthians when they had raised the shout of -paion, and they had much the better in the fight, and left but few of -them alive. - -2. Thus it happened with respect to those things which had been done to -them in former times by the Paionians; and at this time, although the -Perinthians proved themselves brave men in defence of their freedom, -the Persians and Megabazos got the better of them by numbers. Then after -Perinthos had been conquered, Megabazos marched his army through the -length of Thracia, forcing every city and every race of those who -dwell there to submit to the king, for so it had been commanded him by -Dareios, to subdue Thracia. - -3. Now the Thracian race is the most numerous, except the Indians, in -all the world: and if it should come to be ruled over by one man, or -to agree together in one, it would be irresistible in fight and the -strongest by far of all nations, in my opinion. Since however this is -impossible for them and cannot ever come to pass among them, 2 they are -in fact weak for that reason. They have many names, belonging to their -various tribes in different places; but they all follow customs which -are nearly the same in all respects, except the Getai and Trausians and -those who dwell above the Crestonians. - -4. Of these the practices of the Getai, who believe themselves to be -immortal, have been spoken of by me already: 3 and the Trausians perform -everything else in the same manner as the other Thracians, but in regard -to those who are born and die among them they do as follows:--when -a child has been born, the nearest of kin sit round it and make -lamentation for all the evils of which he must fulfil the measure, now -that he is born, 301 enumerating the whole number of human ills; but -when a man is dead, they cover him up in the earth with sport and -rejoicing, saying at the same time from what great evils he has escaped -and is now in perfect bliss. - -5. Those who dwell above the Crestonians do as follows:--each man has -many wives, and when any man of them is dead, a great competition takes -place among his wives, with much exertion on the part of their friends, -about the question of which of them was most loved by their husband; and -she who is preferred by the decision and so honoured, is first praised -by both men and women, then her throat is cut over the tomb by her -nearest of kin, and afterwards she is buried together with her husband; -and the others are exceedingly grieved at it, for this is counted as the -greatest reproach to them. - -6. Of the other Thracians the custom is to sell their children to be -carried away out of the country; and over their maidens they do not keep -watch, but allow them to have commerce with whatever men they please, -but over their wives they keep very great watch; and they buy their -wives for great sums of money from their parents. To be pricked with -figures is accounted a mark of noble rank, and not to be so marked is a -sign of low birth. 4 Not to work is counted most honourable, and to be a -worker of the soil is above all things dishonourable: to live on war and -plunder is the most honourable thing. - -7. These are their most remarkable customs; and of the gods they worship -only Ares and Dionysos and Artemis. Their kings, however, apart from the -rest of the people, worship Hermes more than all gods, and swear by him -alone; and they say that they are descended from Hermes. - -8. The manner of burial for the rich among them is this:--for three days -they expose the corpse to view, and they slay all kinds of victims -and feast, having first made lamentation. Then they perform the burial -rites, either consuming the body with fire or covering it up in the -earth without burning; and afterwards when they have heaped up a mound -they celebrate games with every kind of contest, in which reasonably the -greatest prizes are assigned for single combat. 5 This is the manner of -burial among the Thracians. - -9. Of the region lying further on towards the North of this country -no one can declare accurately who the men are who dwell in it; but the -parts which lie immediately beyond the Ister are known to be uninhabited -and vast in extent. The only men of whom I can hear who dwell beyond -the Ister are those who are said to be called Sigynnai, and who use the -Median fashion of dress. Their horses, it is said, have shaggy hair all -over their bodies, as much as five fingers long; and these are small and -flat-nosed and too weak to carry men, but when yoked in chariots they -are very high-spirited; therefore the natives of the country drive -chariots. The boundaries of this people extend, it is said, to the parts -near the Enetoi, who live on the Adriatic; and people say that they -are colonists from the Medes. In what way however these have come to -be colonists from the Medes I am not able for my part to conceive, but -everything is possible in the long course of ages. However that may be, -the Ligurians who dwell in the region inland above Massalia call traders -sigynnai, and the men of Cyprus give the same name to spears. - -10. Now the Thracians say that the other side of the Ister is occupied -by bees, and that by reason of them it is not possible to pass through -and proceed further: but to me it seems that when they so speak, they -say that which is not probable; for these creatures are known to be -intolerant of cold, and to me it seems that the regions which go up -towards the pole are uninhabitable by reason of the cold climate. These -then are the tales reported about this country; and however that may -be, Megabazos was then making the coast-regions of it subject to the -Persians. - -11. Meanwhile Dareios, so soon as he had crossed over the Hellespont and -come to Sardis, called to mind the service rendered to him by Histiaios -the Milesian and also the advice of the Mytilenian Coes, and having -sent for them to come to Sardis he offered them a choice of rewards. -Histiaios then, being despot of Miletos, did not make request for -any government in addition to that, but he asked for the district of -Myrkinos which belonged to the Edonians, desiring there to found a city. -Histiaios chose this for himself; but Coes, not being a despot but a man -of the people, asked to be made despot of Mitylene. - -12. After the desires of both had been fulfilled, they betook themselves -to that which they had chosen: and at this same time it chanced that -Dareios saw a certain thing which made him desire to command Megabazos -to conquer the Paionians and remove them forcibly from Europe into Asia: -and the thing was this:--There were certain Paionians named Pigres and -Mantyas, who when Dareios had crossed over into Asia, came to Sardis, -because they desired themselves to have rule over the Paionians, and -with them they brought their sister, who was tall and comely. Then -having watched for a time when Dareios took his seat publicly in the -suburb of the Lydian city, they dressed up their sister in the best way -they could, and sent her to fetch water, having a water-jar upon her -head and leading a horse after her by a bridle round her arm, and at the -same time spinning flax. Now when the woman passed out of the city by -him, Dareios paid attention to the matter, for that which was done by -the woman was not of Persian nor yet of Lydian fashion, nor indeed -after the manner of any people of Asia. He sent therefore some of his -spearmen, bidding them watch what the woman would do with the horse. -They accordingly followed after her; and she having arrived at the river -watered the horse, and having watered him and filled her jar with the -water, she passed along by the same way, bearing the water upon her -head, leading the horse after her by a bridle round her arm, and at the -same time turning the spindle. - -13. Then Dareios, marvelling both at that which he heard from those who -went to observe and also at that which he saw himself, bade them bring -her into his presence: and when she was brought, her brothers also came, -who had been watching these things at no great distance off. So then -when Dareios asked of what country she was, the young men said that they -were Paionians and that she was their sister; and he replied: "Who then -are these Paionians, and where upon the earth do they dwell?" and he -asked them also what they desired, that they had come to Sardis. They -declared to him that they had come to give themselves up to him, and -that Paionia was a country situated upon the river Strymon, and that -the Strymon was not far from the Hellespont, and finally that they were -colonists from the Teucrians of Troy. All these things severally they -told him; and he asked whether all the women of that land were as -industrious as their sister; and they very readily replied to this also, -saying that it was so, for it was with a view to that very thing that -they had been doing this. - -14. Then Dareios wrote a letter to Megabazos, whom he had left to -command his army in Thrace, bidding him remove the Paionians from their -place of habitation and bring them to the king, both themselves and -their children and their wives. Then forthwith a horseman set forth to -ride in haste bearing the message to the Hellespont, and having passed -over to the other side he gave the paper to Megabazos. So he having -read it and having obtained guides from Thrace, set forth to march upon -Paionia: - -15. and the Paionians, being informed that the Persians were coming -against them, gathered all their powers together and marched out in the -direction of the sea, supposing that the Persians when they invaded them -would make their attack on that side. The Paionians then were prepared, -as I say, to drive off the army of Megabazos when it came against them; -but the Persians hearing that the Paionians had gathered their powers -and were guarding the entrance which lay towards the sea, directed their -course with guides along the upper road; and passing unperceived by the -Paionians they fell upon their cities, which were left without men, and -finding them without defenders they easily took possession of them. The -Paionians when they heard that their cities were in the hands of the -enemy, at once dispersed, each tribe to its own place of abode, and -proceeded to deliver themselves up to the Persians. Thus then it -happened that these tribes of the Paionians, namely the Siropaionians, -6 the Paioplians and all up to the lake Prasias, were removed from their -place of habitation and brought to Asia; - -16. but those who dwell about mount Pangaion, and about the Doberians -and Agrianians and Odomantians, 7 and about the lake Prasias itself, -were not conquered at all by Megabazos. He tried however to remove even -those who lived in the lake and who had their dwellings in the following -manner:--a platform fastened together and resting upon lofty piles stood -in the middle of the water of the lake, with a narrow approach to it -from the mainland by a single bridge. The piles which supported the -platform were no doubt originally set there by all the members of the -community working together, but since that time they continue to set -them by observance of this rule, that is to say, every man who marries -brings from the mountain called Orbelos three piles for each wife and -sets them as supports; and each man takes to himself many wives. And -they have their dwelling thus, that is each man has possession of a hut -upon the platform in which he lives and of a trap-door 8 leading through -the platform down to the lake: and their infant children they tie with -a rope by the foot, for fear that they should roll into the water. To -their horses and beasts of burden they give fish for fodder; and of fish -there is so great quantity that if a man open the trap-door and let down -an empty basket by a cord into the lake, after waiting quite a short -time he draws it up again full of fish. Of the fish there are two kinds, -and they call them paprax and tilon. - -17. So then those of the Paionians who had been conquered were being -brought to Asia: and Megabazos meanwhile, after he had conquered the -Paionians, sent as envoys to Macedonia seven Persians, who after himself -were the men of most repute in the army. These were being sent to -Amyntas to demand of him earth and water for Dareios the king. Now from -lake Prasias there is a very short way into Macedonia; for first, quite -close to the lake, there is the mine from which after this time there -came in regularly a talent of silver every day to Alexander; and after -the mine, when you have passed over the mountain called Dysoron, you are -in Macedonia. - -18. These Persians then, who had been sent to Amyntas, having arrived -came into the presence of Amyntas and proceeded to demand earth and -water for king Dareios. This he was willing to give, and also he invited -them to be his guests; and he prepared a magnificent dinner and received -the Persians with friendly hospitality. Then when dinner was over, the -Persians while drinking pledges to one another 9 said thus: "Macedonian -guest-friend, it is the custom among us Persians, when we set forth a -great dinner, then to bring in also our concubines and lawful wives to -sit beside us. Do thou then, since thou didst readily receive us and -dost now entertain us magnificently as thy guests, and since thou art -willing to give to king Dareios earth and water, consent to follow our -custom." To this Amyntas replied: "Persians, among us the custom is not -so, but that men should be separate from women. Since however ye being -our masters make this request in addition, this also shall be given -you." Having so said Amyntas proceeded to send for the women; and -when they came being summoned, they sat down in order opposite to the -Persians. Then the Persians, seeing women of comely form, spoke to -Amyntas and said that this which had been done was by no means well -devised; for it was better that the women should not come at all, than -that they should come and should not seat themselves by their side, but -sit opposite and be a pain to their eyes. So Amyntas being compelled -bade them sit by the side of the Persians; and when the women obeyed, -forthwith the Persians, being much intoxicated, began to touch their -breasts, and some no doubt also tried to kiss them. - -19. Amyntas seeing this kept quiet, notwithstanding that he felt anger, -because he excessively feared the Persians; but Alexander the son -of Amyntas, who was present and saw this, being young and without -experience of calamity was not able to endure any longer; but being -impatient of it he said to Amyntas: "My father, do thou grant that -which thy age demands, and go away to rest, nor persevere longer in -the drinking; but I will remain here and give to our guests all that is -convenient." On this Amyntas, understanding that Alexander was intending -to do some violence, said: "My son, I think that I understand thy words, -as the heat of anger moves thee, namely that thou desirest to send me -away and then do some deed of violence: therefore I ask of thee not to -do violence to these men, that it may not be our ruin, but endure to see -that which is being done: as to my departure, however, in that I will do -as thou sayest." - -20. When Amyntas after having made of him this request had departed, -Alexander said to the Persians: "With these women ye have perfect -freedom, guests, to have commerce with all, if ye so desire, or with as -many of them as ye will. About this matter ye shall be they who give the -word; but now, since already the hour is approaching for you to go to -bed and I see that ye have well drunk, let these women go away, if so it -is pleasing to you, to bathe themselves; and when they have bathed, then -receive them back into your company." Having so said, since the Persians -readily agreed, he dismissed the women, when they had gone out, to the -women's chambers; and Alexander himself equipped men equal in number to -the women and smooth-faced, in the dress of the women, and giving them -daggers he led them into the banqueting-room; and as he led them in, he -said thus to the Persians: "Persians, it seems to me that ye have been -entertained with a feast to which nothing was wanting; for other things, -as many as we had, and moreover such as we were able to find out and -furnish, are all supplied to you, and there is this especially besides, -which is the chief thing of all, that is, we give you freely in addition -our mothers and our sisters, in order that ye may perceive fully that -ye are honoured by us with that treatment which ye deserve, and also in -order that ye may report to the king who sent you that a man of Hellas, -ruler under him of the Macedonians, entertained you well at board and -bed." Having thus said Alexander caused a Macedonian man in the guise of -a woman to sit by each Persian, and they, when the Persians attempted to -lay hands on them, slew them. - -21. So these perished by this fate, both they themselves and their -company of servants; for there came with them carriages and servants and -all the usual pomp of equipage, and this was all made away with at the -same time as they. Afterwards in no long time a great search was made by -the Persians for these men, and Alexander stopped them with cunning -by giving large sums of money and his own sister, whose name was -Gygaia;--by giving, I say, these things to Bubares a Persian, commander -of those who were searching for the men who had been killed, Alexander -stopped their search. - -22. Thus the death of these Persians was kept concealed. And that these -descendants of Perdiccas are Hellenes, as they themselves say, I happen -to know myself, and not only so, but I will prove in the succeeding -history that they are Hellenes. 10 Moreover the Hellanodicai, who manage -the games at Olympia, decided that they were so: for when Alexander -wished to contend in the games and had descended for this purpose into -the arena, the Hellenes who were to run against him tried to exclude -him, saying that the contest was not for Barbarians to contend in but -for Hellenes: since however Alexander proved that he was of Argos, -he was judged to be a Hellene, and when he entered the contest of the -foot-race his lot came out with that of the first. 11 - -23. Thus then it happened with regard to these things: and at the same -time Megabazos had arrived at the Hellespont bringing with him the -Paionians; and thence after passing over the straits he came to Sardis. -Then, since Histiaios the Milesian was already engaged in fortifying -with a wall the place which he had asked and obtained from Dareios as a -reward for keeping safe the bridge of boats (this place being that -which is called Myrkinos, lying along the bank of the river Strymon), -Megabazos, having perceived that which was being done by Histiaios, as -soon as he came to Sardis bringing the Paionians, said thus to Dareios: -"O king, what a thing is this that thou hast done, granting permission -to a Hellene who is skilful and cunning to found a city in Thracia in -a place where there is forest for shipbuilding in abundance and great -quantity of wood for oars and mines of silver and great numbers both -of Hellenes and Barbarians living round, who when they have obtained -a leader will do that which he shall command them both by day and by -night. Therefore stop this man from doing so, that thou be not involved -in a domestic war: and stop him by sending for him in a courteous -manner; but when thou hast got him in thy hands, then cause that he -shall never again return to the land of the Hellenes." - -24. Thus saying Megabazos easily persuaded Dareios, who thought that he -was a true prophet of that which was likely to come to pass: and -upon that Dareios sent a messenger to Myrkinos and said as follows: -"Hisiaios, king Dareios saith these things:--By taking thought I find -that there is no one more sincerely well disposed than thou art to me -and to my power; and this I know having learnt by deeds not words. Now -therefore, since I have it in my mind to accomplish great matters, -come hither to me by all means, that I may communicate them to thee." -Histiaios therefore, trusting to these sayings and at the same time -accounting it a great thing to become a counsellor of the king, came -to Sardis; and when he had come Dareios spoke to him as follows: -"Histiaios, I sent for thee for this reason, namely because when I had -returned from the Scythians and thou wert gone away out of the sight of -my eyes, never did I desire to see anything again within so short a time -as I desired then both to see thee and that thou shouldst come to speech -with me; since I perceived that the most valuable of all possessions is -a friend who is a man of understanding and also sincerely well-disposed, -both which qualities I know exist in thee, and I am able to bear witness -of them in regard to my affairs. Now therefore (for thou didst well in -that thou camest hither) this is that which I propose to thee:--leave -Miletos alone and also thy newly-founded city in Thracia, and coming -with me to Susa, have whatsoever things I have, eating at my table and -being my counseller." - -25. Thus said Dareios, and having appointed Artaphrenes 12 his own -brother and the son of his father to be governor of Sardis, he marched -away to Susa taking with him Histiaios, after he had first named Otanes -to be commander of those who dwelt along the sea coasts. This man's -father Sisamnes, who had been made one of the Royal Judges, king -Cambyses slew, because he had judged a cause unjustly for money, and -flayed off all his skin: then after he had torn away the skin he cut -leathern thongs out of it and stretched them across the seat where -Sisamnes had been wont to sit to give judgment; and having stretched -them in the seat, Cambyses appointed the son of that Sisamnes whom he -had slain and flayed, to be judge instead of his father, enjoining him -to remember in what seat he was sitting to give judgment. - -26. This Otanes then, who was made to sit in that seat, had now -become the successor of Megabazos in the command: and he conquered the -Byzantians and Calchedonians, and he conquered Antandros in the land -of Troas, and Lamponion; and having received ships from the Lesbians -he conquered Lemnos and Imbros, which were both at that time still -inhabited by Pelasgians. - -27. Of these the Lemnians fought well, and defending themselves for a -long time were at length brought to ruin; 13 and over those of them -who survived the Persians set as governor Lycaretos the brother of that -Maiandrios who had been king of Samos. This Lycaretos ruled in Lemnos -till his death. And the cause of it 14 was this:--he continued to -reduce all to slavery and subdue them, accusing some of desertion to the -Scythians and others of doing damage to the army of Dareios as it was -coming back from Scythia. - -28. Otanes then effected so much when he was made commander: and after -this for a short time there was an abatement 15 of evils; and then again -evils began a second time to fall upon the Ionians, arising from Naxos -and Miletos. For Naxos was superior to all the other islands in wealth, -and Miletos at the same time had just then come to the very height of -its prosperity and was the ornament 16 of Ionia; but before these events -for two generations of men it had been afflicted most violently by -faction until the Parians reformed it; for these the Milesians chose of -all the Hellenes to be reformers of their State. - -29. Now the Parians thus reconciled their factions:--the best men of -them came to Miletos, and seeing that the Milesians were in a grievously -ruined state, they said that they desired to go over their land: and -while doing this and passing through the whole territory of Miletos, -whenever they saw in the desolation of the land any field that was well -cultivated, they wrote down the name of the owner of that field. Then -when they had passed through the whole land and had found but few of -such men, as soon as they returned to the city they called a general -gathering and appointed these men to manage the State, whose fields they -had found well cultivated; for they said that they thought these men -would take care of the public affairs as they had taken care of their -own: and the rest of the Milesians, who before had been divided by -factions, they commanded to be obedient to these men. - -30. The Parians then had thus reformed the Milesians; but at the time of -which I speak evils began to come to Ionia from these States 17 in the -following manner:--From Naxos certain men of the wealthier class 18 were -driven into exile by the people, and having gone into exile they -arrived at Miletos. Now of Miletos it happened that Aristagoras son -of Molpagoras was ruler in charge, being both a son-in-law and also a -cousin of Histiaios the son of Lysagoras, whom Dareios was keeping at -Susa: for Histiaios was despot of Miletos, and it happened that he was -at Susa at this time when the Naxians came, who had been in former -times guest-friends of Histiaios. So when the Naxians arrived, they made -request of Aristagoras, to see if perchance he would supply them with -a force, and so they might return from exile to their own land: and he, -thinking that if by his means they should return to their own State, he -would be ruler of Naxos, but at the same time making a pretext of the -guest-friendship of Histiaios, made proposal to them thus: "I am not -able to engage that I can supply you with sufficient force to bring you -back from exile against the will of those Naxians who have control -of the State; for I hear that the Naxians have an army which is eight -thousand shields strong and many ships of war: but I will use every -endeavour to devise a means; and my plan is this:--it chances that -Artaphrenes is my friend: now Artaphrenes, ye must know, 1801 is a son -of Hystaspes and brother of Dareios the king; and he is ruler of all the -people of the sea-coasts in Asia, with a great army and many ships. This -man then I think will do whatsoever we shall request of him." Hearing -this the Naxians gave over the matter to Aristagoras to manage as -best he could, and they bade him promise gifts and the expenses of -the expedition, saying that they would pay them; for they had full -expectation that when they should appear at Naxos, the Naxians would do -all their bidding, and likewise also the other islanders. For of these -islands, that is the Cyclades, not one was as yet subject to Dareios. - -31. Aristagoras accordingly having arrived at Sardis, said to -Artaphrenes that Naxos was an island not indeed large in size, but fair -nevertheless and of fertile soil, as well as near to Ionia, and that -there was in it much wealth and many slaves: "Do thou therefore send an -expedition against this land, and restore it to those who are now exiles -from it: and if thou shalt do this, first I have ready for thee large -sums of money apart from the expenses incurred for the expedition (which -it is fair that we who conduct it should supply), and next thou wilt -gain for the king not only Naxos itself but also the islands which are -dependent upon it, Paros and Andros and the others which are called -Cyclades; and setting out from these thou wilt easily attack Euboea, an -island which is large and wealth, as large indeed as Cyprus, and very -easy to conquer. To subdue all these a hundred ships are sufficient." -He made answer in these words: "Thou makest thyself a reporter of good -things to the house of the king; and in all these things thou advisest -well, except as to the number of the ships: for instead of one hundred -there shall be prepared for thee two hundred by the beginning of the -spring. And it is right that the king himself also should join in -approving this matter." - -32. So Aristagoras hearing this went back to Miletos greatly rejoiced; -and Artaphrenes meanwhile, when he had sent to Susa and communicated -that which was said by Aristagoras, and Dareios himself also had joined -in approving it, made ready two hundred triremes and a very great -multitude both of Persians and their allies, and appointed to be -commander of these Megabates a Persian, one of the Achaimenidai and a -cousin to himself and to Dareios, to whose daughter afterwards Pausanias -the son of Cleombrotus the Lacedaemonian (at least if the story be true) -betrothed himself, having formed a desire to become a despot of Hellas. -Having appointed Megabates, I say, to be commander, Artaphrenes sent -away the armament to Aristagoras. - -33. So when Megabates had taken force together with the Naxians, he -sailed with the pretence of going to the Hellespont; but when he came -to Chios, he directed his ships to Caucasa, in order that he might from -thence pass them over to Naxos with a North Wind. Then, since it was -not fated that the Naxians should be destroyed by this expedition, there -happened an event which I shall narrate. As Megabates was going round to -visit the guards set in the several ships, it chanced that in a ship -of Myndos there was no one on guard; and he being very angry bade his -spearmen find out the commander of the ship, whose name was Skylax, and -bind him in an oar-hole of his ship in such a manner 19 that his head -should be outside and his body within. When Skylax was thus bound, some -one reported to Aristagoras that Megabates had bound his guest-friend -of Myndos and was doing to him shameful outrage. He accordingly came and -asked the Persian for his release, and as he did not obtain anything -of that which he requested, he went himself and let him loose. Being -informed of this Megabates was exceedingly angry and broke out in rage -against Aristagoras; and he replied: "What hast thou to do with -these matters? Did not Artaphrenes send thee to obey me, and to sail -whithersoever I should order? Why dost thou meddle with things which -concern thee not?" Thus said Aristagoras; and the other being enraged at -this, when night came on sent men in a ship to Naxos to declare to the -Naxians all the danger that threatened them. - -34. For the Naxians were not at all expecting that this expedition -would be against them: but when they were informed of it, forthwith -they brought within the wall the property which was in the fields, and -provided for themselves food and drink as for a siege, and strengthened -their wall. 20 These then were making preparations as for war to come -upon them; and the others meanwhile having passed their ships over from -Chios to Naxos, found them well defended when they made their attack, -and besieged them for four months. Then when the money which the -Persians had brought with them had all been consumed by them, and not -only that, but Aristagoras himself had spent much in addition, and -the siege demanded ever more and more, they built walls for the Naxian -exiles and departed to the mainland again with ill success. - -35. And so Aristagoras was not able to fulfil his promise to -Artaphrenes; and at the same time he was hard pressed by the demand made -to him for the expenses of the expedition, and had fears because of -the ill success of the armament and because he had become an enemy of -Megabates; and he supposed that he would be deprived of his rule over -Miletos. Having all these various fears he began to make plans of -revolt: for it happened also that just at this time the man who had been -marked upon the head had come from Hisiaios who was at Susa, signifying -that Aristagoras should revolt from the king. For Histiaios, desiring -to signify to Aristagoras that he should revolt, was not able to do it -safely in any other way, because the roads were guarded, but shaved off -the hair of the most faithful of his slaves, and having marked his head -by pricking it, waited till the hair had grown again; and as soon as it -was grown, he sent him away to Miletos, giving him no other charge but -this, namely that when he should have arrived at Miletos he should bid -Aristagoras shave his hair and look at his head: and the marks, as I -have said before, signified revolt. This thing Histiaios was doing, -because he was greatly vexed by being detained at Susa. He had -great hopes then that if a revolt occurred he would be let go to -the sea-coast; but if no change was made at Miletos 2001 he had no -expectation of ever returning thither again. - -36. Accordingly Hisiaios with this intention was sending the messenger; -and it chanced that all these things happened to Aristagoras together at -the same time. He took counsel therefore with his partisans, declaring -to them both his own opinion and the message from Hisiaios; and while -all the rest expressed an opinion to the same effect, urging him namely -to make revolt, Hecataios the historian urged first that they should not -undertake war with the king of the Persians, enumerating all the nations -over whom Dareios was ruler, and his power: and when he did not succeed -in persuading him, he counselled next that they should manage to make -themselves masters of the sea. Now this, he continued, could not come -to pass in any other way, so far as he could see, for he knew that the -force of the Milesians was weak, but if the treasures should be taken -21 which were in the temple at Branchidai, which Croesus the Lydian -dedicated as offerings, he had great hopes that they might become -masters of the sea; and by this means they would not only themselves -have wealth at their disposal, but the enemy would not be able to carry -the things off as plunder. Now these treasures were of great value, as -I have shown in the first part of the history. 22 This opinion did not -prevail; but nevertheless it was resolved to make revolt, and that one -of them should sail to Myus, to make the force which had returned from -Naxos and was then there, and endeavour to seize the commanders who -sailed in the ships. - -37. So Iatragoras was sent for this purpose and seized by craft Oliatos -the son of Ibanollis of Mylasa, and Histiaios the son of Tymnes of -Termera, and Coes the son of Erxander, to whom Dareios had given -Mytilene as a gift, and Aristagoras the son of Heracleides of Kyme, and -many others; and then Aristagoras openly made revolt and devised all -that he could to the hurt of Dareios. And first he pretended to resign -the despotic power and give to Miletos equality, 23 in order that -the Milesians might be willing to revolt with him: then afterwards he -proceeded to do this same thing in the rest of Ionia also; and some of -the despots he drove out, but those whom he had taken from the ships -which had sailed with him to Naxis, these he surrendered, because he -desired to do a pleasure to their cities, delivering them over severally -to that city from which each one came. - -38. Now the men of Mitylene, so soon as they received Coes into their -hands, brought him out and stoned him to death; but the men of Kyme let -their despot go, and so also most of the others let them go. Thus then -the despots were deposed in the various cities; and Aristagoras the -Milesian, after having deposed the despots, bade each people appoint -commanders in their several cities, and then himself set forth as an -envoy to Lacedemon; for in truth it was necessary that he should find -out some powerful alliance. - -39. Now at Sparta Anaxandrides the son of Leon was no longer surviving -as king, but had brought his life to an end; and Cleomenes the son of -Anaxandrides was holding the royal power, not having obtained it by -merit but by right of birth. For Anaxandrides had to wife his own -sister's daughter and she was by him much beloved, but no children were -born to him by her. This being so, the Ephors summoned him before them -and said: "If thou dost not for thyself take thought in time, yet we -cannot suffer this to happen, that the race of Eurysthenes should become -extinct. Do thou therefore put away from thee the wife whom thou now -hast, since, as thou knowest, she bears thee no children, and marry -another: and in doing so thou wilt please the Spartans." He made answer -saying that he would do neither of these two things, and that they did -not give him honourable counsel, in that they advised him to send away -the wife whom he had, though she had done him no wrong, and to take to -his house another; and in short he would not follow their advice. - -40. Upon this the Ephors and the Senators deliberated together and -proposed to Anaxandrides as follows: "Since then we perceive that thou -art firmly attached to the wife whom thou now hast, consent to do this, -and set not thyself against it, lest the Spartans take some counsel -about thee other than might be wished. We do not ask of thee the putting -away of the wife whom thou hast; but do thou give to her all that -thou givest now and at the same time take to thy house another wife in -addition to this one, to bear thee children." When they spoke to him -after this manner, Anaxandrides consented, having two wives, a thing -which was not by any means after the Spartan fashion. - -41. Then when no long time had elapsed, the wife who had come in -afterwards bore this Cleomenes of whom we spoke; and just when she was -bringing to the light an heir to the kingdom of the Spartans, the former -wife, who had during the time before been childless, then by some means -conceived, chancing to do so just at that time: and though she was in -truth with child, the kinsfolk of the wife who had come in afterwards, -when they heard of it cried out against her and said that she was making -a vain boast, and that she meant to pass off another child as her own. -Since then they made a great show of indignation, as the time was fast -drawing near, the Ephors being incredulous sat round and watched the -woman during the birth of her child: and she bore Dorieos and then -straightway conceived Leonidas and after him at once Cleombrotos,--nay, -some even say that Cleombrotos and Leonidas were twins. The wife however -who had born Cleomenes and had come in after the first wife, being -the daughter of Primetades the son of Demarmenos, did not bear a child -again. - -42. Now Cleomenes, it is said, was not quite in his right senses but on -the verge of madness, 24 while Dorieos was of all his equals in age -the first, and felt assured that he would obtain the kingdom by merit. -Seeing then that he had this opinion, when Anaxandrides died and the -Lacedemonians followed the usual custom established the eldest, namely -Cleomenes, upon the throne, Dorieos being indignant and not thinking it -fit that he should be a subject of Cleomenes, asked the Spartans to give -him a company of followers and led them out to found a colony, without -either inquiring of the Oracle at Delphi to what land he should go to -make a settlement, or doing any of the things which are usually -done; but being vexed he sailed away with his ships to Libya, and the -Theraians were his guides thither. Then having come to Kinyps 25 he made -a settlement in the fairest spot of all Libya, along the banks of the -river; but afterwards in the third year he was driven out from thence -by the Macai and the Libyans 26 and the Carthaginians, and returned to -Peloponnesus. - -43. Then Antichares a man of Eleon gave him counsel out of the oracles -of Laios to make a settlement at Heracleia 27 in Sicily, saying that the -whole land of Eryx belonged to the Heracleidai, since Heracles himself -had won it: and hearing this he went forthwith to Delphi to inquire of -the Oracle whether he would be able to conquer the land to which he was -setting forth; and the Pythian prophetess replied to him that he would -conquer it. Dorieos therefore took with him the armament which he -conducted before to Libya, and voyaged along the coast of Italy. 28 - -44. Now at this time, the men of Sybaris say that they and their king -Telys were about to make an expedition against Croton, and the men of -Croton being exceedingly alarmed asked Dorieos to help them and obtained -their request. So Dorieos joined them in an expedition against Sybaris -and helped them to conquer Sybaris. This is what the men of Sybaris say -of the doings of Dorieos and his followers; but those of Croton say that -no stranger helped them in the war against the Sybarites except Callias -alone, a diviner of Elis and one of the descendants of Iamos, and he in -the following manner:--he ran away, they say, from Telys the despot of -the Sybarites, when the sacrifices did not prove favourable, as he was -sacrificing for the expedition against Croton, and so he came to them. - -45. Such, I say, are the tales which these tell, and they severally -produce as evidence of them the following facts:--the Sybarites point -to a sacred enclosure and temple by the side of the dried-up bed of -the Crathis, 29 which they say that Dorieos, after he had joined in the -capture of the city, set up to Athene surnamed "of the Crathis"; and -besides they consider the death of Dorieos himself to be a very strong -evidence, thinking that he perished because he acted contrary to the -oracle which was given to him; for if he had not done anything by the -way but had continued to do that for which he was sent, he would have -conquered the land of Eryx and having conquered it would have become -possessor of it, and he and his army would not have perished. On the -other hand the men of Croton declare that many things were granted in -the territory of Croton as special gifts to Callias the Eleisan, of -which the descendants of Callias were still in possession down to my -time, and that nothing was granted to Dorieos or the descendants of -Dorieos: but if Dorieos had in fact helped them in the way with Sybaris, -many times as much, they say, would have been given to him as to -Callias. These then are the evidences which the two sides produce, and -we may assent to whichever of them we think credible. - -46. Now there sailed with Dorieos others also of the Spartans, to be -joint-founders with him of the colony, namely Thessalos and Paraibates -and Keleas and Euryleon; and these when they had reached Sicily with all -their armament, were slain, being defeated in battle by the Phenicians -and the men of Egesta; and Euryleon only of the joint-founders survived -this disaster. This man then having collected the survivors of the -expedition, took possession of Minoa the colony of Selinus, and he -helped to free the men of Selinus from their despot Peithagoras. -Afterwards, when he had deposed him, he laid hands himself upon the -despotism in Selinus and became sole ruler there, though but for a short -time; for the men of Selinus rose in revolt against him and slew -him, notwithstanding that he had fled for refuge to the altar of Zeus -Agoraios. 30 - -47. There had accompanied Dorieos also and died with him Philip the -son of Butakides, a man of Croton, who having betrothed himself to the -daughter of Telys the Sybarite, became an exile from Croton; and then -being disappointed of this marriage he sailed away to Kyrene, whence -he set forth and accompanied Dorieos with a trireme of his own, himself -supplying the expenses of the crew. Now this man had been a victor at -the Olympic games, and he was the most beautiful of the Hellenes who -lived in his time; and on account of his beauty he obtained from the -men of Egesta that which none else ever obtained from them, for they -established a hero-temple over his tomb, and they propitiate him still -with sacrifices. - -48. In this manner Dorieos ended his life: but if he had endured to be a -subject of Cleomenes and had remained in Sparta, he would have been king -of Lacedemon; for Cleomenes reigned no very long time, and died leaving -no son to succeed him but a daughter only, whose name was Gorgo. - -49. However, Aristagoras the despot of Miletos arrived at Sparta while -Cleomenes was reigning: and accordingly with him he came to speech, -having, as the Lacedemonians say, a tablet of bronze, on which was -engraved a map 31 of the whole Earth, with all the sea and all the -rivers. And when he came to speech with Cleomenes he said to him as -follows: "Marvel not, Cleomenes, at my earnestness in coming hither, for -the case is this.--That the sons of the Ionians should be slaves instead -of free is a reproach and a grief most of all indeed to ourselves, but -of all others most to you, inasmuch as ye are the leaders of Hellas. Now -therefore I entreat you by the gods of Hellas to rescue from slavery the -Ionians, who are your own kinsmen: and ye may easily achieve this, for -the Barbarians are not valiant in fight, whereas ye have attained to the -highest point of valour in that which relates to war: and their fighting -is of this fashion, namely with bows and arrows and a short spear, and -they go into battle wearing trousers and with caps 32 on their heads. -Thus they are easily conquered. Then again they who occupy that -continent have good things in such quantity as not all the other nations -of the world together possess; first gold, then silver and bronze and -embroidered garments and beasts of burden and slaves; all which ye might -have for yourselves, if ye so desired. And the nations moreover dwell -in such order one after the other as I shall declare:--the Ionians here; -and next to them the Lydians, who not only dwell in a fertile land, but -are also exceedingly rich in gold and silver," 33--and as he said this -he pointed to the map of the Earth, which he carried with him engraved -upon the tablet,--"and here next to the Lydians," continued Aristagoras, -"are the Eastern Phrygians, who have both the greatest number of sheep -and cattle 34 of any people that I know, and also the most abundant -crops. Next to the Phrygians are the Cappadokians, whom we call Syrians; -and bordering upon them are the Kilikians, coming down to this 35 sea, -in which lies the island of Cyprus here; and these pay five hundred -talents to the king for their yearly tribute. Next to these Kilikians -are the Armenians, whom thou mayest see here, and these also have great -numbers of sheep and cattle. Next to the Armenians are the Matienians -occupying this country here; and next to them is the land of Kissia -here, in which land by the banks of this river Choaspes is situated that -city of Susa where the great king has his residence, and where the money -is laid up in treasuries. After ye have taken this city ye may then with -good courage enter into a contest with Zeus in the matter of wealth. -Nay, but can it be that ye feel yourselves bound to take upon you the -risk of 36 battles against Messenians and Arcadians and Argives, who are -equally matched against you, for the sake of land which is not much in -extent nor very fertile, and for confines which are but small, though -these peoples have neither gold nor silver at all, for the sake of which -desire incites one to fight and to die,--can this be, I say, and will -ye choose some other way now, when it is possible for you easily to have -the rule over all Asia?" Aristagoras spoke thus, and Cleomenes answered -him saying: "Guest-friend from Miletos, I defer my answer to thee until -the day after to-morrow." 37 - -50. Thus far then they advanced at that time; and when the appointed -day arrived for the answer, and they had come to the place agreed upon, -Cleomenes asked Aristagoras how many days' journey it was from the sea -of the Ionians to the residence of the king. Now Aristagoras, who in -other respects acted cleverly and imposed upon him well, in this point -made a mistake: for whereas he ought not to have told him the truth, at -least if he desired to bring the Spartans out to Asia, he said in fact -that it was a journey up from the sea of three months: and the other -cutting short the rest of the account which Aristagoras had begun to -give of the way, said: "Guest-friend from Miletos, get thee away from -Sparta before the sun has set; for thou speakest a word which sounds not -well in the ears of the Lacedemonians, desiring to take them a journey -of three months from the sea." - -51. Cleomenes accordingly having so said went away to his house: -but Aristagoras took the suppliant's branch and went to the house of -Cleomenes; and having entered in as a suppliant, he bade Cleomenes send -away the child and listen to him; for the daughter of Cleomenes was -standing by him, whose name was Gorgo, and this as it chanced was his -only child, being of the age now of eight or nine years. Cleomenes -however bade him say that which he desired to say, and not to stop on -account of the child. Then Aristagoras proceeded to promise him money, -beginning with ten talents, if he would accomplish for him that for -which he was asking; and when Cleomenes refused, Aristagoras went on -increasing the sums of money offered, until at last he had promised -fifty talents, and at that moment the child cried out: "Father, the -stranger will do thee hurt, 38 if thou do not leave him and go." -Cleomenes, then, pleased by the counsel of the child, departed into -another room, and Aristagoras went away from Sparta altogether, and had -no opportunity of explaining any further about the way up from the sea -to the residence of the king. - -52. As regards this road the truth is as follows.--Everywhere there are -royal stages 39 and excellent resting-places, and the whole road runs -through country which is inhabited and safe. Through Lydia and Phrygia -there extend twenty stages, amounting to ninety-four and a half leagues; -40 and after Phrygia succeeds the river Halys, at which there is a gate -4001 which one must needs pass through in order to cross the river, and -a strong guard-post is established there. Then after crossing over into -Cappadokia it is twenty-eight stages, being a hundred and four leagues, -by this way to the borders of Kilikia; and on the borders of the -Kilikians you will pass through two several gates and go by two several -guard-posts: then after passing through these it is three stages, -amounting to fifteen and a half leagues, to journey through Kilikia; -and the boundary of Kilikia and Armenia is a navigable river called -Euphrates. In Armenia the number of stages with resting-places is -fifteen, and of leagues fifty-six and a half, and there is a guard-post -on the way: then from Armenia, when one enters the land of Matiene, 41 -there are thirty-four stages, amounting to a hundred and thirty-seven -leagues; and through this land flow four navigable rivers, which cannot -be crossed but by ferries, first the Tigris, then a second and third -called both by the same name, 42 though they are not the same river nor -do they flow from the same region (for the first-mentioned of them flows -from the Armenian land and the other 43 from that of the Matienians), -and the fourth of the rivers is called Gyndes, the same which once Cyrus -divided into three hundred and sixty channels. 44 Passing thence into -the Kissian land, there are eleven stages, forty-two and a half leagues, -to the river Choaspes, which is also a navigable stream; and upon this -is built the city of Susa. The number of these stages amounts in all to -one hundred and eleven. - -53. This is the number of stages with resting-places, as one goes up -from Sardis to Susa: and if the royal road has been rightly measured as -regards leagues, and if the league 45 is equal to thirty furlongs, 46 -(as undoubtedly it is), the number of furlongs from Sardis to that which -is called the palace of Memnon is thirteen thousand five hundred, the -number of leagues being four hundred and fifty. So if one travels a -hundred and fifty furlongs each day, just ninety days are spent on the -journey. 47 - -54. Thus the Milesian Aristagoras, when he told Cleomenes the -Lacedemonian that the journey up from the sea to the residence of the -king was one of three months, spoke correctly: but if any one demands -a more exact statement yet than this, I will give him that also: for we -ought to reckon in addition to this the length of the road from Ephesos -to Sardis; and I say accordingly that the whole number of furlongs from -the sea of Hellas to Susa (for by that name the city of Memnon is known) -is fourteen thousand and forty; for the number of furlongs from Ephesos -to Sardis is five hundred and forty: thus the three months' journey is -lengthened by three days added. - -55. Aristagoras then being driven out of Sparta proceeded to Athens; -which had been set free from the rule of despots in the way which I -shall tell.--When Hipparchos the son of Peisistratos and brother of the -despot Hippias, after seeing a vision of a dream which signified it to -him plainly, 48 had been slain by Aristogeiton and Harmodios, who were -originally by descent Gephyraians, the Athenians continued for -four years after this to be despotically governed no less than -formerly,--nay, even more. - -56. Now the vision of a dream which Hipparchos had was this:--in the -night before the Panathenaia it seemed to Hipparchos that a man came -and stood by him, tall and of fair form, and riddling spoke to him these -verses: - - - "With enduring soul as a lion endure unendurable evil: - No one of men who doth wrong shall escape from the judgment appointed." - -These verses, as soon as it was day, he publicly communicated to the -interpreters of dreams; but afterwards he put away thought of the vision -49 and began to take part in that procession during which he lost his -life. - -57. Now the Gephyraians, of whom were those who murdered Hipparchos, -according to their own account were originally descended from Eretria; -but as I find by carrying inquiries back, they were Phenicians of those -who came with Cadmos to the land which is now called Boeotia, and they -dwelt in the district of Tanagra, which they had had allotted to them -in that land. Then after the Cadmeians had first been driven out by the -Argives, these Gephyraians next were driven out by the Boeotians and -turned then towards Athens: and the Athenians received them on certain -fixed conditions to be citizens of their State, laying down rules that -they should be excluded from a number of things not worth mentioning -here. - -58. Now these Phenicians who came with Cadmos, of whom were the -Gephyraians, brought in among the Hellenes many arts when they settled -in this land of Boeotia, and especially letters, which did not exist, as -it appears to me, among the Hellenes before this time; and at first they -brought in those which are used by the Phenician race generally, but -afterwards, as time went on, they changed with their speech the form of -the letters also. During this time the Ionians were the race of Hellenes -who dwelt near them in most of the places where they were; and these, -having received letters by instruction of the Phenicians, changed their -form slightly and so made use of them, and in doing so they declared -them to be called "phenicians," as was just, seeing that the Phenicians -had introduced them into Hellas. Also the Ionians from ancient time call -paper "skins," because formerly, paper being scarce, they used skins of -goat and sheep; nay, even in my own time many of the Barbarians write on -such skins. - -59. I myself too once saw Cadmeian characters in the temple of Ismenian -Apollo at Thebes of the Boeotians, engraved on certain 4901 tripods, and -in most respects resembling the Ionic letters: one of these tripods has -the inscription, - - - "Me Amphitryon offered from land Teleboian returning:" 50 - this inscription would be of an age contemporary with Laios - the son of Labdacos, the son of Polydoros, the son of Cadmos. - -60. Another tripod says thus in hexameter rhythm: - - - "Me did Scaios offer to thee, far-darting Apollo, - Victor in contest of boxing, a gift most fair in thine honour:" - -now Scaios would be the son of Hippocooen (at least if it were really he -who offered it, and not another with the same name as the son of -Hippocooen), being of an age contemporary with OEdipus the son of Laios: - -61. and the third tripod, also in hexameter rhythm, says: - - - "Me Laodamas offered to thee, fair-aiming Apollo, - He, of his wealth, 51 being king, as a gift most fair in thine honor:" - -now it was in the reign of this very Laodamas the son of Eteocles that -the Cadmeians were driven out by the Argives and turned to go to the -Enchelians; and the Gephyraians being then left behind were afterwards -forced by the Boeotians to retire to Athens. Moreover they have temples -established in Athens, in which the other Athenians have no part, and -besides others which are different from the rest, there is especially a -temple of Demeter Achaia and a celebration of her mysteries. - -62. I have told now of the vision of a dream seen by Hipparchos, and -also whence the Gephrynians were descended, of which race were the -murderers of Hipparchos; and in addition to this I must resume and -continue the story which I was about to tell at first, how the Athenians -were freed from despots. When Hippias was despot and was dealing harshly -with the Athenians because of the death of Hipparchos, the Alcmaionidai, -who were of Athenian race and were fugitives from the sons of -Peisistratos, 52 as they did not succeed in their attempt made together -with the other Athenian exiles to return by force, but met with great -disaster when they attempted to return and set Athens free, after they -had fortified Leipsydrion which is above Paionia,--these Alomaionidai -after that, still devising every means against the sons of Peisistratos, -accepted the contract to build and complete the temple at Delphi, that -namely which now exists but then did not as yet: and being wealthy and -men of repute already from ancient time, they completed the temple in -a manner more beautiful than the plan required, and especially in this -respect, that having agreed to make the temple of common limestone, 53 -they built the front parts of it in Parian marble. - -63. So then, as the Athenians say, these men being settled at Delphi -persuaded the Pythian prophetess by gifts of money, that whenever men of -the Spartans should come to inquire of the Oracle, either privately -or publicly sent, she should propose to them to set Athens free. The -Lacedemonians therefore, since the same utterance was delivered to them -on all occasions, sent Anchimolios the son of Aster, who was of repute -among their citizens, with an army to drive out the sons of Peisistratos -from Athens, although these were very closely connected with them by -guest-friendship; for they held that the concerns of the god 5301 should -be preferred to those of men: and this force they sent by sea in ships. -He therefore, having put in to shore at Phaleron, disembarked his army; -but the sons of Peisistratos being informed of this beforehand called -in to their aid an auxiliary force from Thessaly, for they had made an -alliance with the Thessalians; and the Thessalians at their request -sent by public resolution a body of a thousand horse and also their king -Kineas, a man of Conion. 54 So having obtained these as allies, the sons -of Peisistratos contrived as follows:--they cut down the trees in the -plain of Phaleron and made this district fit for horsemen to ride over, -and after that they sent the cavalry to attack the enemy's camp, -who falling upon it slew (besides many others of the Lacedemonians) -Anchimolios himself also: and the survivors of them they shut up in -their ships. Such was the issue of the first expedition from Lacedemon: -and the burial-place of Anchimolios is at Alopecai in Attica, near the -temple of Heracles which is at Kynosarges. - -64. After this the Lacedemonians equipped a larger expedition and sent -it forth against Athens; and they appointed to be commander of the army -their king Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides, and sent it this time -not by sea but by land. With these, when they had invaded the land of -Attica, first the Thessalian horse engaged battle; and in no long time -they were routed and there fell of them more than forty men; so the -survivors departed without more ado and went straight back to Thessaly. -Then Cleomenes came to the city together with those of the Athenians -who desired to be free, and began to besiege the despots shut up in the -Pelasgian wall. - -65. And the Lacedemonians would never have captured the sons of -Peisistratos at all; for they on their side had no design to make a long -blockade, and the others were well provided with food and drink; so that -they would have gone away back to Sparta after besieging them for a few -days only: but as it was, a thing happened just at this time which was -unfortunate for those, and at the same time of assistance to these; -for the children of the sons of Peisistratos were captured, while being -secretly removed out of the country: and when this happened, all their -matters were thereby cast into confusion, and they surrendered receiving -back their children on the terms which the Athenians desired, namely -that they should depart out of Attica within five days. After this they -departed out of the country and went to Sigeion on the Scamander, after -their family had ruled over the Athenians for six-and-thirty years. -These also were originally Pylians and sons of Neleus, descended from -the same ancestors as the family of Codros and Melanthos, who had -formerly become kings of Athens being settlers from abroad. Hence too -Hippocrates had given to his son the name of Peisistratos as a memorial, -calling him after Peisistratos the son of Nestor. - -Thus the Athenians were freed from despots; and the things worthy to be -narrated which they did or suffered after they were liberated, up to the -time when Ionia revolted from Dareios and Aristagoras the Milesian -came to Athens and asked them to help him, these I will set forth first -before I proceed further. - -66. Athens, which even before that time was great, then, after having -been freed from despots, became gradually yet greater; and in it two men -exercised power, namely Cleisthenes a descendant of Alcmaion, the same -who is reported to have bribed the Pythian prophetess, and Isagoras, -the son of Tisander, of a family which was highly reputed, but of his -original descent I am not able to declare; his kinsmen however offer -sacrifices to the Carian Zeus. These men came to party strife for power; -and then Cleisthenes was being worsted in the struggle, he made common -cause with the people. After this he caused the Athenians to be in ten -tribes, who were formerly in four; and he changed the names by which -they were called after the sons of Ion, namely Geleon, Aigicoreus, -Argades, and Hoples, and invented for them names taken from other -heroes, all native Athenians except Ajax, whom he added as a neighbour -and ally, although he was no Athenian. - -67. Now in these things it seems to me that this Cleisthenes was -imitating his mother's father Cleisthenes the despot of Sikyon: for -Cleisthenes when he went to war with Argos first caused to cease in -Sikyon the contests of rhapsodists, which were concerned with the -poems of Homer, because Argives and Argos are celebrated in them almost -everywhere; then secondly, since there was (as still there is) in the -market-place itself of the Sikyonians a hero-temple of Adrastos the son -of Talaos, Cleisthenes had a desire to cast him forth out of the land, -because he was an Argive. So having come to Delphi he consulted the -Oracle as to whether he should cast out Adrastos; and the Pythian -prophetess answered him saying that Adrastos was king of the Sikyonians, -whereas he was a stoner 55 of them. So since the god did not permit him -to do this, he went away home and considered means by which Adrastos -should be brought to depart of his own accord: and when he thought that -he had discovered them, he sent to Thebes in Boeotia and said that he -desired to introduce into his city Melanippos the son of Astacos, and -the Thebans gave him leave. So Cleisthenes introduced Melanippos into -his city, and appointed for him a sacred enclosure within the precincts -of the City Hall 56 itself, and established him there in the strongest -position. Now Cleisthenes introduced Melanippos (for I must relate this -also) because he was the greatest enemy of Adrastos, seeing that he had -killed both his brother Mekisteus and his son-in-law Tydeus: and when he -had appointed the sacred enclosure for him, he took away the sacrifices -and festivals of Adrastos and gave them to Melanippos. Now the -Sikyonians were accustomed to honour Adrastos with very great honours; -for this land was formerly the land of Polybos, and Adrastos was -daughter's son to Polybos, and Polybos dying without sons gave his -kingdom to Adrastos: the Sikyonians then not only gave other honours -to Adrastos, but also with reference to his sufferings they specially -honoured him with tragic choruses, not paying the honour to Dionysos but -to Adrastos. Cleisthenes however gave back the choruses to Dionysos, and -the other rites besides this he gave to Melannipos. - -68. Thus he had done to Adrastos; and he also changed the names of the -Dorian tribes, in order that the Sikyonians might not have the same -tribes as the Argives; in which matter he showed great contempt of the -Sikyonians, for the names he gave were taken from the names of a pig -and an ass by changing only the endings, except in the case of his own -tribe, to which he gave a name from his own rule. These last then were -called Archelaoi, 57 while of the rest those of one tribe were called -Hyatai, 58 of another Oneatai, 59 and of the remaining tribe Choireatai. -60 These names of tribes were used by the men of Sikyon not only in the -reign of Cleisthenes, but also beyond that for sixty years after his -death; then however they considered the matter and changed them into -Hylleis, Pamphyloi, and Dymanatai, adding to these a fourth, to which -they gave the name Aigialeis after Aigialeus the son of Adrastos. - -69. Thus had the Cleisthenes of Sikyon done: and the Athenian -Cleisthenes, who was his daughter's son and was called after him, -despising, as I suppose, the Ionians, as he the Dorians, imitated his -namesake Cleisthenes in order that the Athenians might not have the same -tribes as the Ionians: for when at the time of which we speak he added -to his own party the whole body of the common people of the Athenians, -which in former time he had despised, 61 he changed the names of the -tribes and made them more in number than they had been; he made in fact -ten rulers of tribes instead of four, and by tens also he distributed -the demes in the tribes; and having added the common people to his party -he was much superior to his opponents. - -70. Then Isagoras, as he was being worsted in his turn, contrived a -plan in opposition to him, that is to say, he called in Cleomenes the -Lacedemonian to help him, who had been a guest-friend to himself since -the siege of the sons of Peisistratos; moreover Cleomenes was accused -of being intimate with the wife of Isagoras. First then Cleomenes sent -a herald to Athens demanding the expulsion of Cleisthenes and with him -many others of the Athenians, calling them the men who were under the -curse: 62 this message he sent by instruction of Isagoras, for the -Alcmaionidai and their party were accused of the murder to which -reference was thus made, while he and his friends had no part in it. - -71. Now the men of the Athenians who were "under the curse" got this -name as follows:--there was one Kylon among the Athenians, a man who -had gained the victory at the Olympic games: this man behaved with -arrogance, wishing to make himself despot; and having formed for himself -an association of men of his own age, he endeavoured to seize the -Acropolis: but not being able to get possession of it, he sat down as a -suppliant before the image of the goddess. 63 These men were taken from -their place as suppliants by the presidents of the naucraries, who then -administered affairs at Athens, on the condition that they should be -liable to any penalty short of death; and the Alcmaionidai are accused -of having put them to death. This had occurred before the time of -Peisistratos. - -72. Now when Cleomenes sent demanding the expulsion of Cleisthenes and -of those under the curse, Cleisthenes himself retired secretly; but -after that nevertheless Cleomenes appeared in Athens with no very -large force, and having arrived he proceeded to expel as accursed seven -hundred Athenian families, of which Isagoras had suggested to him the -names. Having done this he next endeavoured to dissolve the Senate, and -he put the offices of the State into the hands of three hundred, who -were the partisans of Isagoras. The Senate however making opposition, -and not being willing to submit, Cleomenes with Isagoras and his -partisans seized the Acropolis. Then the rest of the Athenians joined -together by common consent and besieged them for two days; and on the -third day so many of them as were Lacedemonians departed out of the -country under a truce. Thus was accomplished for Cleomenes the ominous -saying which was uttered to him: for when he had ascended the Acropolis -with the design of taking possession of it, he was going to the -sanctuary of the goddess, as to address her in prayer; but the priestess -stood up from her seat before he had passed through the door, and said, -"Lacedemonian stranger, go back and enter not into the temple, for it is -not lawful for Dorians to pass in hither." He said: "Woman, I am not -a Dorian, but an Achaian." So then, paying no attention to the ominous -speech, he made his attempt and then was expelled again with the -Lacedemonians; but the rest of the men the Athenians laid in bonds to -be put to death, and among them Timesitheos the Delphian, with regard to -whom I might mention very great deeds of strength and courage which he -performed. - -73. These then having been thus laid in bonds were put to death; and the -Athenians after this sent for Cleisthenes to return, and also for the -seven hundred families which had been driven out by Cleomenes: and -then they sent envoys to Sardis, desiring to make an alliance with -the Persians; for they were well assured that the Lacedemonians and -Cleomenes had been utterly made their foes. So when these envoys had -arrived at Sardis and were saying that which they had been commanded -to say, Artaphrenes the son of Hystaspes, the governor of Sardis, asked -what men these were who requested to be allies of the Persians, and -where upon the earth they dwelt; and having heard this from the envoys, -he summed up his answer to them thus, saying that if the Athenians -were willing to give earth and water to Dareios, he was willing to make -alliance with them, but if not, he bade them begone: and the envoys -taking the matter upon themselves said that they were willing to do so, -because they desired to make the alliance. - -74. These, when they returned to their own land, were highly censured: -and Cleomenes meanwhile, conceiving that he had been outrageously dealt -with by the Athenians both with words and with deeds, was gathering -together an army from the whole of the Peloponnese, not declaring the -purpose for which he was gathering it, but desiring to take vengeance on -the people of the Athenians, and intending to make Isagoras despot; for -he too had come out of the Acropolis together with Cleomenes. Cleomenes -then with a large army entered Eleusis, while at the same time the -Boeotians by agreement with him captured Oinoe and Hysiai, the demes -which lay upon the extreme borders of Attica, and the Chalkidians on the -other side invaded and began to ravage various districts of Attica. The -Athenians then, though attacked on more sides than one, thought that -they would remember the Boeotians and Chalkidians afterwards, and -arrayed themselves against the Peloponnesians who were in Eleusis. - -75. Then as the armies were just about the join battle, the Corinthians -first, considering with themselves that they were not acting rightly, -changed their minds and departed; and after that Demaratos the son of -Ariston did the same, who was king of the Spartans as well as Cleomenes, -though he had joined with him in leading the army out from Lacedemon and -had not been before this at variance with Cleomenes. In consequence -of this dissension a law was laid down at Sparta that it should not be -permitted, when an army went out, that both the kings should go with -it, for up to this time both used to go with it, and that as one of the -kings was set free from service, so one of the sons of Tyndareus 64 -also should be left behind; for before this time both of these two were -called upon by them for help and went with the armies. - -76. At this time then in Eleusis the rest of the allies, seeing that the -kings of the Lacedemonians did not agree and also that the Corinthians -had deserted their place in the ranks, themselves too departed and got -them away quickly. And this was the fourth time that the Dorians had -come to Attica, twice having invaded it to make war against it, and -twice to help the mass of the Athenian people,--first when they at the -same time colonised Megara (this expedition may rightly be designated as -taking place when Codros was king of the Athenians), for the second and -third times when they came making expeditions from Sparta to drive out -the sons of Peisistratos, and fourthly on this occasion, when Cleomenes -at the head of the Peloponnesians invaded Eleusis: thus the Dorians -invaded Athens then for the fourth time. - -77. This army then having been ingloriously broken up, the Athenians -after that, desiring to avenge themselves, made expedition first against -the Chalkidians; and the Boeotians came to the Euripos to help the -Chalkidians. The Athenians, therefore, seeing those who had come -to help, 6401 resolved first to attack the Boeotians before the -Chalkidians. Accordingly they engaged battle with the Boeotians, and -had much the better of them, and after having slain very many they -took seven hundred of them captive. On this very same day the Athenians -passed over into Euboea and engaged battle with the Chalkidians as well; -and having conquered these also, they left four thousand holders of -allotments in the land belonging to the "Breeders of Horses": 65 now the -wealthier of the Chalkidians were called the Breeders of Horses. And -as many of them as they took captive, they kept in confinement together -with the Boeotians who had been captured, bound with fetters; and then -after a time they let them go, having fixed their ransom at two pounds -of silver apiece: 66 but their fetters, in which they had been bound, -they hung up on the Acropolis; and these were still existing even to my -time hanging on walls which had been scorched with fire by the Mede, 67 -and just opposite the sanctuary which lies towards the West. The tenth -part of the ransom also they dedicated for an offering, and made of it a -four-horse chariot of bronze, which stands on the left hand as you enter -the Propylaia in the Acropolis, and on it is the following inscription: - - - "Matched in the deeds of war with the tribes of Boeotia and Chalkis - The sons of Athens prevailed, conquered and tamed them in fight: - In chains of iron and darkness they quenched their insolent spirit; - And to Athene present these, of their ransom a tithe." - -78. The Athenians accordingly increased in power; and it is evident, not -by one instance only but in every way, that Equality 68 is an excellent -thing, since the Athenians while they were ruled by despots were not -better in war that any of those who dwelt about them, whereas after they -had got rid of despots they became far the first. This proves that when -they were kept down they were wilfully slack, because they were working -for a master, whereas when they had been set free each one was eager to -achieve something for himself. - -79. These then were faring thus: and the Thebans after this sent to the -god, desiring to be avenged on the Athenians; the Pythian prophetess -however said that vengeance was not possible for them by their own -strength alone, but bade them report the matter to the "many-voiced" -and ask help of those who were "nearest" to them. So when those who were -sent to consult the Oracle returned, they made a general assembly and -reported the oracle; and then the Thebans heard them say that they were -to ask help of those who were nearest to them, they said: "Surely -those who dwell nearest to us are the men of Tanagra and Coroneia and -Thespiai; and these always fight zealously on our side and endure the -war with us to the end: what need is there that we ask of these? Rather -perhaps that is not the meaning of the oracle." - -80. While they commented upon it thus, at length one perceived "that -which the oracle means to tell us. Asopos is said to have had two -daughters born to him, Thebe and Egina; and as these are sisters, I -think that the god gave us for answer that we should ask the men of -Egina to become our helpers." Then as there seemed to be no opinion -expressed which was better than this, they sent forthwith and asked -the men of Egina to help them, calling upon them in accordance with the -oracle; and they, when these made request, said that they sent with them -the sons of Aiacos to help them. - -81. After that the Thebans, having made an attempt with the alliance -of the sons of Aiacos and having been roughly handled by the Athenians, -sent again and gave them back the sons of Aiacos and asked them for men. -So the Eginetans, exalted by great prosperity and calling to mind an -ancient grudge against the Athenians, then on the request of the Thebans -commenced a war against the Athenians without notice: for while the -Athenians were intent on the Boeotians, they sailed against them to -Attica with ships of war, and they devastated Phaleron and also many -demes in the remainder of the coast region, and so doing they deeply -stirred the resentment of the Athenians. 69 - -82. Now the grudge which was due beforehand from the Eginetans to the -Athenians came about from a beginning which was as follows:--The land -of the Epidaurians yielded to its inhabitants no fruit; and accordingly -with reference to this calamity the Epidaurians went to inquire at -Delphi, and the Pythian prophetess bade them set up images of Damia and -Auxesia, and said that when they had set up these, they would meet with -better fortune. The Epidaurians then asked further whether they should -make images of bronze or of stone; and the prophetess bade them not use -either of these, but make them of the wood of a cultivated olive-tree. -The Epidaurians therefore asked the Athenians to allow them to cut for -themselves an olive-tree, since they thought that their olives were the -most sacred; nay some say that at that time there were no olives in any -part of the earth except at Athens. The Athenians said that they would -allow them on condition that they should every year bring due offerings -to Athene Polias 70 and to Erechtheus. The Epidaurians, then, having -agreed to these terms, obtained that which they asked, and they made -images out of these olive-trees and set them up: and their land bore -fruit and they continued to fulfil towards the Athenians that which they -had agreed to do. - -83. Now during this time and also before this the Eginetans were subject -to the Epidaurians, and besides other things they were wont to pass over -to Epidauros to have their disputes with one another settled by law: 71 -but after this time they built for themselves ships and made revolt -from the Epidaurians, moved thereto by wilfulness. So as they were at -variance with them, they continued to inflict damage on them, since in -fact they had command of the sea, and especially they stole away from -them these images of Damia and Auxesia, and they brought them and set -them up in the inland part of their country at a place called Oia, which -is about twenty furlongs distant from their city. Having set them up -in this spot they worshipped them with sacrifices and choruses of women -accompanied with scurrilous jesting, ten men being appointed for each of -the deities to provide the choruses: and the choruses spoke evil of no -man, but only of the women of the place. Now the Epidaurians also had -the same rites; and they have also rites which may not be divulged. - -84. These images then having been stolen, the Epidaurians no longer -continued to fulfil towards the Athenians that which they had agreed. -The Athenians accordingly sent and expressed displeasure to the -Epidaurians; and they declared saying that they were doing no wrong; for -during the time when they had the images in their country they continued -to fulfil that which they had agreed upon, but since they had been -deprived of them, it was not just that they should make the offerings -any more; and they bade them demand these from the men of Egina, who had -the images. So the Athenians sent to Egina and demanded the images back; -but the Eginetans said that they had nothing to do with the Athenians. - -85. The Athenians then report that in one single trireme were despatched -those of their citizens who were sent by the State after this demand; -who having come to Egina, attempted to tear up from off their pedestals -the images, (alleging that they were made of wood which belonged to the -Athenians), in order to carry them back with them: but not being able -to get hold of them in this manner (say the Athenians) they threw ropes -round them and were pulling them, when suddenly, as they pulled, thunder -came on and an earthquake at the same time with the thunder; and the -crew of the trireme who were pulling were made beside themselves by -these, and being brought to this condition they killed one another as if -they were enemies, until at last but one of the whole number was left; -and he returned alone to Phaleron. - -86. Thus the Athenians report that it came to pass: but the Eginetans -say that it was not with a single ship that the Athenians came; for -a single ship, and even a few more than one, they could have easily -repelled, even if they had not happened to have ships of their own: but -they say that the Athenians sailed upon their country with a large fleet -of ships, and they gave way before them and did not fight a sea-battle. -They cannot however declare with certainty whether they gave way thus -because they admitted that they were not strong enough to fight the -battle by sea, or because they intended to do something of the kind -which they actually did. The Athenians then, they say, as no one met -them in fight, landed from their ships and made for the images; but -not being able to tear them up from their pedestals, at last they threw -ropes round them and began to pull, until the images, as they were being -pulled, did both the same thing (and here they report something which -I cannot believe, but some other man may), for they say that the images -fell upon their knees to them and that they continue to be in that -position ever since this time. The Athenians, they say, were doing thus; -and meanwhile they themselves (say the Eginetans), being informed that -the Athenians were about to make an expedition against them, got the -Argives to help them; and just when the Athenians had disembarked upon -the Eginetan land, the Argives had come to their rescue, and not having -been perceived when they passed over from Epidauros to the island, they -fell upon the Athenians before these had heard anything of the matter, -cutting them off secretly from the way to their ships; and at this -moment it was that the thunder and the earthquake came upon them. - -87. This is the report which is given by the Argives and Eginetans both, -and it is admitted by the Athenians also that but one alone of them -survived and came back to Attica: only the Argives say that this one -remained alive from destruction wrought by them upon the army of -Athens, while the Athenians say that the divine power was the destroyer. -However, even this one man did not remain alive, but perished, they say, -in the following manner:--when he returned to Athens he reported the -calamity which had happened; and the wives of the men who had gone on -the expedition to Egina, hearing it and being very indignant that he -alone of all had survived, came round this man and proceeded to stab him -with the brooches of their mantles, each one of them asking of him where -her husband was. Thus he was slain; and to the Athenians it seemed -that the deed of the women was a much more terrible thing even than -the calamity which had happened; and not knowing, it is said, how they -should punish the women in any other way, they changed their fashion of -dress to that of Ionia,--for before this the women of the Athenians wore -Dorian dress, very like that of Corinth,--they changed it therefore to -the linen tunic, in order that they might not have use for brooches. - -88. In truth however this fashion of dress is not Ionian originally but -Carian, for the old Hellenic fashion of dress for women was universally -the same as that which we now call Dorian. Moreover it is said that with -reference to these events the Argives and Eginetans made it a custom -among themselves in both countries 72 to have the brooches made half -as large again as the size which was then established in use, and that -their women should offer brooches especially in the temple of these -goddesses, 73 and also that they should carry neither pottery of Athens -nor anything else of Athenian make to the temple, but that it should be -the custom for the future to drink there from pitchers made in the lands -themselves. - -89. The women of the Argives and Eginetans from this time onwards -because of the quarrel with the Athenians continued to wear brooches -larger than before, and still do so even to my time; and the origin of -the enmity of the Athenians towards the Eginetans came in the manner -which has been said. So at this time, when the Thebans invaded them, the -Eginetans readily came to the assistance of the Boeotians, calling to -mind what occurred about the images. The Eginetans then were laying -waste, as I have said, the coast regions of Attica; and when the -Athenians were resolved to make an expedition against the Eginetans, -an oracle came to them from Delphi bidding them stay for thirty years -reckoned from the time of the wrong done by the Eginetans, and in the -one-and-thirtieth year to appoint a sacred enclosure for Aiacos and then -to begin the war against the Eginetans, and they would succeed as they -desired; but if they should make an expedition against them at once, -they would suffer in the meantime very much evil and also inflict very -much, but at last they would subdue them. When the Athenians heard the -report of this, they appointed a sacred enclosure for Aiacos, namely -that which is now established close to the market-place, but they could -not endure to hear that they must stay for thirty years, when they had -suffered injuries from the Eginetans. - -90. While however they were preparing to take vengeance, a matter arose -from the Lacedemonians which provided a hindrance to them: for the -Lacedemonians, having learnt that which had been contrived by the -Alcmaionidai with respect to the Pythian prophetess, and that which had -been contrived by the Pythian prophetess against themselves and the sons -of Peisistratos, were doubly grieved, not only because they had driven -out into exile men who were their guest-friends, but also because after -they had done this no gratitude was shown to them by the Athenians. -Moreover in addition to this, they were urged on by the oracles which -said that many injuries would be suffered by them from the Athenians; -of which oracles they had not been aware of before, but they had come to -know them, since Cleomenes had brought them to Sparta. In fact Cleomenes -had obtained from the Acropolis of the Athenians those oracles which the -sons of Peisistratos possessed before and had left in the temple when -they were driven out; and Cleomenes recovered them after they had been -left behind. - -91. At this time, then, when the Lacedemonians had recovered the oracles -and when they saw that the Athenians were increasing in power and were -not at all willing to submit to them, observing that the Athenian race -now that it was free was becoming 74 a match for their own, whereas when -held down by despots it was weak and ready to be ruled,--perceiving, I -say, all these things, they sent for Hippias the son of Peisistratos to -come from Sigeion on the Hellespont, whither the family of Peisistratos -go for refuge; 75 and when Hippias had come upon the summons, the -Spartans sent also for envoys to come from their other allies and spoke -to them as follows: "Allies, we are conscious within ourselves that we -have not acted rightly; for incited by counterfeit oracles we drove out -into exile men who were very closely united with us as guest-friends and -who undertook the task of rendering Athens submissive to us, and then -after having done this we delivered over the State to a thankless -populace, which so soon as it had raised its head, having been freed by -our means drove out us and our king with wanton outrage; and now exalted -with pride 76 it is increasing in power, so that the neighbours of these -men first of all, that is the Boeotians and Chalkidians, have already -learnt, and perhaps some others also will afterwards learn, that they -committed an error. 7601 As however we erred in doing those things of -which we have spoken, we will try now to take vengeance on them, going -thither together with you; 77 since it was for this very purpose that we -sent for Hippias, whom ye see here, and for you also, to come from your -cities, in order that with common counsel and a common force we might -conduct him to Athens and render back to him that which we formerly took -away." - -92. Thus they spoke; but the majority of the allies did not approve of -their words. The rest however kept silence, but the Corinthian Socles 78 -spoke as follows: (a) "Surely now the heaven shall be below the earth, -and the earth raised up on high above the heaven, and men shall have -their dwelling in the sea, and fishes shall have that habitation which -men had before, seeing that ye, Lacedemonians, are doing away with free -governments 79 and are preparing to bring back despotism again into our -cities, than which there is no more unjust or more murderous thing -among men. For if in truth this seems to you to be good, namely that -the cities should be ruled by despots, do ye yourselves first set up a -despot in your own State, and then endeavour to establish them also for -others: but as it is, ye are acting unfairly towards your allies, seeing -that ye have had no experience of despots yourselves and provide with -the greatest care at Sparta that this may never come to pass. If -however ye had had experience of it, as we have had, ye would be able -to contribute juster opinions of it than at present. (b) For the -established order of the Corinthian State was this:--the government was -an oligarchy, and the oligarchs, who were called Bacchiadai, had control -over the State and made marriages among themselves. 80 Now one of these -men, named Amphion, had a daughter born to him who was lame, and her -name was Labda. This daughter, since none of the Bacchiadai wished to -marry her, was taken to wife by Aetion the son of Echecrates, who was of -the deme of Petra, but by original descent a Lapith and of the race of -Caineus. Neither from this wife nor from another were children born to -him, therefore he set out to Delphi to inquire about offspring; and as -he entered, forthwith the prophetess addressed him in these lines: - - - "'Much to be honoured art thou, yet none doth render thee honour. 81 - Labda conceives, and a rolling rock will she bear, which shall ruin - Down on the heads of the kings, and with chastisement visit Corinthos.' - -This answer given to Aetion was by some means reported to the -Bacchiadai, to whom the oracle which had come to Corinth before this was -not intelligible, an oracle which had reference to the same thing as -that of Aetion and said thus: - - - "'An eagle conceives in the rocks 82 and shall bear a ravening lion, - Strong and fierce to devour, who the knees of many shall loosen. - Ponder this well in your minds, I bid you, Corinthians, whose dwelling - Lies about fair Peirene's spring and in craggy Corinthos.' 83 - -(c) This oracle, I say, having come before to the Bacchiadai was -obscure; but afterwards when they heard that which had come to Aetion, -forthwith they understood the former also, that it was in accord with -that of Aetion; and understanding this one also they kept quiet, -desiring to destroy the offspring which should be born to Aetion. Then, -so soon as his wife bore a child, they sent ten of their own number to -the deme in which Aetion had his dwelling, to slay the child; and when -these had come to Petra and had passed into the court of Aetion's house, -they asked for the child; and Labda, not knowing anything of the purpose -for which they had come, and supposing them to be asking for the child -on account of friendly feeling towards its father, brought it and placed -it in the hands of one of them. Now they, it seems, had resolved by the -way that the first of them who received the child should dash it upon -the ground. However, when Labda brought and gave it, it happened by -divine providence that the child smiled at the man who had received it; -and when he perceived this, a feeling of compassion prevented him from -killing it, and having this compassion he delivered it to the next man, -and he to the third. Thus it passed through the hands of all the ten, -delivered from one to another, since none of them could bring himself to -destroy its life. So they gave the child back to its mother and went -out; and then standing by the doors they abused and found fault with one -another, laying blame especially on the one who had first received the -child, because he had not done according to that which had been -resolved; until at last after some time they determined again to enter -and all to take a share in the murder. (d) From the offspring of Aetion -however it was destined that evils should spring up for Corinth: for -Labda was listening to all this as she stood close by the door, and -fearing lest they should change their mind and take the child a second -time and kill it, she carried it and concealed it in the place which -seemed to her the least likely to be discovered, that is to say a -corn-chest, 84 feeling sure that if they should return and come to a -search, they were likely to examine everything: and this in fact -happened. So when they had come, and searching had failed to find it, -they thought it best to return and say to those who had sent them that -they had done all that which they had been charged by them to do. (e) -They then having departed said this; and after this the son of Aetion -grew, and because he had escaped this danger, the name of Kypselos was -given him as a surname derived from the corn-chest. Then when Kypselos -had grown to manhood and was seeking divination, a two-edged 85 answer -was given him at Delphi, placing trust in which he made an attempt upon -Corinth and obtained possession of it. Now the answer was as follows: - - - "'Happy is this man's lot of a truth, who enters my dwelling, - Offspring of Aetion, he shall rule in famous Corinthos, - Kypselos, he and his sons, but his children's children no longer.' - -Such was the oracle: and Kypselos when he became despot was a man of -this character,--many of the Corinthians he drove into exile, many he -deprived of their wealth, and very many more of their lives. (f) And -when he had reigned for thirty years and had brought his life to a -prosperous end, his son Periander became his successor in the despotism. -Now Periander at first was milder than his father; but after he had had -dealings through messengers with Thrasybulos the despot of Miletos, he -became far more murderous even than Kypselos. For he sent a messenger to -Thrasybulos and asked what settlement of affairs was the safest for him -to make, in order that he might best govern his State: and Thrasybulos -led forth the messenger who had come from Periander out of the city, and -entered into a field of growing corn; and as he passed through the crop -of corn, while inquiring and asking questions repeatedly 86 of the -messenger about the occasion of his coming from Corinth, he kept cutting -off the heads of those ears of corn which he saw higher than the rest; -and as he cut off their heads he cast them away, until he had destroyed -in this manner the finest and richest part of the crop. So having passed -through the place and having suggested no word of counsel, he dismissed -the messenger. When the messenger returned to Corinth, Periander was -anxious to hear the counsel which had been given; but he said that -Thrasybulos had given him no counsel, and added that he wondered at the -deed of Periander in sending him to such a man, for the man was out of -his senses and a waster of his own goods,--relating at the same time -that which he had seen Thrasybulos do. (g) So Periander, understanding -that which had been done and perceiving that Thrasybulos counselled him -to put to death those who were eminent among his subjects, began then to -display all manner of evil treatment to the citizens of the State; for -whatsoever Kypselos had left undone in killing and driving into exile, -this Periander completed. And in one day he stripped all the wives of -the Corinthians of their clothing on account of his own wife Melissa. -For when he had sent messengers to the Thesprotians on the river Acheron -to ask the Oracle of the dead about a deposit made with him by a -guest-friend, Melissa appeared and said she would not tell in what place -the deposit was laid, for she was cold and had no clothes, since those -which he had buried with her were of no use to her, not having been -burnt; and this, she said, would be an evidence to him that she was -speaking the truth, namely that when the oven was cold, Periander had -put his loaves into it. When the report of this was brought back to -Periander, the token made him believe, because he had had commerce with -Melissa after she was dead; and straightway after receiving the message -he caused proclamation to be made that all the wives of the Corinthians -should come out to the temple of Hera. They accordingly went as to a -festival in their fairest adornment; and he having set the spearmen of -his guard in ambush, stripped them all alike, both the free women and -their attendant; and having gathered together all their clothes in a -place dug out, he set fire to them, praying at the same time to Melissa. -Then after he had done this and had sent a second time, the apparition -of Melissa told him in what spot he had laid the deposit entrusted to -him by his guest-friend. - -"Such a thing, ye must know, Lacedemonians, is despotism, and such are -its deeds: and we Corinthians marvelled much at first when we saw that -ye were sending for Hippias, and now we marvel even more because ye say -these things; and we adjure you, calling upon the gods of Hellas, not -to establish despotisms in the cities. If however ye will not cease from -your design, but endeavour to restore Hippias contrary to that which is -just, know that the Corinthians at least do not give their consent to -that which ye do." - -93. Socles being the envoy of Corinth thus spoke, and Hippias made -answer to him, calling to witness the same gods as he, that assuredly -the Corinthians would more than all others regret the loss of the sons -of Peisistratos, when the appointed days should have come for them to -be troubled by the Athenians. Thus Hippias made answer, being acquainted -with the oracles more exactly than any other man: but the rest of the -allies, who for a time had restrained themselves and kept silence, when -they heard Socles speak freely, gave utterance every one of them to -that which they felt, and adopted the opinion of the Corinthian envoy, -adjuring the Lacedemonians not to do any violence to a city of Hellas. - -94. Thus was this brought to an end: and Hippias being dismissed from -thence had Anthemus offered to him by Amyntas king of the Macedonians -and Iolcos by the Thessalians. He however accepted neither of these, but -retired again to Sigeion; which city Peisistratos had taken by force -of arms from the Mytilenians, and having got possession of it, had -appointed his own natural son Hegesistratos, born of an Argive woman, to -be despot of it: he however did not without a struggle keep possession -of that which he received from Peisistratos; for the Mytilenians and -Athenians carried on war for a long time, having their strongholds -respectively at Achilleion and at Sigeion, the one side demanding that -the place be restored to them, and the Athenians on the other hand not -admitting this demand, but proving by argument that the Aiolians had -no better claim to the territory of Ilion than they and the rest of the -Hellenes, as many as joined with Menelaos in exacting vengeance for the -rape of Helen. - -95. Now while these carried on the war, besides many other things of -various kinds which occurred in the battles, once when a fight took -place and the Athenians were conquering, Alcaios the poet, taking to -flight, escaped indeed himself, but the Athenians retained possession of -his arms and hung them up on the walls of the temple of Athene which -is at Sigeion. About this matter Alcaios composed a song and sent it to -Mytilene, reporting therein his misadventure to one Melanippos, who was -his friend. Finally Periander the son of Kypselos made peace between the -Athenians and the Mytilenians, 87 for to him they referred the matter -as arbitrator; and he made peace between them on the condition that each -should continue to occupy that territory which they then possessed. - -96. Sigeion then in this matter had come under the rule of the -Athenians. And when Hippias had returned to Asia from Lacedemon, he -set everything in motion, stirring up enmity between the Athenians and -Artaphrenes, and using every means to secure that Athens should come -under the rule of himself and of Dareios. Hippias, I say, was thus -engaged; and the Athenians meanwhile hearing of these things sent envoys -to Sardis, and endeavoured to prevent the Persians from following the -suggestions of the exiled Athenians. Artaphrenes however commanded -them, if they desired to be preserved from ruin, to receive Hippias back -again. This proposal the Athenians were not by any means disposed to -accept when it was reported; and as they did not accept this, it became -at once a commonly received opinion among them that they were enemies of -the Persians. - -97. While they had these thoughts and had been set at enmity with the -Persians, at this very time Aristagoras the Milesian, ordered away from -Sparta by Cleomenes the Lacedemonian, arrived at Athens; for this -was the city which had most power of all the rest besides Sparta. And -Aristagoras came forward before the assembly of the people and said the -same things as he had said at Sparta about the wealth which there was in -Asia, and about the Persian manner of making war, how they used neither -shield nor spear and were easy to overcome. Thus I say he said, and -also he added this, namely that the Milesians were colonists from the -Athenians, and that it was reasonable that the Athenians should rescue -them, since they had such great power; and there was nothing which he -did not promise, being very urgent in his request, until at last he -persuaded them: for it would seem that it is easier to deceive many than -one, seeing that, though he did not prove able to deceive Cleomenes the -Lacedemonian by himself, yet he did this to thirty thousand Athenians. -The Athenians then, I say, being persuaded, voted a resolution to -despatch twenty ships to help the Ionians, and appointed to command them -Melanthios one of their citizens, who was in all things highly reputed. -These ships proved to be the beginning of evils for the Hellenes and the -Barbarians. - -98. Aristagoras however sailed on before and came to Miletos; and then -having devised a plan from which no advantage was likely to come for the -Ionians (nor indeed was he doing what he did with a view to that, but -in order to vex king Dareios), he sent a man to Phrygia to the Piaonians -who had been taken captive by Megabazos from the river Strymon, and who -were dwelling in a district and village of Phrygia apart by themselves; -and when the messenger came to the Paionians he spoke these words: -"Paionians, Aristagoras the despot of Miletos sent me to offer to you -salvation, if ye shall be willing to do as he says; for now all Ionia -has revolted from the king and ye have an opportunity of coming safe to -your own land: to reach the sea shall be your concern, and after this it -shall be thenceforth ours." The Paionians hearing this received it as -a most welcome proposal, and taking with them their children and their -women they began a flight to the sea; some of them however were struck -with fear and remained in the place where they were. Having come to the -coast the Paionians crossed over thence to Chios, and when they were -already in Chios there arrived in their track a large body of Persian -horsemen pursuing the Paionians. These, as they did not overtake them, -sent over to Chios to bid the Paionians return back: the Paionians -however did not accept their proposal, but the men of Chios conveyed -them from Chios to Lesbos, and the Lesbians brought them to Doriscos, -and thence they proceeded by land and came to Paionia. - -99. Aristagoras meanwhile, when the Athenians had arrived with twenty -ships, bringing with them also five triremes of the Eretrians, joined -the expedition not for the sake of the Athenians but of the Milesians -themselves, to repay them a debt which they owed (for the Milesians in -former times had borne with the Eretrians the burden of all that war -which they had with the Chalkidians at the time when the Chalkidians -on their side were helped by the Samians against the Eretrians and -Milesians),--when these, I say, had arrived and the other allies were -on the spot, Aristagoras proceeded to make a march upon Sardis. On -this march he did not go himself, but remained at Miletos and appointed -others to be in command of the Milesians, namely his brother Charopinos -and of the other citizens one Hermophantos. 8701 - -100. With this force then the Ionians came to Ephesos, and leaving their -ships at Coresos in the land of Ephesos, went up themselves in a large -body, taking Ephesians to guide them in their march. So they marched -along by the river Cayster, and then when they arrived after crossing -the range of Tmolos, they took Sardis without any resistance, all except -the citadel, but the citadel Artaphrenes himself saved from capture, -having with him a considerable force of men. - -101. From plundering this city after they had taken it they were -prevented by this:--the houses in Sardis were mostly built of reeds, -and even those of them which were of brick had their roofs thatched with -reeds: of these houses one was set on fire by a soldier, and forthwith -the fire going on from house to house began to spread over the whole -town. So then as the town was on fire, the Lydians and all the Persians -who were in the city being cut off from escape, since the fire was -prevailing in the extremities round about them, and not having any way -out of the town, flowed together to the market-place and to the river -Pactolos, which brings down gold-dust for them from Tmolos, flowing -through the middle of their market-place, and then runs out into the -river Hermos, and this into the sea;--to this Pactolos, I say, and to -the market-place the Lydians and Persians gathered themselves together, -and were compelled to defend themselves. The Ionians then, seeing some -of the enemy standing on their defence and others in great numbers -coming on to the attack, were struck with fear and retired to the -mountain called Tmolos, and after that at nightfall departed to go to -their ships. - -102. Sardis was then destroyed by fire, and in it also the temple of the -native goddess Hybebe; which the Persians alleged afterwards as a reason -for setting on fire in return the temples in the land of the Hellenes. -However at the time of which I speak the Persians who occupied districts -within the river Halys, informed beforehand of this movement, were -gathering together and coming to the help of the Lydians; and, as it -chanced, they found when they came that the Ionians no longer were in -Sardis; but they followed closely in their track and came up with them -at Ephesos: and the Ionians stood indeed against them in array, but -when they joined battle they had very much the worse; and besides other -persons of note whom the Persians slaughtered, there fell also Eualkides -commander of the Eretrians, a man who had won wreaths in contests of -the games and who was much celebrated by Simonides of Keos: and those of -them who survived the battle dispersed to their various cities. - -103. Thus then they fought at that time; and after the battle the -Athenians left the Ionians together, and when Aristagoras was urgent -in calling upon them by messengers for assistance, they said that -they would not help them: the Ionians, however, though deprived of the -alliance of the Athenians, none the less continued to prepare for the -war with the king, so great had been the offences already committed by -them against Dareios. They sailed moreover to the Hellespont and brought -under their power Byzantion and all the other cities which are in those -parts; and then having sailed forth out of the Hellespont, they gained -in addition the most part of Caria to be in alliance with them: for even -Caunos, which before was not willing to be their ally, then, after they -had burnt Sardis, was added to them also. - -104. The Cyprians too, excepting those of Amathus, were added -voluntarily to their alliance; for these also had revolted from the -Medes in the following manner:--there was one Onesilos, younger brother -of Gorgos king of Salamis, and son of Chersis, the son of Siromos, the -son of Euelthon. This man in former times too had been wont often to -advise Gorgos to make revolt from the king, and at this time, when -he heard that the Ionians had revolted, he pressed him very hard and -endeavoured to urge him to it. Since however he could not persuade -Gorgos, Onesilos watched for a time when he had gone forth out of the -city of Salamis, and then together with the men of his own faction he -shut him out of the gates. Gorgos accordingly being robbed of the city -went for refuge to the Medes, and Onesilos was ruler of Salamis and -endeavoured to persuade all the men of Cyprus to join him in revolt. The -others then he persuaded; but since those of Amathus were not willing to -do as he desired, he sat down before their city and besieged it. - -105. Onesilos then was besieging Amathus; and meanwhile, when it was -reported to king Dareios that Sardis had been captured and burnt by the -Athenians and the Ionians together, and that the leader of the league -for being about these things 88 was the Milesian Aristagoras, it is said -that at first being informed of this he made no account of the Ionians, -because he knew that they at all events would not escape unpunished for -their revolt, but he inquired into who the Athenians were; and when -he had been informed, he asked for his bow, and having received it -and placed an arrow upon the string, he discharged it upwards towards -heaven, and as he shot into the air he said: "Zeus, that it may be -granted me to take vengeance upon the Athenians!" Having so said he -charged one of his attendants, that when dinner was set before the king -he should say always three times: "Master, remember the Athenians." - -106. When he had given this charge, he called into his presence -Histiaios the Milesian, whom Dareios had now been keeping with him for a -long time, and said: "I am informed, Histiaios, that thy deputy, to whom -thou didst depute the government of Miletos, has made rebellion against -me; for he brought in men against me from the other continent and -persuaded the Ionians also,--who shall pay the penalty to me for that -which they did,--these, I say, he persuaded to go together with them, -and thus he robbed me of Sardis. Now therefore how thinkest thou that -this is well? and how without thy counsels was anything of this kind -done? Take heed lest thou afterwards find reason to blame thyself for -this." Histiaios replied: "O king, what manner of speech is this that -thou hast uttered, saying that I counselled a matter from which it was -likely that any vexation would grow for thee, either great or small? -What have I to seek for in addition to that which I have, that I should -do these things; and of what am I in want? for I have everything that -thou hast, and I am thought worthy by thee to hear all thy counsels. -Nay, but if my deputy is indeed acting in any such manner as thou -hast said, be assured that he has done it merely on his own account. I -however, for my part, do not even admit the report to be true, that the -Milesians and my deputy are acting in any rebellious fashion against thy -power: but if it prove that they are indeed doing anything of that kind, -and if that which thou hast heard, O king, be the truth, learn then what -a thing thou didst in removing me away from the sea-coast; for it seems -that the Ionians, when I had gone out of the sight of their eyes, did -that which they had long had a desire to do; whereas if I had been in -Ionia, not a city would have made the least movement. Now therefore as -quickly as possible let me set forth to go to Ionia, that I may order -all these matters for thee as they were before, and deliver into thy -hands this deputy of Miletos who contrived these things: and when I have -done this after thy mind, I swear by the gods of the royal house that I -will not put off from me the tunic which I wear when I go down to Ionia, -until I have made Sardinia tributary to thee, which is the largest of -all islands." - -107. Thus saying Histiaios endeavoured to deceive the king, and -Dareios was persuaded and let him go, charging him, when he should have -accomplished that which he had promised, to return to him again at Susa. - -108. In the meantime, while the news about Sardis was going up to the -king, and while Dareios, after doing that which he did with the bow, -came to speech with Histiaios, and Histiaios having been let go by -Dareios was making his journey to the sea-coast,--during all that time -the events were happening which here follow.--As Onesilos of Salamis -was besieging those of Amathus, it was reported to him that Artybios -a Persian, bringing with him in ships a large Persian army, was to be -expected shortly to arrive in Cyprus. Being informed of this, Onesilos -sent heralds to different places in Ionia to summon the Ionians to his -assistance; and they took counsel together and came without delay with a -large force. Now the Ionians arrived in Cyprus just at the time when the -Persians having crossed over in ships from Kilikia were proceeding by -land to attack Salamis, while the Phenicians with the ships were sailing -round the headland which is called the "Keys of Cyprus." - -109. This being the case, the despots of Cyprus called together the -commanders of the Ionians and said: "Ionians, we of Cyprus give you -a choice which enemy ye will rather fight with, the Persians or the -Phenicians: for if ye will rather array yourselves on land and make -trial of the Persians in fight, it is time now for you to disembark from -your ships and array yourselves on the land, and for us to embark in -your ships to contend against the Phenicians; but if on the other hand -ye will rather make trial of the Phenicians,--whichever of these two ye -shall choose, ye must endeavour that, so far as it rests with you, both -Ionia and Cyprus shall be free." To this the Ionians replied: "We were -sent out by the common authority of the Ionians to guard the sea, and -not to deliver our ships to the Cyprians and ourselves fight with the -Persians on land. We therefore will endeavour to do good service in that -place to which we were appointed; and ye must call to mind all the evils -which ye suffered from the Medes, when ye were in slavery to them, and -prove yourselves good men." - -110. The Ionians made answer in these words; and afterwards, when the -Persians had come to the plain of Salamis, the kings of the Cyprians set -in order their array, choosing the best part of the troops of Salamis -and of Soloi to be arrayed against the Persians and setting the other -Cyprians against the rest of the enemy's troops; and against Artybios, -the commander of the Persians, Onesilos took up his place in the array -by his own free choice. - -111. Now Artybios was riding a horse which had been trained to rear -up against a hoplite. Onesilos accordingly being informed of this, and -having a shield-bearer, by race of Caria, who was of very good repute -as a soldier and full of courage besides, 89 said to this man: "I am -informed that the horse of Artybios rears upright and works both with -his feet and his mouth against any whom he is brought to attack. Do thou -therefore consider the matter, and tell me forthwith which of the two -thou wilt rather watch for and strike, the horse or Artybios himself." -To this his attendant replied: "O king, I am ready to do both or either -of these two things, and in every case to do that which thou shalt -appoint for me; but I will declare to thee the way in which I think it -will be most suitable 90 for thy condition. I say that it is right for -one who is king and commander to fight with a king and commander; for if -thou shalt slay the commander of the enemy, it turns to great glory for -thee; and again, if he shall slay thee, which heaven forbid, even death -when it is at the hands of a worthy foe is but half to be lamented: but -for us who are under thy command it is suitable to fight with the others -who are under his command and with his horse: and of the tricks of the -horse have thou no fear at all, for I engage to thee that after this -at least he shall never stand against any man more." Thus he spoke; and -shortly afterwards the opposed forces joined battle both on land and -with their ships. - -112. On that day the Ionians for their part greatly distinguished -themselves and overcame the Phenicians, and of them the Samians were -best: and meanwhile on land, when the armies met, they came to close -quarters and fought; and as regards the two commanders, what happened -was this:--when Artybios came to fight with Onesilos sitting upon his -horse, Onesilos, as he had concerted with his shield-bearer, struck at -Artybios himself, when he came to fight with him; and when the horse put -its hoofs against the shield of Onesilos, then the Carian struck with a -falchion 91 and smote off the horse's feet. - -113. So Artybios the commander of the Persians fell there on the spot -together with his horse: and while the others also were fighting, -Stesenor the despot of Curion deserted them, having with him a -large force of men,--now these Curians are said to be settlers -from Argos,--and when the Curians had deserted, forthwith also the -war-chariots of the men of Salamis proceeded to do the same as the -Curians. When these things took place, the Persians had the advantage -over the Cyprians; and after their army had been put to rout, many -others fell and among them Onesilos the son of Chersis, he who brought -about the revolt of the Cyprians, and also the king of the Solians, -Aristokypros the son of Philokypros,--that Philokypros whom Solon the -Athenian, when he came to Cyprus, commended in verse above all other -despots. - -114. So the men of Amathus cut off the head of Onesilos, because he had -besieged them; and having brought it to Amathus they hung it over the -gate of the city: and as the head hung there, when it had now become a -hollow, a swarm of bees entered into it and filled it with honeycomb. -This having so come to pass, the Amathusians consulted an Oracle about -the head, and they received an answer bidding them take it down and bury -it and sacrifice to Onesilos every year as a hero; and if they did this, -it would go better with them. - -115. The Amathusians accordingly continued to do so even to my time. But -the Ionians who had fought the sea-fight in Cyprus, when they perceived -that the fortunes of Onesilos were ruined and that the cities of the -Cyprians were besieged, except Salamis, and that this city had been -delivered over by the Salaminians to Gorgos the former king,--as soon as -they perceived this, the Ionians sailed away back to Ionia. Now of the -cities in Cyprus Soloi held out for the longest time under the siege; -and the Persians took it in the fifth month by undermining the wall -round. - -116. The Cyprians then, after they had made themselves free for one -year, had again been reduced to slavery afresh: and meanwhile Daurises, -who was married to a daughter of Dareios, and Hymaies and Otanes, who -were also Persian commanders and were married also to daughters -of Dareios, after they had pursued those Ionians who had made the -expedition to Sardis and defeating them in battle had driven them -by force to their ships,--after this distributed the cities amongst -themselves and proceeded to sack them. - -117. Daurises directed his march to the cities on the Hellespont, and he -took Dardanos and Abydos and Percote and Lampsacos and Paisos, of these -he took on each day one; and as he was marching from Paisos against the -city of Parion, the report came that the Carians had made common cause -with the Ionians and were in revolt from the Persians. He turned back -therefore from the Hellespont and marched his army upon Caria. 118. -And, as it chanced, a report of this was brought to the Carians before -Daurises arrived; and the Carians being informed of it gathered together -at the place which is called the "White Pillars" and at the river -Marsyas, which flows from the region of Idrias and runs out into the -Maiander. When the Carians had been gathered together there, among many -other counsels which were given, the best, as it seems to me, was that -of Pixodaros the son of Mausolos, a man of Kindye, who was married to -the daughter of the king of the Kilikians, Syennesis. The opinion -of this man was to the effect that the Carians should cross over the -Maiander and engage battle with the Persians having the river at their -backs, in order that the Carians, not being able to fly backwards and -being compelled to remain where they were, might prove themselves even -better men in fight than they naturally would. This opinion did not -prevail; but they resolved that the Persians rather than themselves -should have the Maiander at their backs, evidently 92 in order that if -there should be a flight of the Persians and they should be worsted in -the battle, they might never return home, but might fall into the river. - -119. After this, when the Persians had come and had crossed the -Maiander, the Carians engaged with the Persians on the river Marsyas and -fought a battle which was obstinately contested and lasted long; but at -length they were worsted by superior numbers: and of the Persians there -fell as many as two thousand, but of the Carians ten thousand. Then -those of them who escaped were shut up in Labraunda 93 within -the sanctuary of Zeus Stratios, which is a large sacred grove of -plane-trees; now the Carians are the only men we know who offer -sacrifices to Zeus Stratios. These men then, being shut up there, were -taking counsel together about their safety, whether they would fare -better if they delivered themselves over to the Persians or if they left -Asia altogether. - -120. And while they were thus taking counsel, there came to their aid -the Milesians and their allies. Then the Carians dismissed the plans -which they were before considering and prepared to renew the war again -from the beginning: and when the Persians came to attack them, they -engaged with them and fought a battle, and they were worsted yet more -completely than before; and while many were slain of all parties, 94 the -Milesians suffered most. - -121. Then afterwards the Carians repaired this loss and retrieved their -defeat; for being informed that the Persians had set forth to march upon -their cities, they laid an ambush on the road which is by Pedasos, 95 -and the Persians falling into it by night were destroyed both they and -their commanders, namely Daurises and Amorges and Sisimakes; and with -them died also Myrsos the son of Gyges. Of this ambush the leader was -Heracleides the son of Ibanollis, a man of Mylasa. - -122. These then of the Persians were thus destroyed; and meanwhile -Hymaies, who was another of those who pursued after the Ionians that had -made the expedition to Sardis, directed his march to the Propontis and -took Kios in Mysia; and having conquered this city, when he was informed -that Daurises had left the Hellespont and was marching towards Caria, he -left the Propontis and led his army to the Hellespont: and he conquered -all the Aiolians who occupy the district of Ilion, and also the -Gergithes, who were left behind as a remnant of the ancient Teucrians. -While conquering these tribes Hymaies himself ended his life by sickness -in the land of Troas. - -123. He thus brought his life to an end; and Artaphrenes the governor -of the province of Sardis was appointed with Otanes the third of the -commanders to make the expedition against Ionia and that part of Aiolia -which bordered upon it. Of Ionia these took the city of Clazomenai, and -of the Aiolians Kyme. - -124. While the cities were thus being taken, Aristagoras the Milesian, -being, as he proved in this instance, not of very distinguished courage, -since after having disturbed Ionia and made preparation of great matters -96 he counselled running away when he saw these things, (moreover it -had become clear to him that it was impossible to overcome king -Dareios),--he, I say, having regard to these things, called together -those of his own party and took counsel with them, saying that it was -better that there should be a refuge prepared for them, in case that -they should after all be driven out from Miletos, and proposing the -question whether he should lead them from thence to Sardinia, to form -a colony there, or to Myrkinos in the land of the Edonians, which -Histiaios had been fortifying, having received it as a gift from -Dareios. This was the question proposed by Aristagoras. - -125. Now the opinion of Hecataios the son of Hegesander the historian -97 was that he should not take a colony to either of these places, but -build a wall of defence for himself in the island of Leros and keep -still, if he should be forced to leave Miletos; and afterwards with this -for his starting point he would be able to return to Miletos. - -126. This was the counsel of Hecataios; but Aristagoras was most -inclined to go forth to Myrkinos. He therefore entrusted the government -of Miletos to Pythagoras, a man of repute among the citizens, and he -himself sailed away to Thrace, taking with him every one who desired to -go; and he took possession of the region for which he had set out. -But starting from this to make war, he perished by the hands of the -Thracians, that is both Aristagoras himself and his army, when he was -encamped about a certain city and the Thracians desired to go out from -it under a truce. - -***** - - - -NOTES TO BOOK V - -1 [ {ie paion} (or {paian}), as the burden of a song of triumph.] - -2 [ {eggenetai}: many MSS. and some Editors read {en genetai}, "and the -race can never become united."] - -3 [ iv. 93.] - -301 [ Or "from the time that he was born."] - -4 [ {to astikton} is probably for {to me estikhthai}: but possibly the -meaning may be, "those who are not so marked are of low birth."] - -5 [ "the greatest prizes are assigned for single combat in proportion" -(as it is more difficult).] - -6 [ Or "Siriopaionians."] - -7 [ The words "and about the Doberians and Agrianians and Odomantians" -are marked by Stein as an interpolation, on the ground that the two -tribes first mentioned are themselves Paionian; but Doberians are -distinguished from Paionians in vii. 113.] - -8 [ {theres katarraktes}: the MSS. have {thures katapaktes} (which can -hardly be right, since the Ionic form would be {katapektes}), meaning -"fastened down." Stein suggests {thures katepaktes} (from {katepago}), -which might mean "a door closed downwards," but the word is not found. -(The Medicean MS. has {e} written over the last {a} of {katapaktes}.)] - -9 [ {diapinontes}: or perhaps, "drinking against one another."] - -10 [ See viii. 137.] - -11 [ i.e. "he was drawn to run in the first pair."] - -12 [ The best MSS. give this form throughout, which is also used by -AEschylus: cp. iii. 70, note 60.] - -13 [ {ekakothesan}.] - -14 [ {toutou}: it is doubtful whether this means his power or his death. -Perhaps something has dropped out after {teleuta}.] - -15 [ {anesis}: a conjectural emendation of {aneos}. (Perhaps however, -the word was rather {ananeosis}, "after a short time there was a renewal -of evils"). Grote wishes to translate this clause, "after a short time -there was an abatement of evils," being of opinion that the {anesis -kakon} lasted about eight years. However the expression {ou pollon -khronon} is so loose that it might well cover the required period of -time.] - -16 [ {praskhema}.] - -17 [ i.e. Miletos and Naxos.] - -18 [ {ton pakheon}.] - -1801 [ {umin}: omitted in some MSS. and editions.] - -19 [ Lit. "dividing him in such a manner."] - -20 [ {kai to teikhos esaxanto}: {esaxanto} from {satto}, which generally -means "load." Various conjectures have been made, e.g. {kai to teikhos -ephraxanto}, or {kata takhos esaxanto}, the comma after {pota} being -removed.] - -2001 [ {me de neoteron ti poieuses tes Miletou}, "if Miletos made no -change (i.e. rebellion)."] - -21 [ {katairetheie}, "taken down" from their place (cp. {anetheke} -below).] - -22 [ {en to peoto ton logon}. The reference is to i. 92.] - -23 [ {isonomien}: cp. iii. 80.] - -24 [ {akromantes}: cp. {akrakholos}. It may mean "somewhat mad," so -{akrozumos}, "slightly leavened," and other words.] - -25 [ {Kinupa}: for this Stein reads by conjecture {Aibuen} and -afterwards {para Kinupa potamon} for {para potamon}: but Kinyps was -the name of the district about the river (iv. 198), and the name of the -river is easily supplied from this.] - -26 [ {Makeon te kai Libuon}. The Macai were of course Libyans, therefore -perhaps we should read (with Niebuhr) {Makeon te Libuon}: or {Makeon te -kai allon Libuon}.] - -27 [ Stein thinks that Heracleia Minoa on the S. coast of Sicily cannot -be meant, because too distant to be considered part of the "land of -Eryx." Evidently however this expression is very vague, and there seems -no need to correct the text as he proposes.] - -28 [ {para ten Italion}: the name applied anciently only to the -South-West of the peninsula.] - -29 [ {Krathin}, the MSS. give {krastin} here, and {krastie} below for -{Krathie}. Sybaris was situated between the rivers Crathis and Sybaris.] - -30 [ i.e. "of the Market-place."] - -31 [ {periodos}.] - -32 [ {kurbasias}: see vii. 64.] - -33 [ {poluargurotatoi}: this seems to include gold also, for which Lydia -was famous.] - -34 [ {poluprobatotatoi}.] - -35 [ {tende}, pointing to it in the map.] - -36 [ If {anaballesthai} is the true reading here, it cannot mean, -"put off to another time," as Stein translates it; for the form of the -sentence proves that it is to be taken as a question, co-ordinate with -that which follows: {peri men khores ara ou polles khreon esti umeas -makhas anaballesthai, parekhon de tes Asies arkhein allo ti airesesthe}; -the first clause being in sense subordinate to the second.] - -37 [ {es triten emeren}.] - -38 [ {diaphthereei se}. It is impossible to reproduce the double meaning -of {diaphtheirein}, "to destroy," and "to corrupt with bribes." The -child was apparently alarmed by the vehement gestures of Aristagoras -and supposed that he was going to kill her father. Cleomenes accepts the -omen.] - -39 [ {stathmoi}: "stations," the distance between them averaging here -about 120 stades.] - -40 [ {parasaggai}: the "parasang," as estimated at 30 stades, would be -nearly 31/2 English miles.] - -4001 [ i.e. a narrow pass; so also below in speaking of the passes into -Kilikia.] - -41 [ In the MSS. this clause follows the account of the four rivers, and -the distance through Matiene is given as "four stages" with no number of -leagues added. By transposing the clause we avoid placing the rivers -in Armenia instead of Matiene; and by making the number of stages -thirty-four, with a corresponding number of leagues, we make the total -right at the end and give the proper extension to Matiene.] - -42 [ i.e. Zabatos: the name has perhaps fallen out of the text.] - -43 [ {o d' usteron}: "the one mentioned afterwards." Stein reads {o d' -usteros}.] - -44 [ See i. 189.] - -45 [ {parasagges}.] - -46 [ {stadia}: the stade being equal to 6063/4 English feet.] - -47 [ Reckoned for the march of an army.] - -48 [ Omitting {to eoutou pathei} which stands in the MSS. before -{enargestaten}. If the words are retained, we must translate "which -clearly pointed to his fate."] - -49 [ {apeipamenos ten opsin}, which some translate "he made offerings to -avert the dream."] - -4901 [ {tisi}: many Editors adopt the conjecture {trisi}, three.] - -50 [ {anetheken eon}: various conjectures have been made here, e.g. -{anetheken elon}, {anetheken ion}, {anetheke theo}, {anetheken eont}, -{anetheke neon}: the last, which is Bentley's, is perhaps the best; but -it is doubtful whether the active form of the verb is admissible.] - -51 [ {autos}: the MSS. have {auton}. If {autos} is right, the meaning is -"from his own property."] - -52 [ The expression {Peisistratidai} is used loosely for the family in -general.] - -53 [ {porinou lithou}, "tufa."] - -5301 [ Or "of God."] - -54 [ {Koniaion}. There is no such place as Conion known in Thessaly, but -we cannot correct the text with any certainty.] - -55 [ There is perhaps a play of words in {basileus} and {leuster}.] - -56 [ {prutaneio}.] - -57 [ "Rulers of the people."] - -58 [ "Swine-ites."] - -59 [ "Ass-ites."] - -60 [ "Pig-ites."] - -61 [ {proteron aposmenon, tote panta}: most of the MSS. read {panton} -for {panta}. The Editors propose various corrections, e.g. {proteron -apospenon panton, tote k.t.l.}, "which before were excluded from -everything," or {proteron apospenon, tote panton metadidous}, "giving -the people, which before he had despised, a share of all rights": or -{panton} is corrected to {epanion}, "on his from exile," temporary exile -being supposed as the result of the defeat mentioned in ch. 66.] - -62 [ {tous enageas}.] - -63 [ i.e. of Athene Polias in the Erechtheion.] - -64 [ Cp. iv. 145.] - -6401 [ {tous boethous}: most of the MSS. have {tous Boiotous}.] - -65 [ {ippobotai}.] - -66 [ {dimneos apotimesamenoi}.] - -67 [ See viii. 53.] - -68 [ {isegorin}: probably not "equal freedom of speech," but practically -the same as {isonomie}, ch. 37.] - -69 [ Lit. "penetrated the Athenian greatly": most MSS. and Editors read -{esineonto} (or {esinonto}) for {esikneonto}, which is given by the -first hand in at least two good MSS.] - -70 [ i.e. "Athene (protectress) of the city," who shared with Erechtheus -the temple on the Acropolis called the "Erechtheion"; see viii. 55.] - -71 [ More lit. "to give and receive from one another satisfaction."] - -72 [ {eti tode poiesai nomon einai, para sphisi ekateroisi k.t.l.} The -Editors punctuate variously, and alterations have been proposed in the -text.] - -73 [ i.e. Damia and Auxesia.] - -74 [ {ginoito}: some MSS. read {an ginoito}, "would become": so Stein -and many other Editors.] - -75 [ Some Editors omit this clause, "whither--refuge."] - -76 [ "having grown a good opinion of itself."] - -7601 [ Or, altering {oste} to {os ge} or {osper}, "as the neighbours -of these men first of all, that is the Boeotians and Chalkidians, have -already learnt, and perhaps some others will afterwards learn that they -have committed an error." The word {amarton} would thus be added as an -afterthought, with reference primarily to the Corinthians, see ch. 75.] - -77 [ {peiresometha spheas ama umin apikomenoi tisasthai}: some MSS. read -{akeomenoi} and omit {tisasthai}. Hence it has been proposed to read -{peisesometha sphea ama umin akeomenoi}, "we will endeavour to remedy -this with your help," which may be right.] - -78 [ So the name is given by the better class of MSS. Others, followed -by most Editors, make it "Sosicles."] - -79 [ {isokratias}.] - -80 [ Lit. "gave and took (in marriage) from one another."] - -81 [ {Eetion, outis se tiei polutiton eonta}: the play upon {Eetion} and -{tio} can hardly be rendered. The "rolling rock" in the next line is an -allusion to Petra, the name of the deme.] - -82 [ {aietos en petresi kuei}, with a play upon the names {Eetion} -({Aeton}) and {Petre} again.] - -83 [ {ophruoenta}, "situated on a brow or edge," the regular descriptive -epithet of Corinth.] - -84 [ {kupselen}: cp. Aristoph. Pax, 631.] - -85 [ {amphidexion}: commonly translated "ambiguous," but in fact the -oracle is of the clearest, so much so that Abicht cuts the knot -by inserting {ouk}. Stein explains it to mean "doubly favourable," -{amphoterothen dexion}. I understand it to mean "two-edged" (cp. -{amphekes}), in the sense that while promising success to Kypselos -and his sons, it prophesies also the deposition of the family in the -generation after, and so acts (or cuts) both ways.] - -86 [ {anapodizon}, "calling him back over the same ground again."] - -87 [ Evidently the war must be dated earlier than the time of -Peisistratos.] - -8701 [ Or (according to some MSS.), "another of the citizens, named -Hermophantos."] - -88 [ {tes sulloges oste tauta sunuphanthenai}, "the assembling together -so that these things were woven."] - -89 [ {kai allos lematos pleos}.] - -90 [ {plospheresteron}, or perhaps {plopheresteron}, "to be preferred"; -so one MS.: {plospheres} ordinarily means "like."] - -91 [ {drepano}, cp. vii. 93.] - -92 [ {delade}, ironical.] - -93 [ Or, "Labranda."] - -94 [ i.e. Carians, Persians, and Ionians.] - -95 [ {en Pedaso}: the MSS. vary between {en Pidaso, epi daso}, and {epi -lasoisi}, and Valla's translation has "in viam quae in Mylassa fert." -Some Editors read {epi Mulasoisi}, others {epi Pedaso}.] - -96 [ {egkerasamenos pregmata megala}.] - -97 [ {andros logopoiou} - - - - - -BOOK VI. THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED ERATO - -1. Aristagoras accordingly, after having caused Ionia to revolt, thus -brought his life to an end; and meanwhile Histiaios the despot of -Miletos, having been let go by Dareios had arrived at Sardis: and when -he came from Susa, Artaphrenes the governor of Sardis asked him for what -reason he supposed the Ionians had revolted; and he said that he could -not tell, and moreover he expressed wonder at that which had happened, -pretending that he knew nothing of the state of affairs. Then -Artaphrenes seeing that he was using dissimulation said, having -knowledge of the truth about the revolt: "Thus it is with thee, -Histiaios, about these matters,--this shoe was stitched by thee, and put -on by Aristagoras.". - -2. Thus said Artaphrenes with reference to the revolt; and Histiaios -fearing Artaphrenes because he understood the matter, ran away the -next night at nightfall and went to the sea-coast, having deceived king -Dareios, seeing that he had engaged to subdue Sardinia the largest of -islands, and instead of that he was endeavouring to take upon himself -leadership of the Ionians in the war against Dareios. Then having -crossed over to Chios he was put in bonds by the Chians, being accused -by them of working for a change of their State by suggestion of Dareios. -When however the Chians learnt the whole story and heard that he was an -enemy to the king, they released him.. - -3. Then Histiaios, being asked by the Ionians for what reason he had so -urgently charged Aristagoras to revolt from the king and had wrought so -great an evil for the Ionians, did not by any means declare to them -that which had been in truth the cause, but reported to them that king -Dareios had resolved to remove the Phenicians from their land and to -settle them in Ionia, and the Ionians in Phenicia; and for this reason, -he said, he had given the charge. Thus he attempted to alarm the -Ionians, although the king had never resolved to do so at all. - -4. After this Histiaios acting through a messenger, namely Hermippos -a man of Atarneus, sent papers to the Persians who were at Sardis, -implying that he had already talked matters over with them about a -revolt: and Hermippos did not deliver them to those to whom he was sent, -but bore the papers and put them into the hands of Artaphrenes. He then, -perceiving all that was being done, bade Hermippos bear the papers sent -by Histiaios and deliver them to those to whom he was sent to bear -them, and to deliver to him the replies sent back by the Persians to -Histiaios. These things having been discovered, Artaphrenes upon that -put to death many of the Persians. - -5. As regards Sardis therefore there was confusion of the design; and -when Histiaios had been disappointed of this hope, the Chians attempted -to restore him to Miletos at the request of Histiaios himself. -The Milesians, however, who had been rejoiced before to be rid of -Aristagoras, were by no means eager to receive another despot into their -land, seeing that they had tasted of liberty: and in fact Histiaios, -attempting to return to Miletos by force and under cover of night, was -wounded in the thigh by one of the Milesians. He then, being repulsed -from his own city, returned to Chios; and thence, as he could not -persuade the Chians to give him ships, he crossed over to Mytilene and -endeavoured to persuade the Lesbians to give him ships. So they manned -eight triremes and sailed with Histiaios to Byzantion, and stationing -themselves there they captured the ships which sailed out of the Pontus, -excepting where the crews of them said that they were ready to do the -bidding of Histiaios. - -6. While Histiaios and the men of Mytilene were acting thus, a large -army both of sea and land forces was threatening to attack Miletos -itself; for the commanders of the Persians had joined together to form -one single army and were marching upon Miletos, considering the other -towns of less account. Of their naval force the most zealous were the -Phenicians, and with them also served the Cyprians, who had just been -subdued, and the Kilikians and Egyptians.. - -7. These, I say, were advancing upon Miletos and the rest of Ionia; and -meanwhile the Ionians being informed of this were sending deputies 1 -chosen from themselves to the Panionion. 2 When these had arrived at -that place and took counsel together, they resolved not to gather a -land-army to oppose the Persians, but that the Milesians should defend -their walls by themselves, and that the Ionians should man their fleet, -leaving out not one of their ships, and having done so should assemble -as soon as possible at Lade, to fight a sea-battle in defence of -Miletos. Now Lade is a small island lying opposite the city of the -Milesians.. - -8. Then the Ionians manned their ships and came thither, and with them -also those Aiolians who inhabit Lesbos; and they were drawn up in -order thus:--the extremity of the line towards the East was held by the -Milesians themselves, who furnished eighty ships; next to them were -the Prienians with twelve ships and the men of Myus with three; next to -those of Myus were the Teians with seventeen ships, and after the -Teians the Chians with a hundred; after these were stationed the men -of Erythrai and of Phocaia, the former furnishing eight ships and the -latter three; next to the Phocaians were the Lesbians with seventy -ships, and last, holding the extremity of the line towards the West, -were stationed the Samians with sixty ships. Of all these the total -number proved to be three hundred and fifty-three triremes.. - -9. These were the ships of the Ionians; and of the Barbarians the number -of ships was six hundred. When these too were come to the Milesian coast -and their whole land-army was also there, then the commanders of the -Persians, being informed of the number of the Ionian ships, were struck -with fear lest they should be unable to overcome them, and thus on the -one hand should not be able to conquer Miletos from not having command -of the sea, and at the same time should run a risk of being punished by -Dareios. Reflecting upon these things they gathered together the despots -of the Ionians who were exiles with the Medes, having been deposed from -their governments by Aristagoras the Milesian, and who chanced to be -then joining in the expedition against Miletos,--of these men they -called together those who were present and spoke to them as follows: -"Ionians, now let each one of you show himself a benefactor of the -king's house, that is to say, let each one of you endeavour to detach -his own countrymen from the body of the alliance: and make your -proposals promising at the same time that they shall suffer nothing -unpleasant on account of the revolt, and neither their temples nor their -private houses shall be burnt, nor shall they have any worse treatment -than they had before this; but if they will not do so, but will by all -means enter into a contest with us, threaten them and tell them this, -which in truth shall happen to them, namely that if they are worsted in -the fight they shall be reduced to slavery, and we shall make their sons -eunuchs, and their maidens we shall remove to Bactria, and deliver their -land to others.". - -10. They thus spoke; and the despots of Ionia sent each one by night -to his own people announcing to them this. The Ionians however, that -is those to whom these messages came, continued obstinate and would not -accept the thought of treason to their cause; and each people thought -that to them alone the Persians were sending this message. - -11. This happened as soon as the Persians came to Miletos; and after -this the Ionians being gathered together at Lade held meetings; and -others no doubt also made speeches to them, but especially the Phocaian -commander Dionysios, who said as follows: "Seeing that our affairs are -set upon the razor's edge, Ionians, whether we shall be free or slaves, -and slaves too to be dealt with as runaways, now therefore if ye shall -be willing to take upon yourselves hardships, ye will have labour for -the time being, but ye will be able to overcome the enemy and be free; -whereas if ye continue to be self-indulgent and without discipline, I -have no hope for you that ye will not pay the penalty to the king for -your revolt. Nay, but do as I say, and deliver yourselves over to me; -and I engage, if the gods grant equal conditions, that either the -enemy will not fight with us, or that fighting he shall be greatly -discomfited.". - -12. Hearing this the Ionians delivered themselves to Dionysios; and he -used to bring the ships out every day in single file, 3 that he might -practise the rowers by making the ships break through one another's -line, 4 and that he might get the fighting-men in the ships under arms; -an then for the rest of the day he would keep the ships at anchor; and -thus he gave the Ionians work to do during the whole day. For seven -days then they submitted and did that which he commanded; but on the -day after these the Ionians, being unaccustomed to such toils and -being exhausted with hard work and hot sun, spoke to one another thus: -"Against which of the deities have we offended, that we thus fill up the -measure of evil? for surely we have delivered ourselves to a Phocaian, -an impostor, who furnishes but three ships: and he has taken us into -his hands and maltreats us with evil dealing from which we can never -recover; and many of us in fact have fallen into sicknesses, and many -others, it may be expected, will suffer the same thing shortly; and for -us it is better to endure anything else in the world rather than these -ills, and to undergo the slavery which will come upon us, whatever that -shall be, rather than to be oppressed by that which we have now. Come, -let us not obey him after this any more." So they said, and forthwith -after this every one refused to obey him, and they pitched their tents -in the island like an army, and kept in the shade, and would not go on -board their ships or practise any exercises. - -13. Perceiving this which was being done by the Ionians, the commanders -of the Samians then at length accepted from Aiakes the son of Syloson -those proposals which Aiakes sent before at the bidding of the Persians, -asking them to leave the alliance of the Ionians; the Samians, I say, -accepted these proposals, perceiving that there was great want of -discipline on the part of the Ionians, while at the same time it was -clear to them that it was impossible to overcome the power of the king; -and they well knew also that even if they should overcome the present -naval force of Dareios, 5 another would be upon them five times as -large. Having found an occasion 6 then, so soon as they saw that the -Ionians refused to be serviceable, they counted it gain for themselves -to save their temples and their private property. Now Aiakes, from whom -the Samians accepted the proposals, was the son of Syloson, the son of -Aiakes, and being despot of Samos he had been deprived of his rule by -Aristagoras the Milesian, like the other despots of Ionia.. - -14. So when the Phenicians sailed to the attack, the Ionians also put -out their ships from shore against them, sailing in single file: and -when they came near and engaged battle with one another, as regards what -followed I am not able exactly to record which of the Ionians showed -themselves cowards or good men in this sea-fight, for they throw blame -upon one another. The Samians however, it is said, according to their -agreement with Aiakes put up their sails then and set forth from their -place in the line to sail back to Samos, excepting only eleven ships: -of these the captains stayed in their places and took part in the -sea-fight, refusing to obey the commanders of their division; and the -public authority of the Samians granted them on account of this to have -their names written up on a pillar with their fathers' names also, 601 -as having proved themselves good men; and this pillar exists still in -the market-place. Then the Lesbians also, when they saw that those next -them in order were taking to flight, did the same things as the Samians -had done, and so also most of the Ionians did the very same thing.. - -15. Of those which remained in their places in the sea-fight the Chians -suffered very severely, 7 since they displayed brilliant deeds of valour -and refused to play the coward. These furnished, as was before said, -a hundred ships and in each of them forty picked men of their citizens -served as fighting-men; 8 and when they saw the greater number of their -allies deserting them, they did not think fit to behave like the -cowards among them, but left along with a few only of their allies they -continued to fight and kept breaking through the enemy's line; until at -last, after they had conquered many ships of the enemy, they lost the -greater number of their own.. - -16. The Chians then with the remainder of their ships fled away to -their own land; but those of the Chians whose ships were disabled by the -damage which they had received, being pursued fled for refuge to Mycale; -and their ships they ran ashore there and left them behind, while the -men proceeded over the mainland on foot: and when the Chians had entered -the Ephesian territory on their way, then since 801 they came into it by -night and at a time when a festival of Thesmophoria was being celebrated -by the women of the place, the Ephesians, not having heard beforehand -how it was with the Chians and seeing that an armed body had entered -their land, supposed certainly that they were robbers and had a design -upon the women; so they came out to the rescue in a body and slew the -Chians. - -17. Such was the fortune which befell these men: but Dionysios the -Phocaian, when he perceived that the cause of the Ionians was ruined, -after having taken three ships of the enemy sailed away, not to Pocaia -any more, for he knew well that it would be reduced to slavery together -with the rest of Ionia, and he sailed forthwith straight to Phenicia; -and having there sunk merchant ships and taken a great quantity of -goods, he sailed thence to Sicily. Then with that for his starting-point -he became a freebooter, not plundering any Hellenes, but Carthaginians -and Tyrsenians only. - -18. The Persians, then, being conquerors of the Ionians in the -sea-fight, besieged Miletos by land and sea, undermining the walls and -bringing against it all manner of engines; and they took it completely 9 -in the sixth year from the revolt of Aristagoras, and reduced the people -to slavery; so that the disaster agreed with the oracle which had been -uttered with reference to Miletos.. - -19. For when the Argives were inquiring at Delphi about the safety of -their city, there was given to them an oracle which applied to both, -that is to say, part of it had reference to the Argives themselves, -while that which was added afterwards referred to the Milesians. The -part of it which had reference to the Argives I will record when I reach -that place in the history, 10 but that which the Oracle uttered with -reference to the Milesians, who were not there present, is as follows: - - - "And at that time, O Miletos, of evil deeds the contriver, - Thou shalt be made for many a glorious gift and a banquet: - Then shall thy wives be compelled to wash the feet of the long-haired, - And in Didyma then my shrine shall be tended by others." - -At the time of which I speak these things came upon the Milesians, since -most of the men were killed by the Persians, who are long-haired, and -the women and children were dealt with as slaves; and the temple at -Didyma, with the sacred building and the sanctuary of the Oracle, was -first plundered and then burnt. Of the things in this temple I have made -mention frequently in other parts of the history. 11. - -20. After this the Milesians who had been taken prisoner were conducted -to Susa; and king Dareios did to them no other evil, but settled them -upon the Sea called Erythraian, in the city of Ampe, by which the Tigris -flows when it runs out into the sea. Of the Milesian land the Persians -themselves kept the surroundings of the city and the plain, but the -heights they gave to the Carians of Pedasa for a possession. - -21. When the Milesians suffered this treatment from the Persians, the -men of Sybaris, who were dwelling in Laos and Skidros, being deprived of -their own city, did not repay like with like: for when Sybaris was taken -by the men of Croton, the Milesians all from youth upwards shaved their -heads and put on great mourning: for these cities were more than all -others of which we know bound together by ties of friendship. Not like -the Sybarites were the Athenians; for these made it clear that they were -grieved at the capture of Miletos, both in many other ways and also by -this, that when Phrynichos had composed a drama called the "Capture of -Miletos" and had put it on the stage, the body of spectators fell to -weeping, and the Athenians moreover fined the poet a thousand drachmas -on the ground that he had reminded them of their own calamities; and -they ordered also that no one in future should represent this drama. - -22. Miletos then had been stripped bare of its former inhabitants: but -of the Samians they who had substance were by no means satisfied with -that which had been concerted by the commanders of their fleet with the -Medes; and taking counsel forthwith after the sea-fight it seemed good -to them, before their despot Aiakes arrived in the country, to sail away -and make a colony, and not to stay behind and be slaves of the Medes -and of Aiakes: for just at this time the people of Zancle in Sicily -were sending messengers to Ionia and inviting the Ionians to come to the -"Fair Strand," 1101 desiring there to found a city of Ionians. Now this -which is called the Fair Strand is in the land of the Sikelians and on -that side of Sicily which lies towards Tyrsenia. So when these gave the -invitation, the Samians alone of all the Ionians set forth, having with -them those of the Milesians who had escaped: and in the course of this -matter it happened as follows:-- - -23. The Samians as they made their way towards Sicily reached Locroi -Epizephyroi, and at the same time the people of Zancle, both themselves -and their king, whose name was Skythes, were encamped about a city -of the Sikelians, desiring to conquer it. Perceiving these things, -Anaxilaos the despot of Rhegion, being then at variance with those of -Zancle, communicated with the Samians and persuaded them that they ought -to leave the Fair Strand alone, to which they were sailing, and take -possession of Zancle instead, since it was left now without men to -defend it. The Samians accordingly did as he said and took possession of -Zancle; and upon this the men of Zancle, being informed that their city -was possessed by an enemy, set out to rescue it, and invited Hippocrates -the despot of Gela to help them, for he was their ally. When however -Hippocrates also with his army had come up to their rescue, first he put -Skythes the ruler of the Zanclaians in fetters, on the ground that he -had been the cause of the city being lost, and together with him his -brother Pythogenes, and sent them away to the town of Incyos; 12 then he -betrayed the cause of the remaining Zanclaians by coming to terms with -the Samians and exchanging oaths with them; and in return for this it -had been promised by the Samians that Hippocrates should receive as his -share the half of all the movable goods in the city and of the slaves, -and the whole of the property in the fields round. So the greater number -of the Zanclaians he put in bonds and kept himself as slaves, but the -chief men of them, three hundred in number, he gave to the Samians to -put to death; which however the Samians did not do. - -24. Now Skythes the ruler of the Zanclaians escaped from Incyos to -Himera, and thence he came to Asia and went up to the court of Dareios: -and Dareios accounted him the most righteous of all the men who had come -up to him from Hellas; for he obtained leave of the king and went away -to Sicily, and again came back from Sicily to the king; and at last he -brought his life to an end among the Persians in old age and possessing -great wealth. The Samians then, having got rid of the rule of the Medes, -had gained for themselves without labour the fair city of Zancle. - -25. After the sea-battle which was fought for Miletos, the Phenicians by -the command of the Persians restored to Samos Aiakes the son of Syloson, -since he had been to them of much service and had done for them great -things; and the Samians alone of all who revolted from Dareios, because -of the desertion of their ships which were in the sea-fight, 13 had -neither their city nor their temples burnt. Then after the capture of -Miletos the Persians forthwith got possession of Caria, some of the -cities having submitted to their power voluntarily, while others of them -they brought over by force. - -26. Thus it came to pass as regards these matters: and meanwhile -Histiaios the Milesian, who was at Byzantion and was seizing the -merchant vessels of the Ionians as they sailed forth out of the Pontus, -received the report of that which had happened about Miletos. Upon that -he entrusted the matters which had to do with the Hellespont to Bisaltes -the son of Apollophanes, a man of Abydos, while he himself with the -Lesbians sailed to Chios; and when a body of the Chians who were on -guard did not allow him to approach, he fought with them at that spot in -the Chian land which is called the "Hollows." 14 Histiaios then not only -slew many of these, but also, taking Polichne of the Chians as his base, -he conquered with the help of the Lesbians the remainder of the Chians -as well, since they had suffered great loss by the sea-fight.. - -27. And heaven is wont perhaps to give signs beforehand whenever great -evils are about to happen to a city or a race of men; for to the Chians -also before these events remarkable signs had come. In the first place -when they had sent to Delphi a chorus of a hundred youths, two only -returned home, the remaining ninety-eight of them having been seized by -a plague and carried off; and then secondly in their city about the same -time, that is shortly before the sea-fight, as some children were being -taught 15 in school the roof fell in upon them, so that of a hundred -and twenty children only one escaped. These signs God showed to them -beforehand; and after this the sea-fight came upon them and brought -their State down upon its knees; and as the Chians had suffered great -loss, he without difficulty effected the conquest of them. - -28. Thence Histiaios made an expedition against Thasos, taking with him -a large force of Ionians and Aiolians; and while he was encamped about -the town of Thasos, a report came to him that the Phenicians were -sailing up from Miletos to conquer the rest of Ionia. Being informed of -this he left Thasos unconquered and himself hastened to Lesbos, taking -with him his whole army. Then, as his army was in want of food, 16 he -crossed over from Lesbos to reap the corn in Atarneus and also that in -the plain of the Caicos, which belonged to the Mysians. In these parts -there chanced to be a Persian named Harpagos commanding a considerable -force; and this man fought a battle with him after he had landed, and -he took Histiaios himself prisoner and destroyed the greater part of his -army.. - -29. And Histiaios was taken prisoner in the following manner:--As the -Hellenes were fighting with the Persians at Malene in the district of -Atarneus, after they had been engaged in close combat for a long time, -the cavalry at length charged and fell upon the Hellenes; and the -cavalry in fact decided the battle. 17 So when the Hellenes had been -turned to flight, Histiaios trusting that he would not be put to death -by the king on account of his present fault, conceived a love of life, -so that when he was being caught in his flight by a Persian and was -about to be run through by him in the moment of his capture, he spoke -in Persian and made himself known, saying that he was Histiaios the -Milesian.. - -30. If then upon being taken prisoner he had been brought to king -Dareios, he would not, as I think, have suffered any harm, but Dareios -would have forgiven the crime with which he was charged; as it was, -however, for this very reason and in order that he might not escape -from punishment and again become powerful with the king, Artaphrenes -the governor of Sardis and Harpagos who had captured him, when he had -reached Sardis on his way to the king, put him to death there and then, -and his body they impaled, but embalmed his head and brought it up to -Dareios at Susa. Dareios having been informed of this, found fault -with those who had done so, because they had not brought him up to his -presence alive; and he bade wash the head of Histiaios and bestow upon -it proper care, and then bury it, as that of one who had been greatly a -benefactor both of the king himself and of the Persians. - -31. Thus it happened about Histiaios; and meanwhile the Persian fleet, -after wintering near Miletos, when it put to sea again in the following -year conquered without difficulty the islands lying near the mainland, -Chios, Lesbos, and Tenedos; and whenever they took one of the islands, -the Barbarians, as each was conquered, swept the inhabitants off it; 18 -and this they do in the following manner:--they extend themselves from -the sea on the North to the sea on the South, each man having hold -of the hand of the next, and then they pass through the whole island -hunting the people out of it. They took also the Ionian cities on the -mainland in the same manner, except that they did not sweep off the -inhabitants thus, for it was not possible.. - -32. Then the commanders of the Persians proved not false to the threats -with which they had threatened the Ionians when these were encamped -opposite to them: for in fact when they conquered the cities, they chose -out the most comely of the boys and castrated them, making eunuchs of -them, and the fairest of the maidens they carried off by force to the -king; and not only this, but they also burnt the cities together with -the temples. Thus for the third time had the Ionians been reduced -to slavery, first by the Lydians and then twice in succession by the -Persians. - -33. Departing from Ionia the fleet proceeded to conquer all the places -of the Hellespont on the left as one sails in, for those on the right -had been subdued already by the Persians themselves, approaching them by -land. Now the cities of the Hellespont in Europe are these:--first comes -the Chersonese, in which there are many cities, then Perinthos, the -strongholds of the Thracian border, Selymbria, and Byzantion. The people -of Byzantion and those of Calchedon opposite did not even wait for -the coming of the Persian ships, but had left their own land first and -departed, going within the Euxine; and there they settled in the city -of Mesambria. 19 So the Phenicians, having burnt these places which have -been mentioned, directed their course next to Proconnesos and Artake; -and when they had delivered these also to the flames, they sailed back -to the Chersonese to destroy the remaining cities which they had not -sacked when they touched there before: but against Kyzicos they did -not sail at all; for the men of Kyzicos even before the time when the -Phenicians sailed in had submitted to the king of their own accord, and -had made terms with Oibares the son of Megabazos, the Persian governor -at Daskyleion. 20. - -34. In the Chersonese then the Phenicians made themselves masters of all -the other cities except the city of Cardia. Of these cities up to that -time Miltiades the son of Kimon, the son of Stesagoras, had been despot, -Miltiades the son of Kypselos having obtained this government in the -manner which here follows:--The inhabitants of this Chersonese were -Dolonkian Thracians; and these Dolonkians, being hard pressed in war by -the Apsinthians, sent their kings to Delphi to consult the Oracle about -the war. And the Pythian prophetess answered them that they must bring -into their land as founder of a settlement the man who should first -offer them hospitality as they returned from the temple. The Dolonkians -then passed along the Sacred Road through the land of the Phokians and -of the Boeotians, and as no man invited them, they turned aside and came -to Athens.. - -35. Now at that time in Athens the government was held by Peisistratos, -but Miltiades also the son of Kypselos had some power, who belonged to -a family which kept four-horse chariot teams, and who was descended -originally from Aiacos and Egina, though in more recent times his family -was Athenian, Philaios the son of Ajax having been the first of his -house who became an Athenian. This Miltiades was sitting in the entrance -of his own dwelling, and seeing the Dolonkians going by with dress that -was not of the native Athenian fashion and with spears, he shouted to -them; and when they approached, he offered them lodging and hospitality. -They then having accepted and having been entertained by him, proceeded -to declare all the utterances of the Oracle; and having declared it they -asked him to do as the god had said: and Miltiades when he heard it -was at once disposed to agree, because he was vexed by the rule of -Peisistratos and desired to be removed out of the way. He set out -therefore forthwith to Delphi to inquire of the Oracle whether he should -do that which the Dolonkians asked of him:. - -36, and as the Pythian prophetess also bade him do so, Miltiades the -son of Kypselos, who had before this been victor at Olympia with a -four-horse chariot, now taking with him of the Athenians everyone who -desired to share in the expedition, sailed with the Dolonkians and took -possession of the land: and they who had invited him to come to them -made him despot over them. First then he made a wall across the isthmus -of the Chersonese from the city of Cardia to Pactye, in order that the -Apsinthians might not be able to invade the land and do them damage. -Now the number of furlongs 21 across the isthmus at this place -is six-and-thirty, and from this isthmus the Chersonese within is -altogether four hundred and twenty furlongs in length.. - -37. Having made a wall then across the neck of the Chersonese and having -in this manner repelled the Apsinthians, Miltiades made war upon the -people of Lampsacos first of all others; and the people of Lampsacos -laid an ambush and took him prisoner. Now Miltiades had come to be a -friend 22 of Croesus the Lydian; and Croesus accordingly, being informed -of this event, sent and commanded the people of Lampsacos to let -Miltiades go; otherwise he threatened to destroy them utterly like a -pine-tree. 23 Then when the people of Lampsacos were perplexed in their -counsels as to what that saying should mean with which Croesus had -threatened them, namely that he would destroy them utterly like a -pine-tree, at length one of the elder men with difficulty perceived the -truth, and said that a pine alone of all trees when it has been cut -down does not put forth any further growth but perishes, being utterly -destroyed. The people of Lampsacos therefore fearing Croesus loosed -Miltiades and let him go.. - -38. He then escaped by means of Croesus, but afterwards he brought his -life to an end leaving no son to succeed him, but passing over his rule -and his possessions to Stesagoras, who was the son of Kimon, his brother -on the mother's side: 24 and the people of the Chersonese still offer -sacrifices to him after his death as it is usual to do to a founder, and -hold in his honour a contest of horse-races and athletic exercises, in -which none of the men of Lampsacos are allowed to contend. After this -there was war with those of Lampsacos; and it happened to Stesagoras -also that he died without leaving a son, having been struck on the head -with an axe in the City Hall by a man who pretended to be a deserter, -but who proved himself to be in fact an enemy and a rather hot one -moreover.. - -39. Then after Stesagoras also had ended his life in this manner, -Miltiades son of Kimon and brother of that Stesagoras who was dead, was -sent in a trireme to the Chersonese to take possession of the government -by the sons of Peisistratos, who had dealt well with him at Athens also, -pretending that they had had no share in the death of his father Kimon, -of which in another part of the history I will set forth how it came -to pass. 25 Now Miltiades, when he came to the Chersonese, kept himself -within his house, paying honours in all appearance 26 to the memory -of his brother Stesagoras; and the chief men of the inhabitants of the -Chersonese in every place, being informed of this, gathered themselves -together from all the cities and came in a body to condole with him, and -when they had come they were laid in bonds by him. Miltiades then was -in possession of the Chersonese, supporting a body of five hundred -mercenary troops; and he married the daughter of Oloros the king of the -Thracians, who was named Hegesipyle. - -40. Now this Miltiades son of Kimon had at the time of which we speak -but lately returned 27 to the Chersonese; and after he had returned, -there befell him other misfortunes worse than those which had befallen -him already; for two years before this he had been a fugitive out of -the land from the Scythians, since the nomad Scythians provoked by king -Dareios had joined all in a body and marched as far as this Chersonese, -and Miltiades had not awaited their attack but had become a fugitive -from the Chersonese, until at last the Scythians departed and the -Dolonkians brought him back again. These things happened two years -before the calamities which now oppressed him:. - -41, and now, being informed that the Phenicians were at Tenedos, he -filled five triremes with the property which he had at hand and sailed -away for Athens. And having set out from the city of Cardia he was -sailing through the gulf of Melas; and as he passed along by the shore -of the Chersonese, the Phenicians fell in with his ships, and while -Miltiades himself with four of his ships escaped to Imbros, the fifth of -his ships was captured in the pursuit by the Phenicians. Of this ship -it chanced that Metiochos the eldest of the sons of Miltiades was in -command, not born of the daughter of Oloros the Thracian, but of another -woman. Him the Phenicians captured together with his ship; and being -informed about him, that he was the son of Miltiades, they brought him -up to the king, supposing that they would lay up for themselves a great -obligation; because it was Miltiades who had declared as his opinion to -the Ionians that they should do as the Scythians said, at that time when -the Scythians requested them to break up the bridge of boats and sail -away to their own land. Dareios however, when the Phenicians brought up -to him Metiochos the son of Miltiades, did Metiochos no harm but on the -contrary very much good; for he gave him a house and possessions and -a Persian wife, by whom he had children born who have been ranked as -Persians. Miltiades meanwhile came from Imbros to Athens. - -42. In the course of this year there was done by the Persians nothing -more which tended to strife with the Ionians, but these things which -follow were done in this year very much to their advantage.--Artaphrenes -the governor of Sardis sent for envoys from all the cities and compelled -the Ionians to make agreements among themselves, so that they might -give satisfaction for wrongs and not plunder one another's land. This -he compelled them to do, and also he measured their territories by -parasangs,--that is the name which the Persians give to the length -of thirty furlongs, 28--he measured, I say, by these, and appointed -a certain amount of tribute for each people, which continues still -unaltered from that time even to my own days, as it was appointed by -Artaphrenes; and the tribute was appointed to be nearly of the same -amount for each as it had been before.. - -43. These were things which tended to peace for the Ionians; but at the -beginning of the spring, the other commanders having all been removed -by the king, Mardonios the son of Gobryas came down to the sea, bringing -with him a very large land-army and a very large naval force, being a -young man and lately married to Artozostra daughter of king Dareios. -When Mardonios leading this army came to Kilikia, he embarked on board -a ship himself and proceeded together with the other ships, while other -leaders led the land-army to the Hellespont. Mardonios however sailing -along the coast of Asia came to Ionia: and here I shall relate a thing -which will be a great marvel to those of the Hellenes who do not believe -that to the seven men of the Persians Otanes declared as his opinion -that the Persians ought to have popular rule; 29 for Mardonios deposed -all the despots of the Ionians and established popular governments in -the cities. Having so done he hastened on to the Hellespont; and when -there was collected a vast number of ships and a large land-army, they -crossed over the Hellespont in the ships and began to make their way -through Europe, and their way was directed against Eretria and Athens.. - -44. These, I say, furnished them the pretence for the expedition, -but they had it in their minds to subdue as many as they could of the -Hellenic cities; and in the first place they subdued with their ships -the Thasians, who did not even raise a hand to defend themselves: then -with the land-army they gained the Macedonians to be their servants in -addition to those whom they had already; for all the nations on the East -of the Macedonians 30 had become subject to them already before this. -Crossing over then from Thasos to the opposite coast, they proceeded -on their way near the land as far as Acanthos, and then starting from -Acanthos they attempted to get round Mount Athos; but as they sailed -round, there fell upon them a violent North Wind, against which they -could do nothing, and handled them very roughly, casting away very many -of their ships on Mount Athos. It is said indeed that the number of the -ships destroyed was three hundred, 3001, and more than twenty thousand -men; for as this sea which is about Athos is very full of sea monsters, -some were seized by these and so perished, while others were dashed -against the rocks; and some of them did not know how to swim and -perished for that cause, others again by reason of cold.. - -45. Thus fared the fleet; and meanwhile Mardonios and the land-army -while encamping in Macedonia were attacked in the night by the Brygian -Thracians, and many of them were slain by the Brygians and Mardonios -himself was wounded. However not even these escaped being enslaved by -the Persians, for Mardonios did not depart from that region until he had -made them subject. But when he had subdued these, he proceeded to lead -his army back, since he had suffered great loss with his land-army in -fighting against the Brygians and with his fleet in going round Athos. -So this expedition departed back to Asia having gained no honour by its -contests. - -46. In the next year after this Dareios first sent a messenger to the -men of Thasos, who had been accused by their neighbours of planning -revolt, and bade them take away the wall around their town and bring -their ships to Abdera. The Thasians in fact, as they had been besieged -by Histiaios the Milesian and at the same time had large revenues coming -in, were using their money in building ships of war and in surrounding -their city with a stronger wall. Now the revenues came to them from the -mainland and from the mines: from the gold-mines in Scapte Hyle 31 there -came in generally eighty talents a year, and from those in Thasos itself -a smaller amount than this but so much that in general the Thasians, -without taxes upon the produce of their soil, had a revenue from the -mainland and from the mines amounting yearly to two hundred talents, and -when the amount was highest, to three hundred.. - -47. I myself saw these mines, and by much the most marvellous of -them were those which the Phenicians discovered, who made the first -settlement in this island in company with Thasos; and the island had the -name which it now has from this Thasos the Phenician. These Phenician -mines are in that part of Thasos which is between the places called -Ainyra and Koinyra and opposite Samothrake, where there is a great -mountain which has been all turned up in the search for metal. Thus it -is with this matter: and the Thasians on the command of the king both -razed their walls and brought all their ships to Abdera. - -48. After this Dareios began to make trial of the Hellenes, what they -meant to do, whether to make war with him or to deliver themselves up. -He sent abroad heralds therefore, and appointed them to go some to one -place and others to another throughout Hellas, bidding them demand earth -and water for the king. These, I say, he sent to Hellas; and meanwhile -he was sending abroad other heralds to his own tributary cities which -lay upon the sea-coast, and he bade them have ships of war built and -also vessels to carry horses.. - -49. They then were engaged in preparing these things; and meanwhile -when the heralds had come to Hellas, many of those who dwelt upon the -mainland gave that for which the Persian made demand, 32 and all those -who dwelt in the islands did so, to whomsoever they came to make their -demand. The islanders, I say, gave earth and water to Dareios, and among -them also those of Egina, and when these had done so, the Athenians went -forthwith urgent against them, supposing that the Eginetans had given -with hostile purpose against themselves, in order to make an expedition -against them in combination with the Persians; and also they were glad -to get hold of an occasion against them. Accordingly they went backward -and forwards to Sparta and accused the Eginetans of that which they had -done, as having proved themselves traitors to Hellas.. - -50. In consequence of this accusation Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides, -king of the Spartans, crossed over to Egina meaning to seize those of -the Eginetans who were the most guilty; but as he was attempting -to seize them, certain of the Eginetans opposed him, and among them -especially Crios the son of Polycritos, who said that he should not with -impunity carry off a single Eginetan, for he was doing this (said he) -without authority from the Spartan State, having been persuaded to it by -the Athenians with money; otherwise he would have come and seized them -in company with the other king: and this he said by reason of a message -received from Demaratos. Cleomenes then as he departed from Egina, asked -Crios 33 what was his name, and he told him the truth; and Cleomenes -said to him: "Surely now, O Ram, thou must cover over thy horns with -bronze for thou wilt shortly have a great trouble to contend with." - -51. Meanwhile Demaratos the son of Ariston was staying behind in Sparta -and bringing charges against Cleomenes, he also being king of the -Spartans but of the inferior house; which however is inferior in no -other way (for it is descended from the same ancestor), but the house of -Eurysthenes has always been honoured more, apparently because he was the -elder brother.. - -52. For the Lacedemonians, who herein agree with none of the poets, say -that Aristodemos the son of Aristomachos, the son of Cleodaios, the -son of Hyllos, being their king, led them himself (and not the sons of -Aristodemos) to this land which they now possess. Then after no long -time the wife of Aristodemos, whose name was Argeia,--she was the -daughter, they say, of Autesion, the son of Tisamenes, the son of -Thersander, the son of Polyneikes,--she, it is said, brought forth -twins; and Aristodemos lived but to see his children and then ended his -life by sickness. So the Lacedemonians of that time resolved according -to established custom to make the elder of the children their king; but -they did not know which of them they should take, because they were like -one another and of equal size; and when they were not able to make out, -or even before this, they inquired of their mother; and she said -that even she herself did not know one from the other. She said this, -although she knew in truth very well, because she desired that by some -means both might be made kings. The Lacedemonians then were in a strait; -and being in a strait they sent to Delphi to inquire what they should do -in the matter. And the Pythian prophetess bade them regard both children -as their kings, but honour most the first in age. 34 The prophetess, -they say, thus gave answer to them; and when the Lacedemonians were at a -loss none the less how to find out the elder of them, a Messenian -whose name was Panites made a suggestion to them: this Panites, I say, -suggested to the Lacedemonians that they should watch the mother and see -which of the children she washed and fed before the other; and if she -was seen to do this always in the same order, then they would have all -that they were seeking and desiring to find out, but if she too was -uncertain and did it in a different order at different times, it would -be plain to them that even she had no more knowledge than any other, -and they must turn to some other way. Then the Spartans following -the suggestion of the Messenian watched the mother of the sons of -Aristodemos and found that she gave honour thus to the first-born both -in feeding and in washing; for she did not know with that design she was -being watched. They took therefore the child which was honoured by its -mother and brought it up as the first-born in the public hall, 35 and -to it was given the name of Eurysthenes, while the other was called -Procles. These, when they had grown up, both themselves were at -variance, they say, with one another, though they were brothers, -throughout the whole time of their lives, and their descendants also -continued after the same manner. - -53. This is the report given by the Lacedemonians alone of all the -Hellenes; but this which follows I write in accordance with that which -is reported by the Hellenes generally,--I mean that the names of these -kings of the Dorians are rightly enumerated by the Hellenes up to -Perseus the son of Danae (leaving the god out of account), 36 and proved -to be of Hellenic race; for even from that time they were reckoned as -Hellenes. I said "up to Perseus" and did not take the descent from a yet -higher point, because there is no name mentioned of a mortal father for -Perseus, as Amphitryon is for Heracles. Therefore with reason, as is -evident, I have said "rightly up to Perseus"; but if one enumerates -their ancestors in succession going back from Danae the daughter of -Acrisios, the rulers of the Dorians will prove to be Egyptians by direct -descent.. - -54. Thus I have traced the descent according to the account given by the -Hellenes; but as the story is reported which the Persians tell, Perseus -himself was an Assyrian and became a Hellene, whereas the ancestors of -Perseus were not Hellenes; and as for the ancestors of Acrisios, who -(according to this account) belonged not to Perseus in any way by -kinship, they say that these were, as the Hellenes report, Egyptians.. - -55. Let it suffice to have said so much about these matters; and as to -the question how and by what exploits being Egyptians they received the -sceptres of royalty over the Dorians, we will omit these things, since -others have told about them; but the things with which other narrators -have not dealt, of these I will make mention. - -56. These are the royal rights which have been given by the Spartans -to their kings, namely, two priesthoods, of Zeus Lakedaimon and Zeus -Uranios; 37 and the right of making war against whatsoever land they -please, and that no man of the Spartans shall hinder this right, or -if he do, he shall be subject to the curse; and that when they go on -expeditions the kings shall go out first and return last; that a hundred -picked men shall be their guard upon expeditions; and that they shall -use in their goings forth to war as many cattle as they desire, and take -both the hides and the backs of all that are sacrificed.. - -57. These are their privileges in war; and in peace moreover things have -been assigned to them as follows:--if any sacrifice is performed at the -public charge, it is the privilege of the kings to sit down at the feast -before all others, and that the attendants shall begin with them first, -and serve to each of them a portion of everything double of that which -is given to the other guests, and that they shall have the first pouring -of libations and the hides of the animals slain in sacrifice; that on -every new moon and seventh day of the month there shall be delivered at -the public charge to each one of these a full-grown victim in the temple -of Apollo, and a measure 38 of barley-groats and a Laconian "quarter" -39 of wine; and that at all the games they shall have seats of honour -specially set apart for them: moreover it is their privilege to appoint -as protectors of strangers 40 whomsoever they will of the citizens, and -to choose each two "Pythians:" now the Pythians are men sent to consult -the god at Delphi, and they eat with the kings at the public charge. And -if the kings do not come to the dinner, it is the rule that there shall -be sent out for them to their houses two quarts 41 of barley-groats for -each one and half a pint 42 of wine; but if they are present, double -shares of everything shall be given them, and moreover they shall be -honoured in this same manner when they have been invited to dinner by -private persons. The kings also, it is ordained, shall have charge of -the oracles which are given, but the Pythians also shall have knowledge -of them. It is the rule moreover that the kings alone give decision on -the following cases only, that is to say, about the maiden who inherits -her father's property, namely who ought to have her, if her father have -not betrothed her to any one, and about public ways; also if any man -desires to adopt a son, he must do it in presence of the kings: and it -is ordained that they shall sit in council with the Senators, who are in -number eight-and-twenty, and if they do not come, those of the Senators -who are most closely related to them shall have the privileges of the -kings and give two votes besides their own, making three in all. 4201. - -58. These rights have been assigned to the kings for their lifetime by -the Spartan State; and after they are dead these which follow:--horsemen -go round and announce that which has happened throughout the whole of -the Laconian land, and in the city women go about and strike upon -a copper kettle. Whenever this happens so, two free persons of each -household must go into mourning, a man and a woman, and for those who -fail to do this great penalties are appointed. Now the custom of the -Lacedemonians about the deaths of their kings is the same as that of the -Barbarians who dwell in Asia, for most of the Barbarians practise the -same customs as regards the death of their kings. Whensoever a king of -the Lacedemonians is dead, then from the whole territory of Lacedemon, -not reckoning the Spartans, a certain fixed number of the "dwellers -round" 43 are compelled to go to the funeral ceremony: - -59. and when there have been gathered together of these and of the -Helots and of the Spartans themselves many thousands in the same place, -with their women intermingled, they beat their foreheads with a good -will and make lamentation without stint, saying that this one who has -died last of their kings was the best of all: and whenever any of their -kings has been killed in war, they prepare an image to represent him, -laid upon a couch with fair coverings, and carry it out to be buried. -Then after they have buried him, no assembly is held among them for ten -days, nor is there any meeting for choice of magistrates, but they have -mourning during these days. In another respect too these resemble the -Persians; that is to say, when the king is dead and another is appointed -king, this king who is newly coming in sets free any man of the Spartans -who was a debtor to the king or to the State; while among the Persians -the king who comes to the throne remits to all the cities the arrears of -tribute which are due. - -60. In the following point also the Lacedemonians resemble the -Egyptians; that is to say, their heralds and fluteplayers and cooks -inherit the crafts of their fathers, and a fluteplayer is the son of a -fluteplayer, a cook of a cook, and a herald of a herald; other men do -not lay hands upon the office because they have loud and clear voices, -and so shut them out of it, but they practise their craft by inheritance -from their fathers. - -61. Thus are these things done: and at this time of which we speak, 44 -while Cleomenes was in Egina doing deeds 45 which were for the common -service of Hellas, Demaratos brought charges against him, not so much -because he cared for the Eginetans as because he felt envy and jealousy -of him. Then Cleomenes, after he returned from Egina, planned to depose -Demaratos from being king, making an attempt upon him on account of this -matter which follows:--Ariston being king in Sparta and having married -two wives, yet had no children born to him; and since he did not -acknowledge that he himself was the cause of this, he married a third -wife; and he married her thus:--he had a friend, a man of the Spartans, -to whom of all the citizens Ariston was most inclined; and it chanced -that this man had a wife who was of all the women in Sparta the fairest -by far, and one too who had become the fairest from having been the -foulest. For as she was mean in her aspect, her nurse, considering that -she was the daughter of wealthy persons and was of uncomely aspect, and -seeing moreover that her parents were troubled by it,--perceiving I say -these things, her nurse devised as follows:--every day she bore her to -the temple of Helen, which is in the place called Therapne, lying above -the temple of Phoebus; and whenever the nurse bore her thither, she -placed her before the image and prayed the goddess to deliver the child -from her unshapeliness. And once as the nurse was going away out of the -temple, it is said that a woman appeared to her, and having appeared -asked her what she was bearing in her arms; and she told her that she -was bearing a child; upon which the other bade her show the child to -her, but she refused, for it had been forbidden to her by the parents to -show it to any one: but the woman continued to urge her by all means to -show it to her. So then perceiving that the woman earnestly desired to -see it, the nurse showed her the child. Then the woman stroking the head -of the child said that she should be the fairest of all the women in -Sparta; and from that day her aspect was changed. Afterwards when she -came to the age for marriage, she was married to Agetos the son of -Alkeides, this friend of Ariston of whom we spoke.. - -62. Now Ariston it seems was ever stung by the desire of this woman, and -accordingly he contrived as follows:--he made an engagement himself with -his comrade, whose wife this woman was, that he would give him as a gift -one thing of his own possessions, whatsoever he should choose, and he -bade his comrade make return to him in similar fashion. He therefore, -fearing nothing for his wife, because he saw that Ariston also had -a wife, agreed to this; and on these terms they imposed oaths on one -another. After this Ariston on his part gave that which Agetos had -chosen from the treasures of Ariston, whatever the thing was; and he -himself, seeking to obtain from him the like return, endeavoured then -to take away the wife of his comrade from him: and he said that he -consented to give anything else except this one thing only, but at -length being compelled by the oath and by the treacherous deception, 46 -he allowed her to be taken away from him.. - -63. Thus had Ariston brought into his house the third wife, having -dismissed the second: and this wife, not having fulfilled the ten months -47 but in a shorter period of time, bore him that Demaratos of whom we -were speaking; and one of his servants reported to him as he was sitting -in council 48 with the Ephors, that a son had been born to him. He then, -knowing the time when he took to him his wife, and reckoning the months -upon his fingers, said, denying with an oath, "The child would not -be mine." This the Ephors heard, but they thought it a matter of no -importance at the moment; and the child grew up and Ariston repented of -that which he had said, for he thought Demaratos was certainly his -own son; and he gave him the name "Demaratos" for this reason, namely -because before these things took place the Spartan people all in a body -49 had made a vow 50 praying that a son might be born to Ariston, as one -who was pre-eminent in renown over all the kings who had ever arisen in -Sparta. - -64. For this reason the name Demaratos 51 was given to him. And as time -went on Ariston died, and Demaratos obtained the kingdom: but it was -fated apparently that these things should become known and should cause -Demaratos to be deposed from the kingdom; and therefore 52 Demaratos -came to be at variance greatly with Cleomenes both at the former time -when he withdrew his army from Eleusis, and also now especially, when -Cleomenes had crossed over to take those of the Eginetans who had gone -over to the Medes.. - -65. Cleomenes then, being anxious to take vengeance on him, concerted -matters with Leotychides the son of Menares, the son of Agis, who was of -the same house as Demaratos, under condition that if he should set -him up as king instead of Demaratos, he would go with him against the -Eginetans. Now Leotychides had become a bitter foe of Demaratos on -account of this matter which follows:--Leotychides had betrothed himself -to Percalos the daughter of Chilon son of Demarmenos; and Demaratos -plotted against him and deprived Leotychides of his marriage, carrying -off Percalos himself beforehand, and getting her for his wife. Thus -had arisen the enmity of Leotychides against Demaratos; and now by the -instigation of Cleomenes Leotychides deposed against Demaratos, saying -that he was not rightfully reigning over the Spartans, not being a son -of Ariston: and after this deposition he prosecuted a suit against him, -recalling the old saying which Ariston uttered at the time when his -servant reported to him that a son was born to him, and he reckoning up -the months denied with an oath, saying that it was not his. Taking his -stand upon this utterance, Leotychides proceeded to prove that Demaratos -was not born of Ariston nor was rightfully reigning over Sparta; and he -produced as witnesses those Ephors who chanced then to have been sitting -with Ariston in council and to have heard him say this.. - -66. At last, as there was contention about those matters, the Spartans -resolved to ask the Oracle at Delphi whether Demaratos was the son of -Ariston. The question then having been referred by the arrangement of -Cleomenes to the Pythian prophetess, thereupon Cleomenes gained over to -his side Cobon the son of Aristophantos, who had most power among the -Delphians, and Cobin persuaded Perialla the prophetess of the Oracle -53 to say that which Cleomenes desired to have said. Thus the Pythian -prophetess, when those who were sent to consult the god asked her their -question, gave decision that Demaratos was not the son of Ariston. -Afterwards however these things became known, and both Cobon went into -exile from Delphi and Perialla the prophetess of the Oracle was removed -from her office. - -67. With regard to the deposing of Demaratos from the kingdom it -happened thus: but Demaratos became an exile from Sparta to the Medes -on account of a reproach which here follows:--After he had been deposed -from the kingdom Demaratos was holding a public office to which he had -been elected. Now it was the time of the Gymnopaidiai; and as Demaratos -was a spectator of them, Leotychides, who had now become king himself -instead of Demaratos, sent his attendant and asked Demaratos in mockery -and insult what kind of a thing it was to be a magistrate after having -been king; and he vexed at the question made answer and said that he -himself had now had experience of both, but Leotychides had not; this -question however, he said, would be the beginning either of countless -evil or countless good fortune for the Lacedemonians. Having thus said, -he veiled his head and went forth out of the theatre to his own house; -and forthwith he made preparations and sacrificed an ox to Zeus, and -after having sacrificed he called his mother.. - -68. Then when his mother had come, he put into her hands some of the -inner parts 54 of the victim, and besought her, saying as follows: -"Mother, I beseech thee, appealing to the other gods and above all to -this Zeus the guardian of the household, 55 to tell me the truth, who is -really and truly my father. For Leotychides spoke in his contention -with me, saying that thou didst come to Ariston with child by thy former -husband; and others besides, reporting that which is doubtless an idle -tale, 56 say that thou didst go in to one of the servants, namely the -keeper of the asses, and that I am his son. I therefore entreat thee by -the gods to tell me the truth; for if thou hast done any of these things -which are reported, thou hast not done them alone, but with many other -women; and the report is commonly believed in Sparta that there was not -in Ariston seed which should beget children; for if so, then his former -wives also would have borne children.". - -69. Thus he spoke, and she made answer as follows: "My son, since thou -dost beseech me with entreaties to speak the truth, the whole truth -shall be told to thee. When Ariston had brought me into his house, on -the third night 57 there came to me an apparition in the likeness of -Ariston, and having lain with me it put upon me the garlands which it -had on; and the apparition straitway departed, and after this Ariston -came; and when he saw me with garlands, he asked who it was who had -given me them; and I said that he had given them, but he did not admit -it; and I began to take oath of it, saying that he did not well to deny -it, for he had come (I said) a short time before and had lain with me -and given me the garlands. Then Ariston, seeing that I made oath of it, -perceived that the matter was of the gods; and first the garlands were -found to be from the hero-temple which stands by the outer door of the -house, which they call the temple of Astrabacos, 58 and secondly the -diviners gave answer that it was this same hero. Thus, my son, thou hast -all, as much as thou desirest to learn; for either thou art begotten -of this hero and the hero Astrabacos is thy father, or Ariston is thy -father, for on that night I conceived thee: but as to that wherein thy -foes most take hold of thee, saying that Ariston himself, when thy birth -was announced to him, in the hearing of many declared that thou wert -not his son, because the time, the ten months namely, had not yet been -fulfilled, in ignorance of such matters he cast forth that saying; -for women bring forth children both at the ninth month and also at the -seventh, and not all after they have completed ten months; and I bore -thee, my son, at the seventh month: and Ariston himself also perceived -after no long time that he had uttered this saying in folly. Do not thou -then accept any other reports about thy begetting, for thou hast heard -in all the full truth; but to Leotychides and to those who report these -things may their wives bear children by keepers of asses!" - -70. Thus she spoke; and he, having learnt that which he desired to -learn, took supplies for travelling and set forth to go to Elis, -pretending that he was going to Delphi to consult the Oracle: but the -Lacedemonians, suspecting that he was attempting to escape, pursued -after him; and it chanced that before they came Demaratos had passed -over to Zakynthos from Elis; and the Lacedemonians crossing over after -him laid hands on his person and carried away his attendants from him. -Afterwards however, since those of Zakynthos refused to give him up, he -passed over from thence to Asia, to the presence of king Dareios; and -Dareios both received him with great honour as a guest, and also gave -him land and cities. Thus Demaratos had come to Asia, and such was the -fortune which he had had, having been distinguished in the estimation of -the Lacedemonians 59 in many other ways both by deeds and by counsels, -and especially having gained for them an Olympic victory with the -four-horse chariot, being the only one who achieved this of all the -kings who ever arose in Sparta. - -71. Demaratos being deposed, Leotychides the son of Menares succeeded to -the kingdom; and he had born to him a son Zeuxidemos, whom some of the -Spartans called Kyniscos. This Zeuxidemos did not become king of -Sparta, for he died before Leotychides, leaving a son Archidemos: and -Leotychides having lost Zeuxidemos married a second wife Eurydame, the -sister of Menios and daughter of Diactorides, by whom he had no male -issue, but a daughter Lampito, whom Archidemos the son of Zeuxidemos -took in marriage, she being given to him by Leotychides.. - -72. Leotychides however did not himself 60 live to old age in Sparta, -but paid a retribution for Demaratos as follows:--he went as commander -of the Lacedemonians to invade Thessaly, and when he might have reduced -all to subjection, he accepted gifts of money amounting to a large sum; -and being taken in the act there in the camp, as he was sitting upon a -glove full of money, he was brought to trial and banished from Sparta, -and his house was razed to the ground. So he went into exile to Tegea -and ended his life there.. - -73. These things happened later; but at this time, when Cleomenes had -brought to a successful issue the affair which concerned Demaratos, -forthwith he took with him Leotychides and went against the Eginetans, -being very greatly enraged with them because of their insults towards -him. So the Eginetans on their part, since both the kings had come -against them, thought fit no longer to resist; and the Spartans selected -ten men who were the most considerable among the Eginetans both by -wealth and by birth, and took them away as prisoners, and among -others also Crios 61 the son of Polycritos and Casambos the son of -Aristocrates, who had the greatest power among them; and having taken -these away to the land of Attica, they deposited them as a charge with -the Athenians, who were the bitterest enemies of the Eginetans. - -74. After this Cleomenes, since it had become known that he had devised -evil against Demaratos, was seized by fear of the Spartans and retired -to Thessaly. Thence he came to Arcadia, and began to make mischief 62 -and to combine the Arcadians against Sparta; and besides other oaths -with which he caused them to swear that they would assuredly follow him -whithersoever he should lead them, he was very desirous also to bring -the chiefs of the Arcadians to the city of Nonacris and cause them -to swear by the water of Styx; for near this city it is said by the -Arcadians 63 that there is the water of Styx, and there is in fact -something of this kind: a small stream of water is seen to trickle down -from a rock into a hollow ravine, and round the ravine runs a wall -of rough stones. Now Nonacris, where it happens that this spring is -situated, is a city of Arcadia near Pheneos.. - -75. The Lacedemonians, hearing that Cleomenes was acting thus, were -afraid, and proceeded to bring him back to Sparta to rule on the same -terms as before: but when he had come back, forthwith a disease of -madness seized him (who had been even before this somewhat insane 64), -and whenever he met any of the Spartans, he dashed his staff against the -man's face. And as he continued to do this and had gone quite out of his -senses, his kinsmen bound him in stocks. Then being so bound, and seeing -his warder left alone by the rest, he asked him for a knife; and the -warder not being at first willing to give it, he threatened him with -that which he would do to him afterwards if he did not; until at last -the warder fearing the threats, for he was one of the Helots, gave him a -knife. Then Cleomenes, when he had received the steel, began to -maltreat himself from the legs upwards: for he went on cutting his flesh -lengthways from the legs to the thighs and from the thighs to the loins -and flanks, until at last he came to the belly; and cutting this -into strips he died in that manner. And this happened, as most of the -Hellenes report, because he persuaded the Pythian prophetess to advise -that which was done about Demaratos; but as the Athenians alone -report, it was because when he invaded Eleusis he laid waste the sacred -enclosure of the goddesses; 65 and according to the report of the -Argives, because from their sanctuary dedicated to Argos he caused to -come down those of the Argives who had fled for refuge from the battle -and slew them, and also set fire to the grove itself, holding it in no -regard.. - -76. For when Cleomenes was consulting the Oracle at Delphi, the answer -was given him that he should conquer Argos; so he led the Spartans and -came to the river Erasinos, which is said to flow from the Stymphalian -lake; for this lake, they say, running out into a viewless chasm, -appears again above ground in the land of Argos; and from thence onwards -this water is called by the Argives Erasinos: having come, I say, to -this river, Cleomenes did sacrifice to it; and since the sacrifices were -not at all favourable for him to cross over, he said that he admired -the Erasinos for not betraying the men of its country, but the Argives -should not even so escape. After this he retired back from thence and -led his army down to Thyrea; and having done sacrifice to the Sea by -slaying a bull, he brought them in ships to the land of Tiryns and -Nauplia.. - -77. Being informed of this, the Argives came to the rescue towards the -sea; and when they had got near Tiryns and were at the place which is -called Hesipeia, 66 they encamped opposite to the Lacedemonians leaving -no very wide space between the armies. There the Argives were not afraid -of the open fighting, but only lest they should be conquered by -craft; for to this they thought referred the oracle which the Pythian -prophetess gave in common to these and to the Milesians, 67 saying as -follows: - - - "But when the female at length shall conquer the male in the battle, - Conquer and drive him forth, and glory shall gain among Argives, - Then many wives of the Argives shall tear both cheeks in their mourning; - So that a man shall say some time, of the men that came after, - 'Quelled by the spear it perished, the three-coiled terrible serpent,' - -The conjunction of all these things caused fear to the Argives, and -with a view to this they resolved to make use of the enemy's herald; -and having so resolved they proceeded to do as follows:--whenever the -Spartan herald proclaimed anything to the Lacedemonians, the Argives -also did that same thing.. - -78. So Cleomenes, perceiving that the Argives were doing whatever -the herald of the Lacedemonians proclaimed, passed the word to the -Lacedemonians that when the herald should proclaim that they were to -get breakfast, then they should take up their arms and go to attack the -Argives. This was carried out even so by the Lacedemonians; for as the -Argives were getting breakfast according to the herald's proclamation, -they attacked them; and many of them they slew, but many more yet took -refuge in the sacred grove of Argos, and upon these they kept watch, -sitting round about the place. Then Cleomenes did this which follows:-- - -79. He had with him deserters, and getting information by inquiring of -these, he sent a herald and summoned forth those of the Argives who were -shut up in the sanctuary, mentioning each by name; and he summoned -them forth saying that he had received their ransom. Now among the -Peloponnesians ransom is two pounds weight of silver 68 appointed to be -paid for each prisoner. So Cleomenes summoned forth about fifty of the -Argives one by one and slew them; and it chanced that the rest who were -in the enclosure did not perceive that this was being done; for since -the grove was thick, those within did not see how it fared with those -who were without, at least until one of them climbed up a tree and saw -from above that which was being done. Accordingly they then no longer -came forth when they were called. - -80. So Cleomenes thereupon ordered all the Helots to pile up brushwood -round the sacred grove; and they obeying, he set fire to the grove. And -when it was now burning, he asked one of the deserters to what god the -grove was sacred, and the man replied that it was sacred to Argos. When -he heard that, he groaned aloud and said, "Apollo who utterest oracles, -surely thou hast greatly deceived me, saying that I should conquer -Argos: I conjecture that the oracle has had its fulfilment for me -already.". - -81. After this Cleomenes sent away the greater part of his army to go -back to Sparta, but he himself took a thousand of the best men and went -to the temple of Hera to sacrifice: and when he wished to sacrifice upon -the altar, the priest forbade him, saying that it was not permitted -by religious rule for a stranger to sacrifice in that place. Cleomenes -however bade the Helots take away the priest from the altar and scourge -him, and he himself offered the sacrifice. Having so done he returned -back to Sparta;. - -82, and after his return his opponents brought him up before the Ephors, -saying that he had received gifts and therefore had not conquered Argos, -when he might easily have conquered it. He said to them,--but whether -he was speaking falsely or whether truly I am not able with certainty to -say,--however that may be, he spoke and said that when he had conquered -the sanctuary of Argos, it seemed to him that the oracle of the god had -had its fulfilment for him; therefore he did not think it right to make -an attempt on the city, at least until he should have had recourse to -sacrifice, and should have learnt whether the deity 69 permitted him or -whether she stood opposed to him: and as he was sacrificing for augury -70 in the temple of Hera, a flame of fire blazed forth from the breasts -of the image; and thus he knew the certainty of the matter, namely that -he would not conquer Argos: for if fire had blazed forth from the head -of the image, he would have been conqueror of the city from top to -bottom, 71 but since it blazed from the breasts, everything had been -accomplished for him which the god desired should come to pass. Thus -speaking he seemed to the Spartans to speak credibly and reasonably, and -he easily escaped his pursuers. 72 - -83. Argos however was so bereft of men that their slaves took possession -of all the State, ruling and managing it until the sons of those who had -perished grew to be men. Then these, endeavouring to gain Argos back -to themselves, cast them out; and the slaves being driven forth gained -possession of Tiryns by fighting. Now for a time these two parties had -friendly relations with one another; but afterwards there came to the -slaves a prophet named Cleander, by race a Phigalian from Arcadia: this -man persuaded the slaves to attack their masters, and in consequence -of this there was war between them for a long time, until at last with -difficulty the Argives overcame them. - -84. The Argives then say that this was the reason why Cleomenes went mad -and had an evil end: but the Spartans themselves say that Cleomenes was -not driven mad by any divine power, but that he had become a drinker of -unmixed wine from having associated with Scythians, and that he went mad -in consequence of this: for the nomad Scythians, they say, when Dareios -had made invasion of their land, desired eagerly after this to take -vengeance upon him; and they sent to Sparta and tried to make an -alliance, and to arrange that while the Scythians themselves attempted -an invasion of Media by the way of the river Phasis, the Spartans should -set forth from Ephesos and go up inland, and then that they should meet -in one place: and they say that Cleomenes when the Scythians had -come for this purpose, associated with them largely, and that thus -associating more than was fit, he learnt the practice of drinking wine -unmixed with water; and for this cause (as the Spartans think) he went -mad. Thenceforth, as they say themselves, when they desire to drink -stronger wine, they say "Fill up in Scythian fashion." 73 Thus the -Spartans report about Cleomenes; but to me it seems that this was a -retribution which Cleomenes paid for Demaratos. - -85. Now when the Eginetans heard that Cleomenes had met his end, they -sent messengers to Sparta to denounce Leotychides for the matter of the -hostages which were being kept at Athens: and the Lacedemonians caused -a court to assemble and judged that the Eginetans had been dealt with -outrageously by Leotychides; and they condemned him to be taken to Egina -and delivered up in place of the men who were being kept at Athens. Then -when the Eginetans were about to take Leotychides, Theasides the son -of Leoprepes, a man of repute in Sparta, said to them: "What are ye -proposing 74 to do, men of Egina? Do ye mean to take away the king of -the Spartans, thus delivered up to you by his fellow-citizens? If the -Spartans now being in anger have decided so, beware lest at some future -time, if ye do this, they bring an evil upon your land which may destroy -it." Hearing this the Eginetans abstained from taking him; but they came -to an agreement that Leotychides should accompany them to Athens and -restore the men to the Eginetans. - -86. When however Leotychides came to Athens and asked for the deposit -back, the Athenians, not being willing to give up the hostages, produced -pretexts for refusing, and alleged that two kings had deposited them -and they did not think it right to give them back to the one without the -other: so since the Athenians said that they would not give them back, -Leotychides spoke to them as follows: - -(a) "Athenians, do whichever thing ye yourselves desire; for ye know -that if ye give them up, ye do that which religion commands, and if ye -refuse to give them up, ye do the opposite of this: but I desire to tell -you what kind of a thing came to pass once in Sparta about a deposit. We -Spartans report that there was in Lacedemon about two generations before -my time on Glaucos the son of Epikydes. This man we say attained the -highest merit in all things besides, and especially he was well reported -of by all who at that time dwelt in Lacedemon for his uprightness: and -we relate that in due time 75 it happened to him thus:--a man of Miletos -came to Sparta and desired to have speech with him, alleging the reasons -which follow: 'I am a Milesian,' he said, 'and I am come hither desiring -to have benefit from thy uprightness, Glaucos; for as there was much -report of thy uprightness throughout all the rest of Hellas and also in -Ionia, I considered with myself that Ionia is ever in danger, whereas -Peloponnesus is safely established, and also that we never see wealth -continue in the possession of the same persons long;--reflecting, I say, -on these things and taking counsel with myself, I resolved to turn into -money the half of my possessions, and to place it with thee, being well -assured that if it were placed with thee I should have it safe. Do -thou therefore, I pray thee, receive the money, and take and keep these -tallies; and whosoever shall ask for the money back having the tokens -answering to these, to him do thou restore it.' (b) The stranger who had -come from Miletos said so much; and Glaucos accepted the deposit on the -terms proposed. Then after a long time had gone by, there came to Sparta -the sons of him who had deposited the money with Glaucos; and they came -to speech with Glaucos, and producing the tokens asked for the money to -be given back: but he repulsed them answering them again thus: 'I do not -remember the matter, nor does my mind bring back to me any knowledge of -those things whereof ye speak; but I desire to recollect and do all that -is just; for if I received it, I desire to restore it honestly; and if -on the other hand I did not receive it at all, I will act towards you -in accordance with the customs of the Hellenes: 76 therefore I defer -the settling of the matter with you for three months from now.' (c) The -Milesians accordingly went away grieved, for they supposed that they had -been robbed of the money; but Glaucos set forth to Delphi to consult the -Oracle: and when he inquired of the Oracle whether he should rob them -of the money by an oath, the Pythian prophetess rebuked him with these -lines: - - - "'Glaucos, thou, Epikydes' son, yea, this for the moment, - This, to conquer their word by an oath and to rob, is more gainful. - Swear, since the lot of death waits also for him who swears truly. - But know thou that Oath has a son, one nameless and handless and - footless, Yet without feet he pursues, without hands he seizes, and - wholly He shall destroy the race and the house of the man who offendeth. - But for the man who swears truly his race is the better hereafter.' - -Having heard this Glaucos entreated that the god would pardon him for -that which he had said, but the prophetess said that to make trial of -the god and to do the deed were things equivalent. (d) Glaucos then, -having sent for the Milesians, gave back to them the money: but the -reason for which, O Athenians, I set forth to relate to you this story, -shall now be told. At the present time there is no descendant of Glaucos -existing, nor any hearth which is esteemed to be that of Glaucos, but he -has been utterly destroyed and rooted up out of Sparta. Thus it is -good not even to entertain a thought about a deposit other than that of -restoring it, when they who made it ask for it again." - -87. When Leotychides had thus spoken, since not even so were the -Athenians willing to listen to him, he departed back; and the Eginetans, -before paying the penalty for their former wrongs wherein they -did outrage to the Athenians to please the Thebans, 77 acted as -follows:--complaining of the conduct of the Athenians and thinking that -they were being wronged, they made preparations to avenge themselves -upon the Athenians; and since the Athenians were celebrating a -four-yearly festival 78 at Sunion, they lay in wait for the sacred ship -which was sent to it and took it, the vessel being full of men who were -the first among the Athenians; and having taken it they laid the men in -bonds.. - -88. The Athenians after they had suffered this wrong from the Eginetans -no longer delayed to contrive all things possible to their hurt. -And there was 79 in Egina a man of repute, one Nicodromos the son of -Cnithos: 80 this man had cause of complaint against the Eginetans for -having before this driven him forth out of the island; and hearing now -that the Athenians had resolved to do mischief to the Eginetans, he -agreed with the Athenians to deliver up Egina to them, telling them on -what day he would make his attempt and by what day it would be necessary -for them to come to his assistance.. - -89. After this Nicodromos, according as he had agreed with the -Athenians, seized that which is called the old city, but the Athenians -did not come to his support at the proper time; for, as it chanced, they -had not ships sufficient to fight with the Eginetans; so while they were -asking the Corinthians to lend them ships, during this time their cause -went to ruin. The Corinthians however, being at this time exceedingly -friendly with them, gave the Athenians twenty ships at their request; -and these they gave by selling them at five drachmas apiece, for by the -law it was not permitted to give them as a free gift. Having taken these -ships of which I speak and also their own, the Athenians with seventy -ships manned in all sailed to Egina, and they were later by one day than -the time agreed.. - -90. Nicodromos meanwhile, as the Athenians did not come to his support -at the proper time, embarked in a ship and escaped from Egina, and -with him also went others of the Eginetans; and the Athenians gave them -Sunion to dwell in, starting from whence these men continued to plunder -the Eginetans who were in the island.. - -91. This happened afterwards: but at the time of which we speak the -well-to-do class among the Eginetans prevailed over the men of the -people, who had risen against them in combination with Nicodromos, and -then having got them into their power they were bringing their prisoners -forth to execution. From this there came upon them a curse which they -were not able to expiate by sacrifice, though they devised against it -all they could; but they were driven forth from the island before the -goddess became propitious to them. For they had taken as prisoners -seven hundred of the men of the people and were bringing them forth to -execution, when one of them escaped from his bonds and fled for refuge -to the entrance of the temple of Demeter the Giver of Laws, 81 and he -took hold of the latch of the door and clung to it; and when they found -that they could not drag him from it by pulling him away, they cut off -his hands and so carried him off, and those hands remained clinging to -the latch of the door.. - -92. Thus did the Eginetans to one another: and when the Athenians came, -they fought against them with seventy ships, and being worsted in -the sea-fight they called to their assistance the same whom they had -summoned before, namely the Argives. These would no longer come to their -help, having cause of complaint because the ships of Egina compelled -by Cleomenes had put in to the land of Argos and their crews had landed -with the Lacedemonians; with whom also had landed men from ships of -Sikyon in this same invasion: and as a penalty for this there was laid -upon them by the Argives a fine of a thousand talents, five hundred -for each State. The Sikyonians accordingly, acknowledging that they had -committed a wrong, had made an agreement to pay a hundred talents and be -free from the penalty; the Eginetans however did not acknowledge their -wrong, but were more stubborn. For this reason then, when they made -request, none of the Argives now came to their help at the charge of the -State, but volunteers came to the number of a thousand; and their -leader was a commander named Eurybates, a man who had practised the five -contests. 82 Of these men the greater number never returned back, -but were slain by the Athenians in Egina; and the commander himself, -Eurybates, fighting in single combat 83 killed in this manner three men -and was himself slain by the fourth, Sophanes namely of Dekeleia. - -93. The Eginetans however engaged in contest with the Athenians in -ships, when these were in disorder, and defeated them; and they took of -them four ships together with their crews. - -94. So the Athenians were at war with the Eginetans; and meanwhile the -Persian was carrying forward his design, since he was put in mind ever -by his servant to remember the Athenians, and also because of the -sons of Peisistratos were near at hand and brought charges continually -against the Athenians, while at the same time Dareios himself wished to -take hold of this pretext and subdue those nations of Hellas which -had not given him earth and water. Mardonios then, since he had fared -miserably in his expedition, he removed from his command; and appointing -other generals to command he despatched them against Eretria and -Athens, namely Datis, who was a Mede by race, and Artaphrenes the son -of Artaphrenes, a nephew of the king: and he sent them forth with the -charge to reduce Athens and Eretria to slavery and to bring the slaves -back into his presence.. - -95. When these who had been appointed to command came in their march -from the king to the Aleian plain in Kilikia, taking with them a large -and well-equipped land-army, then while they were encamping there, -the whole naval armament came up, which had been appointed for several -nations to furnish; and there came to them also the ships for carrying -horses, which in the year before Dareios had ordered his tributaries to -make ready. In these they placed their horses, and having embarked the -land-army in the ships they sailed for Ionia with six hundred triremes. -After this they did not keep their ships coasting along the mainland -towards the Hellespont and Thrace, but they started from Samos and made -their voyage by the Icarian Sea 84 and between the islands; because, as -I think, they feared more than all else the voyage round Athos, seeing -that in the former year 85 while making the passage by this way they had -come to great disaster. Moreover also Naxos compelled them, since it had -not been conquered at the former time. 86. - -96. And when they had arrived at Naxos, coming against it from the -Icarian Sea (for it was against Naxos first that the Persians intended -to make expedition, remembering the former events), the Naxians departed -forthwith fleeing to the mountains, and did not await their attack; but -the Persians made slaves of those of them whom they caught and set fire -to both the temples and the town. Having so done they put out to sea to -attack the other islands. - -97. While these were doing thus, the Delians also had left Delos and -fled away to Tenos; and when the armament was sailing in thither, Datis -sailed on before and did not allow the ships to anchor at the island of -Delos, but at Rhenaia on the other side of the channel; and he himself, -having found out by inquiry where the men of Delos were, sent a herald -and addressed them thus: "Holy men, why are ye fled away and departed, -having judged of me that which is not convenient? for even I of myself -have wisdom at least so far, and moreover it has been thus commanded me -by the king, not to harm at all that land in which the two divinities -were born, neither the land itself nor the inhabitants of it. Now -therefore return to your own possessions and dwell in your island." Thus -he proclaimed by a herald to the Delians; and after this he piled up and -burned upon the altar three hundred talents' weight of frankincense. - -98. Datis having done these things sailed away with his army to fight -against Eretria first, taking with him both Ionians and Aiolians; and -after he had put out to sea from thence, Delos was moved, not having -been shaken (as the Delians reported to me) either before that time -or since that down to my own time; and this no doubt the god 8601 -manifested as a portent to men of the evils that were about to be; -for in the time of Dareios the son of Hystaspes and Xerxes the son of -Dareios and Artoxerxes the son of Xerxes, three generations following -upon one another, there happened more evils to Hellas than during the -twenty other generations which came before Dareios, some of the evils -coming to it from the Persians, and others from the leaders themselves -of Hellas warring together for supremacy. Thus it was not unreasonable -that Delos should be moved, which was before unmoved. [And in an oracle -it was thus written about it: 87 - - - "Delos too will I move, unmoved though it hath been aforetime."] - -Now in the Hellenic tongue the names which have been mentioned have this -meaning--Dareios means "compeller," 88 Xerxes "warrior," 89 Artoxerxes -"great warrior." 90 Thus then might the Hellenes rightly call these -kings in their own tongue. - -99. The Barbarians then, when they had departed from Delos, touched at -the islands as they went, and from them received additional forces and -took sons of the islanders as hostages: and when in sailing round about -the islands they put in also to Carystos, seeing that the Carystians -would neither give them hostages nor consent to join in an expedition -against cities that were their neighbours, meaning Eretria and Athens, -they began to besiege them and to ravage their land; until at last the -Carystians also came over to the will of the Persians.. - -100. The Eretrians meanwhile being informed that the armament of the -Persians was sailing to attack them, requested the Athenians to help -them; and the Athenians did not refuse their support, but gave as -helpers those four thousand to whom had been allotted the land of the -wealthy 91 Chalkidians. The Eretrians however, as it turned out, had no -sound plan of action, for while they sent for the Athenians, they had -in their minds two different designs: some of them, that is, proposed -to leave the city and go to the heights of Euboea; while others of them, -expecting to win gain for themselves from the Persian, were preparing to -surrender the place. Having got knowledge of how things were as regards -both these plans, Aischines the son of Nothon, one of the leaders of -the Eretrians, told the whole condition of their affairs to those of the -Athenians who had come, and entreated them to depart and go to their own -land, that they might not also perish. So the Athenians did according to -this counsel given to them by Aischines.. - -101. And while these passed over to Oropos and saved themselves, the -Persians sailed on and brought their ships to land about Temenos -and Chioreai and Aigilea in the Eretrian territory; and having taken -possession of these places, 9101 forthwith they began to disembark their -horses and prepared to advance against the enemy. The Eretrians however -did not intend to come forth against them and fight; but their endeavour -was if possible to hold out by defending their walls, since the counsel -prevailed not to leave the city. Then a violent assault was made upon -the wall, and for six days there fell many on both sides; but on the -seventh day Euphorbos the son of Alkimachos and Philagros the son -of Kyneos, men of repute among the citizens, gave up the city to the -Persians. These having entered the city plundered and set fire to the -temples in retribution for the temples which were burned at Sardis, and -also reduced the people to slavery according to the commands of Dareios. - -102. Having got Eretria into their power, they stayed a few days and -then sailed for the land of Attica, pressing on 92 hard and supposing -that the Athenians would do the same as the Eretrians had done. And -since Marathon was the most convenient place in Attica for horsemen -to act and was also very near to Eretria, therefore Hippias the son of -Peisistratos was guiding them thither.. - -103. When the Athenians had information of this, they too went to -Marathon to the rescue of their land; and they were led by ten generals, -of whom the tenth was Miltiades, whose father Kimon of Stesagoras had -been compelled to go into exile from Athens because of Peisistratos the -son of Hippocrates: and while he was in exile it was his fortune to win -a victory at the Olympic games with a four-horse chariot, wherein, as -it happened, he did the same thing as his half-brother Miltiades 93 -had done, who had the same mother as he. Then afterwards in the next -succeeding Olympic games he gained a victory with the same mares and -allowed Peisistratos to be proclaimed as victor; and having resigned to -him the victory he returned to his own native land under an agreement -for peace. Then after he had won with the same mares at another Olympic -festival, it was his hap to be slain by the sons of Peisistratos, -Peisistratos himself being no longer alive. These killed him near the -City Hall, having set men to lie in wait for him by night; and the -burial-place of Kimon is in the outskirts of the city, on the other side -of the road which is called the way through Coile, and just opposite him -those mares are buried which won in three Olympic games. This same -thing was done also by the mares belonging to Euagoras the Laconian, -but besides these by none others. Now the elder of the sons of Kimon, -Stesagoras, was at that time being brought up in the house of his -father's brother Miltiades in the Chersonese, while the younger son -was being brought up at Athens with Kimon himself, having been named -Miltiades after Miltiades the settler of the Chersonese.. - -104. This Miltiades then at the time of which we speak had come from the -Chersonese and was a general of the Athenians, after escaping death in -two forms; for not only did the Phenicians, who had pursued after him as -far as Imbros, endeavour earnestly to take him and bring him up to the -presence of the king, but also after this, when he had escaped from -these and had come to his own native land and seemed to be in safety -from that time forth, his opponents, who had laid wait for him there, -brought him up before a court and prosecuted him for his despotism in -the Chersonese. Having escaped these also, he had then been appointed a -general of the Athenians, being elected by the people. - -105. First of all, while they were still in the city, the generals sent -off to Sparta a herald, namely Pheidippides 94 an Athenian and for the -rest a runner of long day-courses and one who practised this as his -profession. With this man, as Pheidippides himself said and as he made -report to the Athenians, Pan chanced to meet by mount Parthenion, which -is above Tegea; and calling aloud the name of Pheidippides, Pan bade him -report to the Athenians and ask for what reason they had no care of him, -though he was well disposed to the Athenians and had been serviceable to -them on many occasions before that time, and would be so also yet again. -Believing that this tale was true, the Athenians, when their affairs had -been now prosperously settled, established under the Acropolis a temple -of Pan; and in consequence of this message they propitiate him with -sacrifice offered every year and with a torch-race.. - -106. However at that time, the time namely when he said that Pan -appeared to him, this Pheidippides having been sent by the generals was -in Sparta on the next day after that on which he left the city of -the Athenians; and when he had come to the magistrates he said: -"Lacedemonians, the Athenians make request of you to come to their help -and not to allow a city most anciently established among the Hellenes to -fall into slavery by the means of Barbarians; for even now Eretria has -been enslaved, and Hellas has become the weaker by a city of renown." -He, as I say, reported to them that with which he had been charged, -and it pleased them well to come to help the Athenians; but it was -impossible for them to do so at once, since they did not desire to break -their law; for it was the ninth day of the month, and on the ninth day -they said they would not go forth, nor until the circle of the moon -should be full. 95 - -107. These men were waiting for the full moon: and meanwhile Hippias -the son of Peisistratos was guiding the Barbarians in to Marathon, after -having seen on the night that was just past a vision in his sleep of -this kind,--it seemed to Hippias that he lay with his own mother. He -conjectured then from the dream that he should return to Athens and -recover his rule, and then bring his life to an end in old age in his -own land. From the dream, I say, he conjectured this; and after this, as -he guided them in, first he disembarked the slaves from Eretria on the -island belonging to the Styrians, called Aigleia; 96 and then, as the -ships came in to shore at Marathon, he moored them there, and after -the Barbarians had come from their ships to land, he was engaged in -disposing them in their places. While he was ordering these things, it -came upon him to sneeze and cough more violently than was his wont. Then -since he was advanced in years, most of his teeth were shaken thereby, -and one of these teeth he cast forth by the violence of the cough: 97 -and the tooth having fallen from him upon the sand, he was very -desirous to find it; since however the tooth was not to be found when he -searched, he groaned aloud and said to those who were by him: "This land -is not ours, nor shall we be able to make it subject to us; but so much -part in it as belonged to me the tooth possesses." - -108. Hippias then conjectured that his vision had been thus fulfilled: -and meanwhile, after the Athenians had been drawn up in the sacred -enclosure of Heracles, there joined them the Plataians coming to their -help in a body: for the Plataians had given themselves to the Athenians, -and the Athenians before this time undertook many toils on behalf of -them; and this was the manner in which they gave themselves:--Being -oppressed by the Thebans, the Plataians at first desired to -give themselves to Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides and to the -Lacedemonians, who chanced to come thither; but these did not accept -them, and said to them as follows: "We dwell too far off, and such -support as ours would be to you but cold comfort; for ye might many -times be reduced to slavery before any of us had information of it: but -we counsel you rather to give yourselves to the Athenians, who are both -neighbours and also not bad helpers." Thus the Lacedemonians counselled, -not so much on account of their goodwill to the Plataians as because -they desired that the Athenians should have trouble by being involved in -a conflict with the Boetians. The Lacedemonians, I say, thus counselled -the men of Plataia; and they did not fail to follow their counsel, but -when the Athenians were doing sacrifice to the twelve gods, they sat -down as suppliants at the altar and so gave themselves. Then the Thebans -having been informed of these things marched against the Plataians, and -the Athenians came to their assistance: and as they were about to join -battle, the Corinthians did not permit them to do so, but being by -chance there, they reconciled their strife; and both parties having put -the matter into their hands, they laid down boundaries for the land, -with the condition that the Thebans should leave those of the Boeotians -alone who did not desire to be reckoned with the other Boeotians. The -Corinthians having given this decision departed; but as the Athenians -were going back, the Boeotians attacked them, and having attacked them -they were worsted in the fight. Upon that the Athenians passed beyond -the boundaries which the Corinthians had set to be for the Plataians, -and they made the river Asopos itself to be the boundary of the Thebans -towards the land of Plataia and towards the district of Hysiai. The -Plataians then had given themselves to the Athenians in the manner which -has been said, and at this time they came to Marathon to bring them -help. - -109. Now the opinions of the generals of the Athenians were divided, -and the one party urged that they should not fight a battle, seeing that -they were too few to fight with the army of the Medes, while the others, -and among them Miltiades, advised that they should do so: and when they -were divided and the worse opinion was like to prevail, then, since he -who had been chosen by lot 98 to be polemarch of the Athenians had a -vote in addition to the ten (for in old times the Athenians gave -the polemarch an equal vote with the generals) and at that time the -polemarch was Callimachos of the deme of Aphidnai, to him came Miltiades -and said as follows: "With thee now it rests, Callimachos, either to -bring Athens under slavery, or by making her free to leave behind -thee for all the time that men shall live a memorial such as not even -Harmodios and Aristogeiton have left. For now the Athenians have come -to a danger the greatest to which they have ever come since they were -a people; and on the one hand, if they submit to the Medes, it is -determined what they shall suffer, being delivered over to Hippias, -while on the other hand, if this city shall gain the victory, it may -become the first of the cities of Hellas. How this may happen and how it -comes to thee of all men 99 to have the decision of these matters, I -am now about to tell. Of us the generals, who are ten in number, the -opinions are divided, the one party urging that we fight a battle and -the others that we do not fight. Now if we do not, I expect that some -great spirit of discord will fall upon the minds of the Athenians and -so shake them that they shall go over to the Medes; but if we fight a -battle before any unsoundness appear in any part of the Athenian people, -then we are able to gain the victory in the fight, if the gods grant -equal conditions. These things then all belong to thee and depend -on thee; for if thou attach thyself to my opinions, thou hast both a -fatherland which is free and a native city which shall be the first -among the cities of Hellas; but if thou choose the opinion of those who -are earnest against fighting, thou shalt have the opposite of those good -things of which I told thee.". - -110. Thus speaking Miltiades gained Callimachos to his side; and the -opinion of the polemarch being added, it was thus determined to fight -a battle. After this, those generals whose opinion was in favour of -fighting, as the turn of each one of them to command for the day 100 -came round, gave over their command to Miltiades; and he, accepting -it, would not however yet bring about a battle, until his own turn to -command had come.. - -111. And when it came round to him, then the Athenians were drawn up for -battle in the order which here follows:--On the right wing the polemarch -Callimachos was leader (for the custom of the Athenians then was this, -that the polemarch should have the right wing); and he leading, next -after him came the tribes in order as they were numbered one after -another, and last were drawn up the Plataians occupying the left wing: -for 101 ever since this battle, when the Athenians offer sacrifices in -the solemn assemblies 102 which are made at the four-yearly festivals, -103 the herald of the Athenians prays thus, "that blessings 104 may come -to the Athenians and to the Plataians both." On this occasion however, -when the Athenians were being drawn up at Marathon something of this -kind was done:--their army being made equal in length of front to that -of the Medes, came to drawn up in the middle with a depth of but few -ranks, and here their army was weakest, while each wing was strengthened -with numbers.. - -112. And when they had been arranged in their places and the sacrifices -proved favourable, then the Athenians were let go, and they set forth at -a run to attack the Barbarians. Now the space between the armies was not -less than eight furlongs: 105 and the Persians seeing them advancing -to the attack at a run, made preparations to receive them; and in their -minds they charged the Athenians with madness which must be fatal, -seeing that they were few and yet were pressing forwards at a run, -having neither cavalry nor archers. 106 Such was the thought of the -Barbarians; but the Athenians when all in a body they had joined in -combat with the Barbarians, fought in a memorable fashion: for they were -the first of all the Hellenes about whom we know who went to attack the -enemy at a run, and they were the first also who endured to face the -Median garments and the men who wore them, whereas up to this time the -very name of the Medes was to the Hellenes a terror to hear.. - -113. Now while they fought in Marathon, much time passed by; and in the -centre of the army, where the Persians themselves and the Sacans were -drawn up, the Barbarians were winning,--here, I say, the Barbarians had -broken the ranks of their opponents and were pursuing them inland, but -on both wings the Athenians and the Plataians severally were winning -the victory; and being victorious they left that part of the Barbarians -which had been routed to fly without molestation, and bringing together -the two wings they fought with those who had broken their centre, and -the Athenians were victorious. So they followed after the Persians as -they fled, slaughtering them, until they came to the sea; and then they -called for fire and began to take hold of the ships.. - -114. In this part of the work was slain the polemarch Callimachos -after having proved himself a good man, and also one of the generals, -Stesilaos the son of Thrasylaos, was killed; and besides this Kynegeiros -the son of Euphorion while taking hold 107 there of the ornament at -the stern of a ship had his hand cut off with an axe and fell; and many -others also of the Athenians who were men of note were killed.. - -115. Seven of the ships the Athenians got possession of in this manner, -but with the rest the Barbarians pushed off from land, and after taking -the captives from Eretria off the island where they had left them, -they sailed round Sunion, purposing to arrive at the city before the -Athenians. And an accusation became current among the Athenians to the -effect that they formed this design by contrivance of the Alcmaionidai; -for these, it was said, having concerted matters with the Persians, -displayed to them a shield when they had now embarked in their ships.. - -116. These then, I say, were sailing round Sunion; and meanwhile the -Athenians came to the rescue back to the city as speedily as they could, -and they arrived there before the Barbarians came; and having arrived -from the temple of Heracles at Marathon they encamped at another temple -of Heracles, namely that which is in Kynosarges. The Barbarians however -came and lay with their ships in the sea which is off Phaleron, (for -this was then the seaport of the Athenians), they anchored their ships, -I say, off this place, and then proceeded to sail back to Asia. - -117. In this fight at Marathon there were slain of the Barbarians about -six thousand four hundred men, and of the Athenians a hundred and ninety -and two. Such was the number which fell on both sides; and it happened -also that a marvel occurred there of this kind:--an Athenian, Epizelos -the son of Cuphagoras, while fighting in the close combat and proving -himself a good man, was deprived of the sight of his eyes, neither -having received a blow in any part of his body nor having been hit with -a missile, and for the rest of his life from this time he continued to -be blind: and I was informed that he used to tell about that which had -happened to him a tale of this kind, namely that it seemed to him that a -tall man in full armour stood against him, whose beard overshadowed his -whole shield; and this apparition passed him by, but killed his comrade -who stood next to him. Thus, as I was informed, Epizelos told the tale. - -118. Datis, however, as he was going with his army to Asia, when he had -come to Myconos saw a vision in his sleep; and of what nature the vision -was it is not reported, but as soon as day dawned he caused a search to -be made of the ships, and finding in a Phenician ship an image of Apollo -overlaid with gold, he inquired from whence it had been carried off. -Then having been informed from what temple it came, he sailed in his -own ship to Delos: and finding that the Delians had returned then to -the island, he deposited the image in the temple and charged the men of -Delos to convey it back to Delion in the territory of the Thebans, which -is situated by the sea-coast just opposite Chalkis. Datis having given -this charge sailed away: the Delians however did not convey the statue -back, but after an interval of twenty years the Thebans themselves -brought it to Delion by reason of an oracle.. - -119. Now as to those Eretrians who had been reduced to slavery, Datis -and Artaphrenes, when they reached Asia in their voyage, brought them -up to Susa; and king Dareios, though he had great anger against the -Eretrians before they were made captive, because the Eretrians had done -wrong to him unprovoked, yet when he saw that they had been brought up -to him and were in his power, he did them no more evil, but established -them as settlers in the Kissian land upon one of his own domains, of -which the name is Ardericca: and this is distant two hundred and ten -furlongs from Susa and forty from the well which produces things of -three different kinds; for they draw from it asphalt, salt and oil, in -the manner which here follows:--the liquid is drawn with a swipe, to -which there is fastened half a skin instead of a bucket, and a man -strikes this down into it and draws up, and then pours it into a -cistern, from which it runs through into another vessel, taking three -separate ways. The asphalt and the salt become solid at once, and the -oil 108 which is called by the Persians rhadinake, is black and gives -out a disagreeable smell. Here king Dareios established the Eretrians -as settlers; and even to my time they continued to occupy this land, -keeping still their former language. Thus it happened with regard to the -Eretrians. - -120. Of the Lacedemonians there came to Athens two thousand after the -full moon, making great haste to be in time, so that they arrived in -Attica on the third day after leaving Sparta: and though they had come -too late for the battle, yet they desired to behold the Medes; and -accordingly they went out to Marathon and looked at the bodies of the -slain: then afterwards they departed home, commending the Athenians and -the work which they had done. - -121. Now it is a cause of wonder to me, and I do not accept the report, -that the Alcmaionidai could ever have displayed to the Persians a shield -by a previous understanding, with the desire that the Athenians -should be under the Barbarians and under Hippias; seeing that they are -evidently proved to have been haters of despots as much or more than -Callias the son of Phainippos and father of Hipponicos, while Callias -for his part was the only man of all the Athenians who dared, when -Peisistratos was driven out of Athens, to buy his goods offered for sale -by the State, and in other ways also he contrived against him everything -that was most hostile: - -122. Of this Callias it is fitting that every one should have -remembrance for many reasons: first because of that which has been -before said, namely that he was a man of excellence in freeing his -country; and then also for that which he did at the Olympic games, -wherein he gained a victory in the horse-race and was second in the -chariot-race, and he had before this been a victor at the Pythian games, -so that he was distinguished in the sight of all Hellenes by the sums -which he expended; and finally because he showed himself a man of such -liberality towards his daughters, who were three in number; for -when they came to be of ripe age for marriage, he gave them a most -magnificent dowry and also indulged their inclinations; for whomsoever -of all the Athenians each one of them desired to choose as a husband for -herself, to that man he gave her.] 109. - -123, and similarly, 110 the Alcmaionidai were haters of despots equally -or more 111 than he. Therefore this is a cause of wonder to me, and I do -not admit the accusation that these they were who displayed the shield; -seeing that they were in exile from the despots during their whole time, -and that by their contrivance the sons of Peisistratos gave up their -rule. Thus it follows that they were the men who set Athens free much -more than Harmodios and Aristogeiton, as I judge: for these my slaying -Hipparchos exasperated the rest of the family of Peisistratos, and -did not at all cause the others to cease from their despotism; but the -Alcmaionidai did evidently set Athens free, at least if these were in -truth the men who persuaded the Pythian prophetess to signify to the -Lacedemonians that they should set Athens free, as I have set forth -before.. - -124. It may be said however that they had some cause of complaint -against the people of the Athenians, and therefore endeavoured to betray -their native city. But on the contrary there were no men in greater -repute than they, among the Athenians at least, nor who had been more -highly honoured. Thus it is not reasonable to suppose that by them a -shield should have been displayed for any such purpose. A shield was -displayed, however; that cannot be denied, for it was done: but as to -who it was who displayed it, I am not able to say more than this. - -125. Now the family of Alcmaionidai was distinguished in Athens in the -earliest times also, and from the time of Alcmaion and of Megacles after -him they became very greatly distinguished. For first Alcmaion the son -of Megacles showed himself a helper of the Lydians from Sardis who came -from Croesus to the Oracle at Delphi, and assisted them with zeal; and -Croesus having heard from the Lydians who went to the Oracle that -this man did him service, sent for him to Sardis; and when he came, he -offered to give him a gift of as much gold as he could carry away at -once upon his own person. With a view to this gift, its nature being -such, Alcmaion made preparations and used appliances as follows:--he put -on a large tunic leaving a deep fold in the tunic to hang down in front, -and he draw on his feet the widest boots which he could find, and so -went to the treasury to which they conducted him. Then he fell upon a -heap of gold-dust, and first he packed in by the side of his legs so -much of the gold as his boots would contain, and then he filled the -whole fold of the tunic with the gold and sprinkled some of the gold -dust on the hair of his head and took some into his mouth, and having so -done he came forth out of the treasury, with difficulty dragging along -his boots and resembling anything in the world rather than a man; for -his mouth was stuffed full, and every part of him was swelled out: and -upon Croesus came laughter when he saw him, and he not only gave him all -that, but also presented him in addition with more not inferior in -value to that. Thus this house became exceedingly wealthy, and thus the -Alcmaion of whom I speak became a breeder of chariot-horses and won a -victory at Olympia.. - -126. Then in the next generation after this, Cleisthenes the despot of -Sikyon exalted the family, so that it became of much more note among -the Hellenes than it had been formerly. For Cleisthenes the son of -Arisonymos, the son of Myron, the son of Andreas, had a daughter whose -name was Agariste; and as to her he formed a desire to find out the best -man of all the Hellenes and to assign her to him in marriage. So when -the Olympic games were being held and Cleisthenes was victor in them -with a four-horse chariot, he caused a proclamation to be made, that -whosoever of the Hellenes thought himself worthy to be the son-in-law of -Cleisthenes should come on the sixtieth day, or before that if he would, -to Sikyon; for Cleisthenes intended to conclude the marriage within a -year, reckoning from the sixtieth day. Then all those of the Hellenes -who had pride either in themselves or in their high descent, 112 came -as wooers, and for them Cleisthenes had a running-course and a -wrestling-place made and kept them expressly for their use.. - -127. From Italy came Smindyrides the son of Hippocrates of Sybaris, who -of all men on earth reached the highest point of luxury (now Sybaris at -this time was in the height of its prosperity), and Damasos of Siris, -the son of that Amyris who was called the Wise; these came from Italy: -from the Ionian gulf came Amphimnestos the son of Epistrophos of -Epidamnos, this man from the Ionian gulf: from Aitolia came Males, the -brother of that Titormos who surpassed all the Hellenes in strength and -who fled from the presence of men to the furthest extremities of the -Aitolian land: from Peloponnesus, Leokedes the son of Pheidon the despot -of the Argives, that Pheidon who established for the Peloponnesians -the measures which they use, and who went beyond all other Hellenes in -wanton insolence, since he removed from their place the presidents of -the games appointed by the Eleians and himself presided over the -games at Olympia,--his son, I say, and Amiantos the son of Lycurgos an -Arcadian from Trapezus, and Laphanes an Azanian from the city of Paios, -son of that Euphorion who (according to the story told in Arcadia) -received the Dioscuroi as guests in his house and from thenceforth was -wont to entertain all men who came, and Onomastos the son of Agaios -of Elis; these, I say, came from Peloponnesus itself: from Athens came -Megacles the son of that Alcmaion who went to Croesus, and besides him -Hippocleides the son of Tisander, one who surpassed the other Athenians -in wealth and in comeliness of form: from Eretria, which at that time -was flourishing, came Lysanias, he alone from Euboea: from Thessalia -came Diactorides of Crannon, one of the family of the Scopadai: and from -the Molossians, Alcon.. - -128. So many in number did the wooers prove to be: and when these had -come by the appointed day, Cleisthenes first inquired of their native -countries and of the descent of each one, and then keeping them for a -year he made trial continually both of their manly virtue and of -their disposition, training and temper, associating both with each one -separately and with the whole number together: and he made trial of them -both by bringing out to bodily exercises those of them who were younger, -and also especially in the common feast: for during all the time that he -kept them he did everything that could be done, and at the same time he -entertained them magnificently. Now it chanced that those of the wooers -pleased him most who had come from Athens, and of these Hippocleides the -son of Tisander was rather preferred, both by reason of manly virtues -and also because he was connected by descent with the family of Kypselos -at Corinth. - -129. Then when the appointed day came for the marriage banquet and for -Cleisthenes himself to declare whom he selected from the whole number, -Cleisthenes sacrificed a hundred oxen and feasted both the wooers -themselves and all the people of Sikyon; and when the dinner was over, -the wooers began to vie with one another both in music and in speeches -for the entertainment of the company; 113 and as the drinking went -forward and Hippocleides was very much holding the attention of the -others, 114 he bade the flute-player play for him a dance-measure; -and when the flute-player did so, he danced: and it so befell that he -pleased himself in his dancing, but Cleisthenes looked on at the whole -matter with suspicion. Then Hippocleides after a certain time bade one -bring in a table; and when the table came in, first he danced upon it -Laconian figures, and then also Attic, and thirdly he planted his head -upon the table and gesticulated with his legs. Cleisthenes meanwhile, -when he was dancing the first and the second time, though he abhorred -the thought that Hippocleides should now become his son-in-law, because -of his dancing and his shamelessness, yet restrained himself, not -desiring to break out in anger against him; but when he saw that he thus -gesticulated with his legs, he was no longer able to restrain himself, -but said: "Thou hast danced away thy marriage however, 115 son of -Tisander!" and Hippocleides answered and said: "Hippocleides cares not!" - -130. and hence comes this saying. Then Cleisthenes caused silence to -be made, and spoke to the company as follows: "Men who are wooers of my -daughter, I commend you all, and if it were possible I would gratify -you all, neither selecting one of you to be preferred, nor rejecting the -remainder. Since however it is not possible, as I am deliberating about -one maiden only, to act so as to please all, therefore to those of you -who are rejected from this marriage I give as a gift a talent of silver -to each one for the worthy estimation ye had of me, in that ye desired -to marry from my house, and for the time of absence from your homes; -and to the son of Alcmaion, Megacles, I offer my daughter Agariste in -betrothal according to the customs of the Athenians." Thereupon Megacles -said that he accepted the betrothal, and so the marriage was determined -by Cleisthenes. - -131. Thus it happened as regards the judgment of the wooers, and thus -the Alcmaionidai got renown over all Hellas. And these having been -married, there was born to them that Cleisthenes who established the -tribes and the democracy for the Athenians, he being called after the -Sikyonian Cleisthenes, his mother's father; this son, I say, was born to -Megacles, and also Hippocrates: and of Hippocrates came another -Megacles and another Agariste, called after Agariste, the daughter of -Cleisthenes, who having been married to Xanthippos the son of Ariphron -and being with child, saw a vision in her sleep, and it seemed to her -that she had brought forth a lion: then after a few days she bore to -Xanthippos Pericles. - -132. After the defeat at Marathon, Miltiades, who even before was well -reputed with the Athenians, came then to be in much higher estimation: -and when he asked the Athenians for seventy ships and an army with -supplies of money, not declaring to them against what land he was -intending to make an expedition, but saying that he would enrich them -greatly if they would go with him, for he would lead them to a land of -such a kind that they would easily get from it gold in abundance,--thus -saying he asked for the ships; and the Athenians, elated by these words, -delivered them over to him.. - -133. Then Miltiades, when he had received the army, proceeded to sail -to Paris with the pretence that the Parians had first attacked Athens by -making expedition with triremes to Marathon in company with the Persian: -this was the pretext which he put forward, but he had also a grudge -against the Parians on account of Lysagoras the son of Tisias, who was -by race of Paros, for having accused him to Hydarnes the Persian. So -when Miltiades had arrived at the place to which he was sailing, he -began to besiege the Parians with his army, first having shut them -up within their wall; and sending in to them a herald he asked for a -hundred talents, saying that if they refused to give them, his army -should not return back 116 until it had conquered them completely. The -Parians however had no design of giving any money to Miltiades, but -contrived only how they might defend their city, devising various things -besides and also this,--wherever at any time the wall proved to be open -to attack, that point was raised when night came on to double its former -height.. - -134. So much of the story is reported by all the Hellenes, but as to -what followed the Parians alone report, and they say that it happened -thus:--When Miltiades was at a loss, it is said, there came a woman to -speech with him, who had been taken prisoner, a Parian by race whose -name was Timo, an under-priestess 117 of the Earth goddesses; 118 she, -they say, came into the presence of Miltiades and counselled him that if -he considered it a matter of much moment to conquer Paros, he could do -that which she should suggest to him; and upon that she told him her -meaning. He accordingly passed through to the hill which is before the -city and leapt over the fence of the temple of Demeter Giver of Laws, -119 not being able to open the door; and then having leapt over he went -on towards the sanctuary 120 with the design of doing something within, -whether it were that he meant to lay hands on some of the things which -should not be touched, or whatever else he intended to do; and when he -had reached the door, forthwith a shuddering fear came over him and he -set off to go back the same way as he came, and as he leapt down from -the wall of rough stones his thigh was dislocated, or, as others say, he -struck his knee against the wall.. - -135. Miltiades accordingly, being in a wretched case, set forth to sail -homewards, neither bringing wealth to the Athenians nor having added -to them the possession of Paros, but having besieged the city for -six-and-twenty days and laid waste the island: and the Parians being -informed that Timo the under-priestess of the goddesses had acted as -a guide to Miltiades, desired to take vengeance upon her for this, and -they sent messengers to Delphi to consult the god, so soon as they had -leisure from the siege; and these messengers they sent to ask whether -they should put to death the under-priestess of the goddesses, who had -been a guide to their enemies for the capture of her native city and had -revealed to Miltiades the mysteries which might not be uttered to a male -person. The Pythian prophetess however forbade them, saying that Timo -was not the true author of these things, but since it was destined that -Miltiades should end his life not well, she had appeared to guide him to -his evil fate.. - -136. Thus the Pythian prophetess replied to the Parians: and the -Athenians, when Miltiades had returned back from Paros, began to talk of -him, and among the rest especially Xanthippos the son of Ariphron, who -brought Miltiades up before the people claiming the penalty of death and -prosecuted him for his deception of the Athenians: and Miltiades did not -himself make his own defence, although he was present, for he was unable -to do so because his thigh was mortifying; but he lay in public view -upon a bed, while his friends made a defence for him, making mention -much both of the battle which had been fought at Marathon and of -the conquest of Lemnos, namely how he had conquered Lemnos and taken -vengeance on the Pelasgians, and had delivered it over to the Athenians: -and the people came over to his part as regards the acquittal from the -penalty of death, but they imposed a fine of fifty talents for the wrong -committed: and after this Miltiades died, his thigh having gangrened and -mortified, and the fifty talents were paid by his son Kimon. - -137. Now Miltiades son of Kimon had thus taken possession of the -Lemnos:--After the Pelasgians had been cast out of Attica by the -Athenians, whether justly or unjustly,--for about this I cannot tell -except the things reported, which are these:--Hecataois on the one hand, -the son of Hegesander, said in his history that it was done unjustly; -for he said that when the Athenians saw the land which extends below -Hymettos, which they had themselves given them 121 to dwell in, as -payment for the wall built round the Acropolis in former times, when the -Athenians, I say, saw that this land was made good by cultivation, which -before was bad and worthless, they were seized with jealousy and with -longing to possess the land, and so drove them out, not alleging any -other pretext: but according to the report of the Athenians themselves -they drove them out justly; for the Pelasgians being settled under -Hymettos made this a starting-point and committed wrong against them as -follows:--the daughters and sons of the Athenians were wont ever to go -for water to the spring of Enneacrunos; for at that time neither they -nor the other Hellenes as yet had household servants; and when these -girls came, the Pelasgians in wantonness and contempt of the Athenians -would offer them violence; and it was not enough for them even to do -this, but at last they were found in the act of plotting an attack -upon the city: and the narrators say that they herein proved themselves -better men than the Pelasgians, inasmuch as when they might have slain -the Pelasgians, who had been caught plotting against them, they did not -choose to do so, but ordered them merely to depart out of the land: and -thus having departed out of the land, the Pelasgians took possession of -several older places and especially of Lemnos. The former story is that -which was reported by Hecataios, while the latter is that which is told -by the Athenians.. - -138. These Pelasgians then, dwelling after that in Lemnos, desired to -take vengeance on the Athenians; and having full knowledge also of the -festivals of the Athenians, they got 122 fifty-oared galleys and laid -wait for the women of the Athenians when they were keeping festival to -Artemis in Brauron; and having carried off a number of them from thence, -they departed and sailed away home, and taking the women to Lemnos they -kept them as concubines. Now when these women had children gradually -more and more, they made it their practice to teach their sons both -the Attic tongue and the manners of the Athenians. And these were not -willing to associate with the sons of the Pelasgian women, and moreover -if any of them were struck by any one of those, they all in a body came -to the rescue and helped one another. Moreover the boys claimed to -have authority over the other boys and got the better of them easily. -Perceiving these things the Pelasgians considered the matter; and when -they took counsel together, a fear came over them and they thought, if -the boys were indeed resolved now to help one another against the sons -of the legitimate wives, and were endeavouring already from the first to -have authority over them, what would they do when they were grown up to -be men? Then they determined to put to death the sons of the Athenian -women, and this they actually did; and in addition to them they slew -their mothers also. From this deed and from that which was done before -this, which the women did when they killed Thoas and the rest, who were -their own husbands, it has become a custom in Hellas that all deeds of -great cruelty should be called "Lemnian deeds.". - -139. After the Pelasgians had killed their own sons and wives, the earth -did not bear fruit for them, nor did their women or their cattle bring -forth young as they did before; and being hard pressed by famine and by -childlessness, they sent to Delphi to ask for a release from the evils -which were upon them; and the Pythian prophetess bade them pay such -penalty to the Athenians as the Athenians themselves should appoint. -The Pelasgians came accordingly to Athens and professed that they were -willing to pay the penalty for all the wrong which they had done: and -the Athenians laid a couch in the fairest possible manner in the City -Hall, and having set by it a table covered with all good things, they -bade the Pelasgians deliver up to them their land in that condition. -Then the Pelasgians answered and said: "When with a North Wind in one -single day a ship shall accomplish the voyage from your land to ours, -then we will deliver it up," feeling assured that it was impossible for -this to happen, since Attica lies far away to the South of Lemnos.. - -140. Such were the events which happened then: and very many years -later, after the Chersonese which is by the Hellespont had come to be -under the Athenians, Miltiades the son of Kimon, when the Etesian Winds -blew steadily, accomplished the voyage in a ship from Elaius in the -Chersonese to Lemnos, and proclaimed to the Pelasgians that they should -depart out of the island, reminding them of the oracle, which the -Pelasgians had never expected would be accomplished for them. The men of -Hephaistia accordingly obeyed; but those of Myrina, not admitting that -the Chersonese was Attica, suffered a siege, until at last these also -submitted. Thus it was that the Athenians and Miltiades took possession -of Lemnos. - - - - -NOTES TO BOOK VI. - -1 [ {proboulous}.] - -2 [ See i. 148.] - -3 [ {epi keras}.] - -4 [ {diekploon poieumenos tesi neusi di alleleon}.] - -5 [ {tou Dareiou}: a conjecture based upon Valla's translation. The MSS. -have {ton Dareion}.] - -6 [ {prophasios epilabomenoi}.] - -601 [ {en stele anagraphenai patrothen}.] - -7 [ "were very roughly handled."] - -8 [ {epibateuontas}.] - -801 [ {nuktos te gar}: so Stein for {nuktos te}.] - -9 [ {kat akres}, lit. "from the top downwards," i.e. town and citadel -both.] - -10 [ See ch. 77.] - -11 [ See i. 92 and v. 36.] - -1101 [ {Kalen akten}.] - -12 [ Possibly the reading should be {Inuka}, "Inyx."] - -13 [ {ton en te naumakhie}: perhaps we should read {ten en te -naumakhin}, "which took place in the sea-fight."] - -14 [ {en Koiloisi kaleomenoisi}.] - -15 [ {grammata didaskomenoisi}.] - -16 [ {limainouses}: a conjectural reading for {deimainouses}.] - -17 [ Lit. "and it became in fact the work of the cavalry."] - -18 [ {esagenouon}.] - -19 [ Or (according to some good MSS.) "Thelymbri01."] - -20 [ Cp. iii. 120.] - -21 [ {stadioi}: the distances here mentioned are equal to a little more -than four and a little less than fifty miles respectively.] - -22 [ {en gnome gegonos}.] - -23 [ {pituos tropon}: the old name of the town was Pityuss01.] - -24 [ That is to say, Kimon was his half-brother, and Stesagoras and the -younger Miltiades his nephews.] - -25 [ See ch. 103.] - -26 [ {delade}.] - -27 [ {eleluthee}, but the meaning must be this, and it is explained by -the clause, {trito men gar etei k.t.l.}] - -28 [ {stadia}: see v. 52, note 40.] - -29 [ See iii. 80.] - -30 [ {entos Makedonon}, "on their side of the Macedonians."] - -3001 [ Or (according to some MSS.) "about three hundred."] - -31 [ Or "Scaptesyle." (The Medicean MS. however has {skaptes ules}, not -{skaptesules}, as reported by Stein.)] - -32 [ {ta proiskheto aiteon}, "that which he put forward demanding it."] - -33 [ i.e. "ram."] - -34 [ {ton geraiteron}.] - -35 [ {en to demosio}.] - -36 [ This is commonly understood to mean, leaving out of account the god -who was father of Perseus; but the reason for stopping short at Perseus -is given afterwards, and the expression {tou theou apeontos} refers -perhaps rather to the case of Heracles, the legend of whose birth is -rejected by Herodotus (see ii. 43), and rejected also by this genealogy, -which passes through Amphitryon up to Perseus. I take it that {tou theou -apeontos} means "reckoning Heracles" (who is mentioned by name just -below in this connexion) "as the son of Amphitryon and not of Zeus."] - -37 [ i.e. "of heaven."] - -38 [ {medimnon}, the Lacedemonian {medimnos} being equal to rather more -than two bushels.] - -39 [ {tetarten Lakomiken}, quantity uncertain.] - -40 [ {proxeinous}.] - -41 [ {khoinikas}. There were 48 {khoinikes} in the {medimnos}.] - -42 [ {kotulen}.] - -4201 [ The loose manner in which this is expressed, leaving it uncertain -whether each king was supposed by the writer to have two votes given for -him (cp. Thuc. i. 20), or whether the double vote was one for each king, -must of course be reproduced in the translation.] - -43 [ {perioikon}.] - -44 [ See ch. 51.] - -45 [ {proergazomenon}: a conjectural emendation of {prosergazomenon}.] - -46 [ {tes apates te paragoge}, "by the misleading of the deception."] - -47 [ i.e. lunar months.] - -48 [ {en thoko katemeno}.] - -49 [ {pandemei}.] - -50 [ {aren}.] - -51 [ i.e. "prayed for by the people."] - -52 [ {di a}: a conjectural emendation of {dia ta}. Some Editors suppose -that other words have dropped out.] - -53 [ {promantin}: cp. vii. III.] - -54 [ {ton splagkhnon}.] - -55 [ {tou erkeiou}.] - -56 [ {ton mataioteron logon legontes}.] - -57 [ Lit. "on the third night after the first," but the meaning is as -given.] - -58 [ Most of the MSS. have "Astrobacos," which may be right.] - -59 [ Or "to the honour of the Lacedemonians."] - -60 [ i.e. any more than his predecessor.] - -61 [ See ch. 50.] - -62 [ {neotera epresse pregmata}.] - -63 [ {up Arkadon}: several good MSS. have {ton Arkadon}, which is -adopted by some Editors. The meaning would be "near this city it is said -that there is the Styx water of the Arcadians."] - -64 [ {upomargoteron}.] - -65 [ Demeter and Core.] - -66 [ The MSS. give also "Sepeia" and "Sipei01." The place is not -elsewhere mentioned.] - -67 [ See ch. 19.] - -68 [ {duo mneai}: cp. v. 77.] - -69 [ {o theos}, i.e. Hera: cp. i. 105.] - -70 [ {kalliereumeno}.] - -71 [ {kat akres}: cp. ch. 18.] - -72 [ i.e. was acquitted of the charge brought against him.] - -73 [ {episkuthison}.] - -74 [ {bouleuesthe}: some MSS. and editions have {boulesthe}, -"desiring."] - -75 [ {en khrono ikneumeno}.] - -76 [ i.e. take an oath to that effect.] - -77 [ See v. 80.] - -78 [ {penteteris}. The reading {penteres}, which is given by most of the -MSS. and by several Editors, can hardly be defended.] - -79 [ {kai en gar}, "and since there was."] - -80 [ {Knoithou kaleomenos}: cp. vii. 143.] - -81 [ {thesmophorou}.] - -82 [ {pentaethlon epaskesas}.] - -83 [ {mounomakhien epaskeon}, "practising single combat," as if training -for the games.] - -84 [ {para te Ikarion}: the use of {para} and the absence of the article -may justify the conjecture {para te Ikarion} (or {Ikaron}) "by Icaria" -(or "Icaros"), the island from which the Icarian Sea had its name.] - -85 [ This perhaps should be emended, for the event referred to occurred -two years before, cp. ch. 46 and 48: The reading {trito proteron etei} -has been proposed.] - -86 [ See v. 33 ff.] - -8601 [ i.e. Apollo: or perhaps more generally, "God," as in ch. 27.] - -87 [ This in brackets is probably an interpolation. It is omitted by -some of the best MSS. Some Editors suspect the genuineness of the next -four lines also, on internal grounds.] - -88 [ {erxies}, perhaps meaning "worker."] - -89 [ {areios}.] - -90 [ {megas areios}.] - -91 [ {ippoboteon}, lit. "horse-breeding": see v. 77.] - -9101 [ Or (according to some MSS.), "having come to shore at these -places."] - -92 [ {katergontes}: the word is not elsewhere found intransitive, yet it -is rather difficult to supply {tous Athenaious}. Some alterations have -been proposed, but none probable.] - -93 [ Lit. "and it happened that in winning this victory he won the same -victory as his half-brother Miltiades." See ch. 36.] - -94 [ Or, according to some authorities, "Philippides."] - -95 [ Lit. "except the circle were full."] - -96 [ Or "Aigilei01."] - -97 [ Lit. "by violence, having coughed."] - -98 [ "by the bean."] - -99 [ {es se toi}, a conjectural emendation of {es se ti}.] - -100 [ {prutaneie tes emeres}.] - -101 [ Some Editors propose to omit {gar} or alter it. If it be allowed -to stand, the meaning must be that the importance of the place is -testified by the commemoration mentioned.] - -102 [ {es tas panegurias}, some MSS. have {kai panegurias}, "hold -sacrifices and solemn assemblies."] - -103 [ {penteterisi}.] - -104 [ Lit. "the good things."] - -105 [ {stadioi}: the distance would be rather over 1600 yards.] - -106 [ Whether this is thrown in here by the historian as an explanation -of the rapid advance, or as an additional source of wonder on the part -of the Persians at the boldness of the Athenians, is not clear.] - -107 [ Or (according to some MSS.) "having taken hold."] - -108 [ The account of how the oil was dealt with has perhaps dropt out: -one MS. and the Aldine edition have "the oil they collect in vessels, -and this," etc.] - -109 [ This chapter is omitted by several of the best MSS., and is almost -certainly an interpolation. (In the Medicean MS. it has been added in -the margin by a later hand.)] - -110 [ Answering to "Callias for his part" at the end of ch. 121, the -connexion being broken by the interpolated passage.] - -111 [ {ouden esson}.] - -112 [ {patre}, "family," or possibly "country," as in ch. 128.] - -113 [ {to legomeno es to meson}: perhaps only "general conversation."] - -114 [ {katekhon pollon tous allous}.] - -115 [ i.e. "though the dancing may be good."] - -116 [ {aponostesein}: some MSS. have {apanastesein}, "he would not take -away his army thence."] - -117 [ {upozakoron}.] - -118 [ {ton khthonion theon}, i.e. Demeter and Persephone: cp. vii. 153.] - -119 [ {thesmophorou}.] - -120 [ {to megaron}.] - -121 [ {sphi autoi}: a conjectural rendering of {sphisi autoisi}, which -can only be taken with {eousan}, meaning "belonging to them" i.e. the -Athenians, and involves the insertion of {Pelasgoisi} or something -equivalent with {edosan}.] - -122 [ {ktesamenoi}: some MSS. and editions have {stesamenoi}, "set -fifty-oared galleys in place."] - - - - - -BOOK VII. THE SEVENTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED POLYMNIA - -1. Now when the report came to Dareios the son of Hystaspes of the -battle which was fought at Marathon, the king, who even before this had -been greatly exasperated with the Athenians on account of the attack -made upon Sardis, then far more than before displayed indignation, and -was far more desirous of making a march against Hellas. Accordingly -at once he sent messengers to the various cities and ordered that they -should get ready a force, appointing to each people to supply much more -than at the former time, and not only ships of war, but also horses and -provisions and transport vessels; 1 and when these commands were carried -round, all Asia was moved for three years, for all the best men were -being enlisted for the expedition against Hellas, and were making -preparations. In the fourth year however the Egyptians, who had been -reduced to subjection by Cambyses, revolted from the Persians; and then -he was even more desirous of marching against both these nations. - -2. While Dareios was thus preparing to set out against Egypt and against -Athens, there arose a great strife among his sons about the supreme -power; and they said that he must not make his expeditions until he -had designated one of them to be king, according to the custom of the -Persians. For to Dareios already before he became king three sons had -been born of his former wife the daughter of Gobryas, and after he -became king four other sons of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus: of the -first the eldest was Artobazanes, and of those who had been born later, -Xerxes. These being not of the same mother were at strife with one -another, Artobazanes contending that he was the eldest of all the sons, -and that it was a custom maintained by all men that the eldest should -have the rule, and Xerxes arguing that he was the son of Atossa the -daughter of Cyrus, and that Cyrus was he who had won for the Persians -their freedom. - -3. Now while Dareios did not as yet declare his judgment, it chanced -that Demaratos also, the son of Ariston, had come up to Susa at this -very same time, having been deprived of the kingdom in Sparta and having -laid upon himself a sentence of exile from Lacedemon. This man, hearing -of the difference between the sons of Dareios, came (as it is reported -of him) and counselled Xerxes to say in addition to those things which -he was wont to say, that he had been born to Dareios at the time when he -was already reigning as king and was holding the supreme power over the -Persians, while Artobazanes had been born while Dareios was still in -a private station: it was not fitting therefore nor just that another -should have the honour before him; for even in Sparta, suggested -Demaratos, this was the custom, that is to say, if some of the sons had -been born first, before their father began to reign, and another came -after, born later while he was reigning, the succession of the kingdom -belonged to him who had been born later. Xerxes accordingly made use of -the suggestion of Demaratos; and Dareios perceiving that he spoke that -which was just, designated him to be king. It is my opinion however that -even without this suggestion Xerxes would have become king, for Atossa -was all-powerful. - -4. Then having designated Xerxes to the Persians as their king, Dareios -wished to go on his expeditions. However in the next year after this and -after the revolt of Egypt, it came to pass that Dareios himself died, -having been king in all six-and-thirty years; and thus he did not -succeed in taking vengeance either upon the revolted Egyptians or upon -the Athenians. - -5. Dareios being dead the kingdom passed to his son Xerxes. Now Xerxes -at the first was by no means anxious to make a march against Hellas, but -against Egypt he continued to gather a force. Mardonios however, the son -of Gobryas, who was a cousin of Xerxes, being sister's son to Dareios, -was ever at his side, and having power with him more than any other -of the Persians, he kept continually to such discourse as this which -follows, saying: "Master, it is not fitting that the Athenians, after -having done to the Persians very great evil, should not pay the penalty -for that which they have done. What if thou shouldest 2 at this present -time do that which thou hast in thy hands to do; and when thou hast -tamed the land of Egypt, which has broken out insolently against us, -then do thou march an army against Athens, that a good report may be -made of thee by men, and that in future every one may beware of making -expeditions against thy land." Thus far his speech had to do with -vengeance, 3 and to this he would make addition as follows, saying -that Europe was a very fair land and bore all kinds of trees that are -cultivated for fruit, and was of excellent fertility, and such that the -king alone of all mortals was worthy to possess it. - -6. These things he was wont to say, since he was one who had a desire -for perilous enterprise and wished to be himself the governor of Hellas -under the king. So in time he prevailed upon Xerxes and persuaded him to -do this; for other things also assisted him and proved helpful to him -in persuading Xerxes. In the first place there had come from Thessaly -messengers sent by the Aleuadai, who were inviting the king to come -against Hellas and were showing great zeal in his cause, (now these -Aleuadai were kings of Thessaly): and then secondly those of the sons of -Peisistratos who had come up to Susa were inviting him also, holding to -the same arguments as the Aleuadai; and moreover they offered him yet -more inducement in addition to these; for there was one Onomacritos an -Athenian, who both uttered oracles and also had collected and arranged -the oracles of Musaios; 4 and with this man they had come up, after they -had first reconciled the enmity between them. For Onomacritos had been -driven forth from Athens by Hipparchos the son of Peisistratos, having -been caught by Lasos of Hermion interpolating in the works of Musaios -an oracle to the effect that the islands which lie off Lemnos should -disappear 5 under the sea. For this reason Hipparchos drove him forth, -having before this time been very much wont to consult him. Now however -he had gone up with them; and when he had come into the presence of the -king, the sons of Peisistratos spoke of him in magnificent terms, and -he repeated some of the oracles; and if there was in them anything -which imported disaster to the Barbarians, of this he said nothing; -but choosing out of them the most fortunate things he told how it was -destined that the Hellespont should be yoked with a bridge by a Persian, -and he set forth the manner of the march. He then thus urged Xerxes with -oracles, while the sons of Peisistratos and the Aleuadai pressed him -with their advice. - -7. So when Xerxes had been persuaded to make an expedition against -Hellas, then in the next year after the death of Dareios he made a march -first against those who had revolted. Having subdued these and having -reduced all Egypt to slavery much greater than it had suffered in the -reign of Dareios, he entrusted the government of it to Achaimenes his -own brother, a son of Dareios. Now this Achaimenes being a governor of -Egypt was slain afterwards by Inaros the son of Psammetichos, a Libyan. - -8. Xerxes then after the conquest of Egypt, being about to take in hand -the expedition against Athens, summoned a chosen assembly of the best -men among the Persians, that he might both learn their opinions and -himself in the presence of all declare that which he intended to do; -and when they were assembled, Xerxes spoke to them as follows: (a) -"Persians, I shall not be the first to establish this custom in your -nation, but having received it from others I shall follow it: for as I -am informed by those who are older than myself, we never yet have kept -quiet since we received this supremacy in succession to the Medes, when -Cyrus overthrew Astyages; but God thus leads us, and for ourselves tends -to good that we are busied about many things. Now about the nations -which Cyrus and Cambyses and my father Dareios subdued and added to -their possessions there is no need for me to speak, since ye know well: -and as for me, from the day when I received by inheritance this throne -upon which I sit 6 I carefully considered always how in this honourable -place I might not fall short of those who have been before me, nor -add less power to the dominion of the Persians: and thus carefully -considering I find a way by which not only glory may be won by us, -together with a land not less in extent nor worse than that which we now -possess, (and indeed more varied in its productions), but also vengeance -and retribution may be brought about. Wherefore I have assembled you -together now, in order that I may communicate to you that which I have -it in my mind to do. (b) I design to yoke the Hellespont with a bridge, -and to march an army through Europe against Hellas, in order that I may -take vengeance on the Athenians for all the things which they have done -both to the Persians and to my father. Ye saw how my father Dareios also -was purposing to make an expedition against these men; but he has ended -his life and did not succeed in taking vengeance upon them. I however, -on behalf of him and also of the other Persians, will not cease until I -have conquered Athens and burnt it with fire; seeing that they did wrong -unprovoked to me and to my father. First they went to Sardis, having -come with Aristagoras the Milesian our slave, and they set fire to the -sacred groves and the temples; and then secondly, what things they did -to us when we disembarked in their land, at the time when Datis and -Artaphrenes were commanders of our army, ye all know well, as I think. -7 (c) For these reasons 8 I have resolved to make an expedition against -them, and reckoning I find in the matter so many good things as ye shall -hear:--if we shall subdue these and the neighbours of these, who dwell -in the land of Pelops the Phrygian, we shall cause the Persian land to -have the same boundaries as the heaven of Zeus; since in truth upon no -land will the sun look down which borders ours, but I with your help -shall make all the lands into one land, having passed through the whole -extent of Europe. For I am informed that things are so, namely that -there is no city of men nor any race of human beings remaining, which -will be able to come to a contest with us, when those whom I just now -mentioned have been removed out of the way. Thus both those who have -committed wrong against us will have the yoke of slavery, and also those -who have not committed wrong. (d) And ye will please me best if ye do -this:--whensoever I shall signify to you the time at which ye ought to -come, ye must appear every one of you with zeal for the service; and -whosoever shall come with a force best equipped, to him I will give -gifts such as are accounted in our land to be the most honourable. -Thus must these things be done: but that I may not seem to you to be -following my own counsel alone, I propose the matter for discussion, -bidding any one of you who desires it, declare his opinion." - -9. Having thus spoken he ceased; and after him Mardonios said: "Master, -thou dost surpass not only all the Persians who were before thee, but -also those who shall come after, since thou didst not only attain in -thy words to that which is best and truest as regards other matters, but -also thou wilt not permit the Ionians who dwell in Europe to make a mock -of us, having no just right to do so: for a strange thing it would -be if, when we have subdued and kept as our servants Sacans, Indians, -Ethiopians, Assyrians, and other nations many in number and great, who -have done no wrong to the Persians, because we desired to add to our -dominions, we should not take vengeance on the Hellenes who committed -wrong against us unprovoked. (a) Of what should we be afraid?--what -gathering of numbers, or what resources of money? for their manner of -fight we know, and as for their resources, we know that they are feeble; -and we have moreover subdued already their sons, those I mean who are -settled in our land and are called Ionians, Aiolians, and Dorians. -Moreover I myself formerly made trial of marching against these men, -being commanded thereto by thy father; and although I marched as far as -Macedonia, and fell but little short of coming to Athens itself, no man -came to oppose me in fight. (b) And yet it is true that the Hellenes -make wars, but (as I am informed) very much without wise consideration, -by reason of obstinacy and want of skill: for when they have proclaimed -war upon one another, they find out first the fairest and smoothest -place, and to this they come down and fight; so that even the victors -depart from the fight with great loss, and as to the vanquished, of them -I make no mention at all, for they are utterly destroyed. They ought -however, being men who speak the same language, to make use of heralds -and messengers and so to take up their differences and settle them in -any way rather than by battles; but if they must absolutely war with one -another, they ought to find out each of them that place in which they -themselves are hardest to overcome, and here to make their trial. -Therefore the Hellenes, since they use no good way, when I had marched -as far as the land of Macedonia, did not come to the resolution of -fighting with me. (c) Who then is likely to set himself against thee, -O king, offering war, when thou art leading both all the multitudes of -Asia and the whole number of the ships? I for my part am of opinion that -the power of the Hellenes has not attained to such a pitch of boldness: -but if after all I should prove to be deceived in my judgment, and they -stirred up by inconsiderate folly should come to battle with us, they -would learn that we are the best of all men in the matters of war. -However that may be, let not anything be left untried; for nothing comes -of itself, but from trial all things are wont to come to men." - -10. Mardonios having thus smoothed over the resolution expressed by -Xerxes had ceased speaking: and when the other Persians were silent and -did not venture to declare an opinion contrary to that which had been -proposed, then Artabanos the son of Hystaspes, being father's brother to -Xerxes and having reliance upon that, spoke as follows: (a) "O king, -if opinions opposed to one another be not spoken, it is not possible to -select the better in making the choice, but one must accept that which -has been spoken; if however opposite opinions be uttered, this is -possible; just as we do not distinguish the gold which is free from -alloy when it is alone by itself, but when we rub it on the touchstone -in comparison with other gold, then we distinguish that which is -the better. Now I gave advice to thy father Dareios also, who was my -brother, not to march against the Scythians, men who occupied no abiding -city in any part of the earth. He however, expecting that he would -subdue the Scythians who were nomads, did not listen to me; but he made -a march and came back from it with the loss of many good men of his -army. But thou, O king, art intending to march against men who are much -better than the Scythians, men who are reported to be excellent both by -sea and on land: and the thing which is to be feared in this matter it -is right that I should declare to thee. (b) Thou sayest that thou wilt -yoke the Hellespont with a bridge and march an army through Europe to -Hellas. Now supposing it chance that we are 9 worsted either by land or -by sea, or even both, for the men are reported to be valiant in fight, -(and we may judge for ourselves that it is so, since the Athenians -by themselves destroyed that great army which came with Datis and -Artaphrenes to the Attic land),--suppose however that they do not -succeed in both, yet if they shall attack with their ships and conquer -in a sea-fight, and then sail to the Hellespont and break up the bridge, -this of itself, O king, will prove to be a great peril. (c) Not however -by any native wisdom of my own do I conjecture that this might happen: -I am conjecturing only such a misfortune as all but came upon us at the -former time, when thy father, having yoked the Bosphorus of Thracia and -made a bridge over the river Ister, had crossed over to go against the -Scythians. At that time the Scythians used every means of entreaty -to persuade the Ionians to break up the passage, to whom it had been -entrusted to guard the bridges of the Ister. At that time, if Histiaios -the despot of Miletos had followed the opinion of the other despots and -had not made opposition to them, the power of the Persians would have -been brought to an end. Yet it is a fearful thing even to hear it -reported that the whole power of the king had come to depend upon one -human creature. 10 (d) Do not thou therefore propose to go into any -such danger when there is no need, but do as I say:--at the present time -dissolve this assembly; and afterwards at whatever time it shall seem -good to thee, when thou hast considered prudently with thyself, proclaim -that which seems to thee best: for good counsel I hold to be a very -great gain; since even if anything shall prove adverse, the counsel -which has been taken is no less good, though it has been defeated by -fortune; while he who took counsel badly at first, if good fortune -should go with him has lighted on a prize by chance, but none the -less for that his counsel was bad. (e) Thou seest how God strikes with -thunderbolts the creatures which stand above the rest and suffers them -not to make a proud show; while those which are small do not provoke -him to jealousy: thou seest also how he hurls his darts ever at those -buildings which are the highest and those trees likewise; for God is -wont to cut short all those things which stand out above the rest. Thus -also a numerous army is destroyed by one of few men in some such manner -as this, namely when God having become jealous of them casts upon them -panic or thundering from heaven, then they are destroyed utterly and -not as their worth deserves; for God suffers not any other to have high -thoughts save only himself. (f) Moreover the hastening of any matter -breeds disasters, whence great losses are wont to be produced; but in -waiting there are many good things contained, as to which, if they -do not appear to be good at first, yet one will find them to be so in -course of time. (g) To thee, O king, I give this counsel: but thou son -of Gobryas, Mardonios, cease speaking foolish words about the Hellenes, -since they in no way deserve to be spoken of with slight; for by -uttering slander against the Hellenes thou art stirring the king himself -to make an expedition, and it is to this very end that I think thou art -straining all thy endeavour. Let not this be so; for slander is a most -grievous thing: in it the wrongdoers are two, and the person who suffers -wrong is one. The slanderer does a wrong in that he speaks against -one who is not present, the other in that he is persuaded of the thing -before he gets certain knowledge of it, and he who is not present when -the words are spoken suffers wrong in the matter thus,--both because he -has been slandered by the one and because he has been believed to be -bad by the other. (h) However, if it be absolutely needful to make an -expedition against these men, come, let the king himself remain behind -in the abodes of the Persians, and let us both set to the wager our -sons; and then do thou lead an army by thyself, choosing for thyself -the men whom thou desirest, and taking an army as large as thou thinkest -good: and if matters turn out for the king as thou sayest, let my sons -be slain and let me also be slain in addition to them; but if in the way -which I predict, let thy sons suffer this, and with them thyself also, -if thou shalt return back. But if thou art not willing to undergo this -proof, but wilt by all means lead an army against Hellas, then I say -that those who are left behind in this land will hear 11 that Mardonios, -after having done a great mischief to the Persians, is torn by dogs and -birds, either in the land of the Athenians, or else perchance thou wilt -be in the land of the Lacedemonians (unless indeed this should have come -to pass even before that upon the way), and that thou hast at length -been made aware against what kind of men thou art persuading the king to -march." - -11. Artabanos thus spoke; and Xerxes enraged by it made answer as -follows: "Artabanos, thou art my father's brother, and this shall save -thee from receiving any recompense such as thy foolish words deserve. -Yet I attach to thee this dishonour, seeing that thou art a coward and -spiritless, namely that thou do not march with me against Hellas, but -remain here together with the women; and I, even without thy help, -will accomplish all the things which I said: for I would I might not be -descended from Dareios, the son of Hystaspes, the son of Arsames, the -son of Ariaramnes, the son of Teispes, or from Cyrus, 12 the son of -Cambyses, the son of Teispes, the son of Achaimenes, if I take not -vengeance on the Athenians; since I know well that if we shall keep -quiet, yet they will not do so, but will again 13 march against our -land, if we may judge by the deeds which have been done by them to begin -with, since they both set fire to Sardis and marched upon Asia. It is -not possible therefore that either side should retire from the quarrel, -but the question before us is whether we shall do or whether we shall -suffer; whether all these regions shall come to be under the Hellenes -or all those under the Persians: for in our hostility there is no middle -course. It follows then now that it is well for us, having suffered -wrong first, to take revenge, that I may find out also what is this -terrible thing which I shall suffer if I lead an army against these -men,--men whom Pelops the Phrygian, who was the slave of my forefathers, -so subdued that even to the present day both the men themselves and -their land are called after the name of him who subdued them." - -12. Thus far was it spoken then; but afterwards when darkness came on, -the opinion of Artabanos tormented Xerxes continually; and making night -his counsellor he found that it was by no means to his advantage to make -the march against Hellas. So when he had thus made a new resolve, he -fell asleep, and in the night he saw, as is reported by the Persians, a -vision as follows:--Xerxes thought that a man tall and comely of shape -came and stood by him and said: "Art thou indeed changing thy counsel, -O Persian, of leading an expedition against Hellas, now that thou hast -made proclamation that the Persians shall collect an army? Thou dost not -well in changing thy counsel, nor will he who is here present with thee -excuse thee from it; 1301 but as thou didst take counsel in the day to -do, by that way go." - -13. After he had said this, Xerxes thought that he who had spoken flew -away; and when day had dawned he made no account of this dream, but -gathered together the Persians whom he had assembled also the former -time and said to them these words: "Persians, pardon me that I make -quick changes in my counsel; for in judgment not yet am I come to my -prime, and they who advise me to do the things which I said, do not -for any long time leave me to myself. However, although at first when -I heard the opinion of Artabanos my youthful impulses burst out, 14 so -that I cast out unseemly words 15 against a man older than myself; yet -now I acknowledge that he is right, and I shall follow his opinion. -Consider then I have changed my resolve to march against Hellas, and do -ye remain still." - -14. The Persians accordingly when they heard this were rejoiced and made -obeisance: but when night had come on, the same dream again came and -stood by Xerxes as he lay asleep and said: "Son of Dareios, it is -manifest then that thou hast resigned this expedition before the -assembly of the Persians, and that thou hast made no account of my -words, as if thou hadst heard them from no one at all. Now therefore be -well assured of this:--if thou do not make thy march forthwith, there -shall thence spring up for thee this result, namely that, as thou didst -in short time become great and mighty, so also thou shalt speedily be -again brought low." - -15. Xerxes then, being very greatly disturbed by fear of the vision, -started up from his bed and sent a messenger to summon Artabanos; to -whom when he came Xerxes spoke thus: "Artabanos, at the first I was -not discreet, when I spoke to thee foolish words on account of thy good -counsel; but after no long time I changed my mind and perceived that I -ought to do these things which thou didst suggest to me. I am not able -however to do them, although I desire it; for indeed, now that I have -turned about and changed my mind, a dream appears haunting me and by no -means approving that I should do so; and just now it has left me even -with a threat. If therefore it is God who sends it to me, and it is his -absolute will and pleasure that an army should go against Hellas, this -same dream will fly to thee also, laying upon thee a charge such as it -has laid upon me; and it occurs to my mind that this might happen thus, -namely if thou shouldst take all my attire and put it on, and then seat -thyself on my throne, and after that lie down to sleep in my bed." - -16. Xerxes spoke to him thus; and Artabanos was not willing to obey the -command at first, since he did not think himself worthy to sit upon -the royal throne; but at last being urged further he did that which was -commanded, first having spoken these words: (a) "It is equally good in -my judgment, O king, whether a man has wisdom himself or is willing to -follow the counsel of him who speaks well: and thou, who hast attained -to both these good things, art caused to err by the communications of -evil men; just as they say that the Sea, which is of all things the -most useful to men, is by blasts of winds falling upon it prevented from -doing according to its own nature. I however, when I was evil spoken of -by thee, was not so much stung with pain for this, as because, when -two opinions were laid before the Persians, the one tending to increase -wanton insolence and the other tending to check it and saying that it -was a bad thing to teach the soul to endeavour always to have something -more than the present possession,--because, I say, when such opinions as -these were laid before us, thou didst choose that one which was the more -dangerous both for thyself and for the Persians. (b) And now that -thou hast turned to the better counsel, thou sayest that when thou art -disposed to let go the expedition against the Hellenes, a dream haunts -thee sent by some god, which forbids thee to abandon thy enterprise. -Nay, but here too thou dost err, my son, since this is not of the Deity; -16 for the dreams of sleep which come roaming about to men, are of such -nature as I shall inform thee, being by many years older than thou. The -visions of dreams are wont to hover above us 17 in such form 18 for the -most part as the things of which we were thinking during the day; and we -in the days preceding were very much occupied with this campaign. (c) If -however after all this is not such a thing as I interpret it to be, but -is something which is concerned with God, thou hast summed the matter up -in that which thou hast said: let it appear, as thou sayest, to me also, -as to thee, and give commands. But supposing that it desires to appear -to me at all, it is not bound to appear to me any the more if I have thy -garments on me than if I have my own, nor any more if I take my rest in -thy bed than if I am in thy own; for assuredly this thing, whatever -it may be, which appears to thee in thy sleep, is not so foolish as -to suppose, when it sees me, that it is thou, judging so because the -garments are thine. That however which we must find out now is this, -namely if it will hold me in no account, and not think fit to appear to -me, whether I have my own garments or whether I have thine, but continue -still to haunt thee; 19 for if it shall indeed haunt thee perpetually, -I shall myself also be disposed to say that it is of the Deity. But if -thou hast resolved that it shall be so, and it is not possible to turn -aside this thy resolution, but I must go to sleep in thy bed, then let -it appear to me also, when I perform these things: but until then I -shall hold to the opinion which I now have." - -17. Having thus said Artabanos, expecting that he would prove that -Xerxes was speaking folly, did that which was commanded him; and having -put on the garments of Xerxes and seated himself in the royal throne, -he afterwards went to bed: and when he had fallen asleep, the same dream -came to him which used to come to Xerxes, and standing over Artabanos -spoke these words: "Art thou indeed he who endeavours to dissuade Xerxes -from making a march against Hellas, pretending to have a care of him? -However, neither in the future nor now at the present shalt thou escape -unpunished for trying to turn away that which is destined to come to -pass: and as for Xerxes, that which he must suffer if he disobeys, hath -been shown already to the man himself." - -18. Thus it seemed to Artabanos that the dream threatened him, and at -the same time was just about to burn out his eyes with hot irons; and -with a loud cry he started up from his bed, and sitting down beside -Xerxes he related to him throughout the vision of the dream, and then -said to him as follows: "I, O king, as one who has seen before now many -great things brought to their fall by things less, urged thee not to -yield in all things to the inclination of thy youth, since I knew that -it was evil to have desire after many things; remembering on the one -hand the march of Cyrus against the Massagetai, what fortune it had, and -also that of Cambyses against the Ethiopians; and being myself one who -took part with Dareios in the campaign against the Scythians. Knowing -these things I had the opinion that thou wert to be envied of all men, -so long as thou shouldest keep still. Since however there comes a divine -impulse, and, as it seems, a destruction sent by heaven is taking hold -of the Hellenes, I for my part am both changed in myself and also I -reverse my opinions; and do thou signify to the Persians the message -which is sent to thee from God, bidding them follow the commands which -were given by thee at first with regard to the preparations to be -made; and endeavour that on thy side nothing may be wanting, since God -delivers the matter into thy hands." These things having been said, both -were excited to confidence by the vision, and so soon as it became -day, Xerxes communicated the matter to the Persians, and Artabanos, -who before was the only man who came forward to dissuade him, now came -forward to urge on the design. - -19. Xerxes being thus desirous to make the expedition, there came to -him after this a third vision in his sleep, which the Magians, when they -heard it, explained to have reference to the dominion of the whole Earth -and to mean that all men should be subject to him; and the vision was -this:--Xerxes thought that he had been crowned with a wreath of an -olive-branch and that the shoots growing from the olive-tree covered -the whole Earth; and after that, the wreath, placed as it was about his -head, disappeared. When the Magians had thus interpreted the vision, -forthwith every man of the Persians who had been assembled together -departed to his own province and was zealous by all means to perform the -commands, desiring each one to receive for himself the gifts which -had been proposed: and thus Xerxes was gathering his army together, -searching every region of the continent. - -20. During four full years from the conquest of Egypt he was preparing -the army and the things that were of service for the army, and in the -course of the fifth year 20 he began his campaign with a host of great -multitude. For of all the armies of which we have knowledge this proved -to be by far the greatest; so that neither that led by Dareios against -the Scythians appears anything as compared with it, nor the Scythian -host, when the Scythians pursuing the Kimmerians made invasion of the -Median land and subdued and occupied nearly all the upper parts of Asia, -for which invasion afterwards Dareios attempted to take vengeance, -nor that led by the sons of Atreus to Ilion, to judge by that which is -reported of their expedition, nor that of the Mysians and Teucrians, -before the Trojan war, who passed over into Europe by the Bosphorus and -not only subdued all the Thracians, but came down also as far as the -Ionian Sea 21 and marched southwards to the river Peneios. - -21. All these expeditions put together, with others, if there be any, -added to them, 22 are not equal to this one alone. For what nation -did Xerxes not lead out of Asia against Hellas? and what water was not -exhausted, being drunk by his host, except only the great rivers? -For some supplied ships, and others were appointed to serve in the -land-army; to some it was appointed to furnish cavalry, and to others -vessels to carry horses, while they served in the expedition themselves -also; 23 others were ordered to furnish ships of war for the bridges, -and others again ships with provisions. - -22. Then in the first place, since the former fleet had suffered -disaster in sailing round Athos, preparations had been going on for -about three years past with regard to Athos: for triremes lay at anchor -at Elaius in the Chersonese, and with this for their starting point men -of all nations belonging to the army worked at digging, compelled by -the lash; and the men went to the work regularly in succession: moreover -those who dwelt round about Athos worked also at the digging: and -Bubares the son of Megabazos and Artachaies the son of Artaios, Persians -both, were set over the work. Now Athos is a mountain great and famous, -running down to the sea and inhabited by men: and where the mountain -ends on the side of the mainland the place is like a peninsula with an -isthmus about twelve furlongs 24 across. Here it is plain land or hills -of no great size, extending from the sea of the Acanthians to that which -lies off Torone; and on this isthmus, where Athos ends, is situated a -Hellenic city called Sane: moreover there are others beyond Sane 25 and -within the peninsula of Athos, all which at this time the Persian had -resolved to make into cities of an island and no longer of the mainland; -these are, Dion, Olophyxos, Acrothoon, Thyssos, Cleonai. - -23. These are the cities which occupy Athos: and they dug as follows, -the country being divided among the Barbarians by nations for the -work:--at the city of Sane they drew a straight line across the isthmus, -and when the channel became deep, those who stood lowest dug, while -others delivered the earth as it was dug out to other men who stood -above, as upon steps, and they again to others when it was received, -until they came to those that were highest; and these bore it away and -cast it forth. Now the others except the Phenicians had double toil by -the breaking down of the steep edges of their excavation; for since they -endeavoured to make the opening at the top and that at the bottom both -of the same measure, some such thing was likely to result, as they -worked: but the Phenicians, who are apt to show ability in their works -generally, did so in this work also; for when they had had assigned -to them by lot so much as fell to their share, they proceeded to dig, -making the opening of the excavation at the top twice as wide as the -channel itself was to be; and as the work went forward, they kept -contracting the width; so that, when they came to the bottom, their work -was made of equal width with that of the others. Now there is a meadow -there, in which there was made for them a market and a place for buying -and selling; and great quantities of corn came for them regularly from -Asia, ready ground. - -24. It seems to me, making conjecture of this work, that Xerxes when -he ordered this to be dug was moved by a love of magnificence and by -a desire to make a display of his power and to leave a memorial behind -him; for though they might have drawn the ships across the isthmus with -no great labour, he bade them dig a channel for the sea of such breadth -that two triremes might sail through, propelled side by side. To these -same men to whom the digging had been appointed, it was appointed also -to make a bridge over the river Strymon, yoking together the banks. - -25. These things were being done by Xerxes thus; and meanwhile he caused -ropes also to be prepared for the bridges, made of papyrus and of white -flax, 26 appointing this to the Phenicians and Egyptians; and also he -was making preparations to store provisions for his army on the way, -that neither the army itself nor the baggage animals might suffer from -scarcity, as they made their march against Hellas. Accordingly, when he -had learnt by inquiry of the various places, he bade them make stores -where it was most convenient, carrying supplies to different parts by -merchant ships and ferry-boats from all the countries of Asia. So they -conveyed the greater part of the corn 27 to the place which is called -Leuke Acte in Thrace, while others conveyed stores to Tyrodiza of the -Perinthians, others to Doriscos, others to Eion on the Strymon, and -others to Macedonia, the work being distributed between them. - -26. During the time that these were working at the task which had been -proposed to them, the whole land-army had been assembled together and -was marching with Xerxes to Sardis, setting forth from Critalla in -Cappadokia; for there it had been ordered that the whole army should -assemble, which was to go with Xerxes himself by the land: but which of -the governors of provinces brought the best equipped force and received -from the king the gifts proposed, I am not able to say, for I do not -know that they even came to a competition in this matter. Then after -they had crossed the river Halys and had entered Phrygia, marching -through this land they came to Kelainai, where the springs of the river -Maiander come up, and also those of another river not less than the -Maiander, whose name is Catarractes; 28 this rises in the market-place -itself of Kelainai and runs into the Maiander: and here also is hanging -up in the city the skin of Marsyas the Silenos, which is said by the -Phrygians to have been flayed off and hung up by Apollo. - -27. In this city Pythios the son of Atys, a Lydian, was waiting for the -king and entertained his whole army, as well as Xerxes himself, with -the most magnificent hospitality: moreover he professed himself ready -to supply money for the war. So when Pythios offered money, Xerxes asked -those of the Persians who were present, who Pythios was and how much -money he possessed, that he made this offer. They said: "O king, this is -he who presented thy father Dareios with the golden plane-tree and the -golden vine; and even now he is in wealth the first of all men of whom -we know, excepting thee only." - -28. Marvelling at the conclusion of these words Xerxes himself asked of -Pythios then, how much money he had; and he said: "O king, I will not -conceal the truth from thee, nor will I allege as an excuse that I do -not know my own substance, but I will enumerate it to thee exactly, -since I know the truth: for as soon as I heard that thou wert coming -down to the Sea of Hellas, desiring to give thee money for the war I -ascertained the truth, and calculating I found that I had of silver two -thousand talents, and of gold four hundred myriads 29 of daric staters -30 all but seven thousand: and with this money I present thee. For -myself I have sufficient livelihood from my slaves and from my estates -of land." - -29. Thus he said; and Xerxes was pleased by the things which he had -spoken, and replied: "Lydian host, ever since I went forth from the -Persian land I have encountered no man up to this time who was desirous -to entertain my army, or who came into my presence and made offer of his -own free will to contribute money to me for the war, except only thee: -and thou not only didst entertain my army magnificently, but also now -dost make offer of great sums of money. To thee therefore in return I -give these rewards,--I make thee my guest-friend, and I will complete -for thee the four hundred myriads of staters by giving from myself the -seven thousand, in order that thy four hundred myriads may not fall -short by seven thousand, but thou mayest have a full sum in thy -reckoning, completed thus by me. Keep possession of that which thou hast -got for thyself, and be sure to act always thus; for if thou doest so, -thou wilt have no cause to repent either at the time or afterwards." - -30. Having thus said and having accomplished his promise, he continued -his march onwards; and passing by a city of the Phrygians called Anaua -and a lake whence salt is obtained, he came to Colossai, a great city -of Phrygia, where the river Lycos falls into an opening of the earth and -disappears from view, and then after an interval of about five furlongs -it comes up to view again, and this river also flows into the Maiander. -Setting forth from Colossai towards the boundaries of the Phrygians and -Lydians, the army arrived at the city of Kydrara, where a pillar 3001 -is fixed, set up by Croesus, which declares by an inscription that the -boundaries are there. - -31. From Phrygia then he entered Lydia; and here the road parts into -two, and that which goes to the left leads towards Caria, while that -which goes to the right leads to Sardis; and travelling by this latter -road one must needs cross the river Maiander and pass by the city -of Callatebos, where men live whose trade it is to make honey of the -tamarisk-tree and of wheat-flour. By this road went Xerxes and found a -plane-tree, to which for its beauty he gave an adornment of gold, and -appointed that some one should have charge of it always in undying -succession; 31 and on the next day he came to the city of the Lydians. - -32. Having come to Sardis he proceeded first to send heralds to Hellas, -to ask for earth and water, and also to give notice beforehand to -prepare meals for the king; except that he sent neither to Athens nor -Lacedemon to ask for earth, but to all the other States: and the reason -why he sent the second time to ask for earth and water was this,--as -many as had not given at the former time to Dareios when he sent, these -he thought would certainly give now by reason of their fear: this matter -it was about which he desired to have certain knowledge, and he sent -accordingly. - -33. After this he made his preparations intending to march to Abydos: -and meanwhile they were bridging over the Hellespont from Asia to -Europe. Now there is in the Chersonese of the Hellespont between the -city of Sestos and Madytos, a broad foreland 32 running down into -the sea right opposite Abydos; this is the place where no long time -afterwards the Athenians under the command of Xanthippos the son of -Ariphron, having taken Artayctes a Persian, who was the governor of -Sestos, nailed him alive to a board with hands and feet extended (he was -the man who was wont to take women with him to the temple of Protesilaos -at Elaius and to do things there which are not lawful). - -34. To this foreland they on whom this work was laid were making their -bridges, starting from Abydos, the Phenicians constructing the one with -ropes of white flax, and the Egyptians the other, which was made with -papyrus rope. Now from Abydos to the opposite shore is a distance of -seven furlongs. But when the strait had been bridged over, a great storm -came on and dashed together all the work that had been made and broke it -up. Then when Xerxes heard it he was exceedingly enraged, and bade them -scourge the Hellespont with three hundred strokes of the lash and let -down into the sea a pair of fetters. Nay, I have heard further that he -sent branders also with them to brand the Hellespont. However this -may be, he enjoined them, as they were beating, to say Barbarian and -presumptuous words as follows: "Thou bitter water, thy master lays upon -thee this penalty, because thou didst wrong him not having suffered any -wrong from him: and Xerxes the king will pass over thee whether thou be -willing or no; but with right, as it seems, no man doeth sacrifice to -thee, seeing that thou art a treacherous 33 and briny stream." The sea -he enjoined them to chastise thus, and also he bade them cut off the -heads of those who were appointed to have charge over the bridging of -the Hellespont. - -36. Thus then the men did, to whom this ungracious office belonged; and -meanwhile other chief-constructors proceeded to make the bridges; -and thus they made them:--They put together fifty-oared galleys and -triremes, three hundred and sixty to be under the bridge towards the -Euxine Sea, and three hundred and fourteen to be under the other, the -vessels lying in the direction of the stream of the Hellespont (though -crosswise in respect to the Pontus), to support the tension of the -ropes. 34 They placed them together thus, and let down very large -anchors, those on the one side 35 towards the Pontus because of the -winds which blow from within outwards, and on the other side, towards -the West and the Egean, because of the South-East 36 and South Winds. -They left also an opening for a passage through, so that any who wished -might be able to sail into the Pontus with small vessels, 37 and also -from the Pontus outwards. Having thus done, they proceeded to stretch -tight the ropes, straining them with wooden windlasses, not now -appointing the two kinds of rope to be used apart from one another, but -assigning to each bridge two ropes of white flax and four of the papyrus -ropes. The thickness and beauty of make was the same for both, but the -flaxen ropes were heavier in proportion, 38 and of this rope a cubit -weighed one talent. When the passage was bridged over, they sawed up -logs of wood, and making them equal in length to the breadth of the -bridge they laid them above the stretched ropes, and having set them -thus in order they again fastened them above. 39 When this was done, -they carried on brushwood, and having set the brushwood also in place, -they carried on to it earth; and when they had stamped down the -earth firmly, they built a barrier along on each side, so that the -baggage-animals and horses might not be frightened by looking out over -the sea. - -37. When the construction of the bridges had been finished, and the -works about Athos, both the embankments about the mouths of the channel, -which were made because of the breaking of the sea upon the beach, that -the mouths of it might not be filled up, and the channel itself, were -reported to be fully completed, then, after they had passed the winter -at Sardis, the army set forth from thence fully equipped, at the -beginning of spring, to march to Abydos; and when it had just set forth, -the Sun left his place in the heaven and was invisible, though there was -no gathering of clouds and the sky was perfectly clear; and instead of -day it became night. When Xerxes saw and perceived this, it became a -matter of concern to him; and he asked the Magians what the appearance -meant to portend. These declared that the god was foreshowing to the -Hellenes a leaving 40 of their cities, saying that the Sun was the -foreshower of events for the Hellenes, but the Moon for the Persians. -Having been thus informed, Xerxes proceeded on the march with very great -joy. - -38. Then as he was leading forth his army on its march, Pythios the -Lydian, being alarmed by the appearance in the heavens and elated by -the gifts which he had received, came to Xerxes, and said as follows: -"Master, I would desire to receive from thee a certain thing at my -request, which, as it chances, is for thee an easy thing to grant, but -a great thing for me, if I obtain it." Then Xerxes, thinking that his -request would be for anything rather than that which he actually asked, -said that he would grant it, and bade him speak and say what he desired. -He then, when he heard this, was encouraged, and spoke these words: -"Master, I have, as it chances, five sons, and it is their fortune to -be all going together with thee on the march against Hellas. Do thou, -therefore, O king, have compassion upon me, who have come to so great -an age, and release from serving in the expedition one of my sons, -the eldest, in order that he may be caretaker both of myself and of -my wealth: but the other four take with thyself, and after thou hast -accomplished that which thou hast in thy mind, mayest thou have a safe -return home." - -38. Then Xerxes was exceedingly angry and made answer with these words: -"Thou wretched man, dost thou dare, when I am going on a march myself -against Hellas, and am taking my sons and my brothers and my relations -and friends, dost thou dare to make any mention of a son of thine, -seeing that thou art my slave, who ought to have been accompanying me -thyself with thy whole household and thy wife as well? Now therefore -be assured of this, that the passionate spirit of man dwells within the -ears; and when it has heard good things, it fills the body with delight, -but when it has heard the opposite things to this, it swells up with -anger. As then thou canst not boast of having surpassed the king in -conferring benefits formerly, when thou didst to us good deeds and -madest offer to do more of the same kind, so now that thou hast turned -to shamelessness, thou shalt receive not thy desert but less than thou -deservest: for thy gifts of hospitality shall rescue from death thyself -and the four others of thy sons, but thou shalt pay the penalty with the -life of the one to whom thou dost cling most." Having answered thus, he -forthwith commanded those to whom it was appointed to do these things, -to find out the eldest of the sons of Pythios and to cut him in two in -the middle; and having cut him in two, to dispose the halves, one on -the right hand of the road and the other on the left, and that the army -should pass between them by this way. - -40. When these had so done, the army proceeded to pass between; and -first the baggage-bearers led the way together with their horses, and -after these the host composed of all kinds of nations mingled together -without distinction: and when more than the half had gone by, an -interval was left and these were separated from the king. For before -him went first a thousand horsemen, chosen out of all the Persians; and -after them a thousand spearmen chosen also from all the Persians, having -the points of their spears turned down to the ground; and then ten -sacred horses, called "Nesaian," 41 with the fairest possible trappings. -Now the horses are called Nesaian for this reason:--there is a wide -plain in the land of Media which is called the Nesaian plain, and this -plain produces the great horses of which I speak. Behind these ten -horses the sacred chariot of Zeus was appointed to go, which was drawn -by eight white horses; and behind the horses again followed on foot a -charioteer holding the reins, for no human creature mounts upon the seat -of that chariot. Then behind this came Xerxes himself in a chariot drawn -by Nesaian horses, and by the side of him rode a charioteer, whose name -was Patiramphes, son of Otanes a Persian. - -41. Thus did Xerxes march forth out of Sardis; and he used to change, -whenever he was so disposed, from the chariot to a carriage. And behind -him went spearmen, the best and most noble of the Persians, a thousand -in number, holding their spear-points in the customary way; 42 and after -them another thousand horsemen chosen out from the Persians; and after -the horsemen ten thousand men chosen out from the remainder of the -Persians. This body went on foot; and of these a thousand had upon their -spears pomegranates of gold instead of the spikes at the butt-end, and -these enclosed the others round, while the remaining nine thousand were -within these and had silver pomegranates. And those also had golden -pomegranates who had their spear-points turned towards the earth, while -those who followed next after Xerxes had golden apples. Then to follow -the ten thousand there was appointed a body of ten thousand Persian -cavalry; and after the cavalry there was an interval of as much as two -furlongs. Then the rest of the host came marching without distinction. - -42. So the army proceeded on its march from Lydia to the river Caicos -and the land of Mysia; and then setting forth from the Caicos and -keeping the mountain of Cane on the left hand, it marched through the -region of Atarneus to the city of Carene. From this it went through the -plain of Thebe, passing by the cities of Adramytteion and Antandros of -the Pelasgians; and taking mount Ida on the left hand, it came on to the -land of Ilion. And first, when it had stopped for the night close under -mount Ida, thunder and bolts of lightning fell upon it, and destroyed -here in this place a very large number of men. 43 - -43. Then when the army had come to the river Scamander,--which of all -rivers to which they had come, since they set forth from Sardis and -undertook their march, was the first of which the stream failed and -was not sufficient for the drinking of the army and of the animals -with it,--when, I say, Xerxes had come to this river, he went up to the -Citadel of Priam, 44 having a desire to see it; and having seen it -and learnt by inquiry of all those matters severally, he sacrificed a -thousand heifers to Athene of Ilion, and the Magians poured libations in -honour of the heroes: and after they had done this, a fear fell upon -the army in the night. Then at break of day he set forth from thence, -keeping on his left hand the cities of Rhoition and Ophryneion and -Dardanos, which last borders upon Abydos, and having on the right hand -the Gergith Teucrians. - -44. When Xerxes had come into the midst of Abydos, 45 he had a desire to -see all the army; and there had been made purposely for him beforehand -upon a hill in this place a raised seat of white stone, 46 which the -people of Abydos had built at the command of the king given beforehand. -There he took his seat, and looking down upon the shore he gazed both -upon the land-army and the ships; and gazing upon them he had a longing -to see a contest take place between the ships; and when it had taken -place and the Phenicians of Sidon were victorious, he was delighted both -with the contest and with the whole armament. - -45. And seeing all the Hellespont covered over with the ships, and all -the shores and the plains of Abydos full of men, then Xerxes pronounced -himself a happy man, and after that he fell to weeping. - -46. Artabanos his uncle therefore perceiving him,--the same who at -first boldly declared his opinion advising Xerxes not to march against -Hellas,--this man, I say, having observed that Xerxes wept, asked as -follows: "O king, how far different from one another are the things -which thou hast done now and a short while before now! for having -pronounced thyself a happy man, thou art now shedding tears." He said: -"Yea, for after I had reckoned up, it came into my mind to feel pity at -the thought how brief was the whole life of man, seeing that of these -multitudes not one will be alive when a hundred years have gone by." He -then made answer and said: "To another evil more pitiful than this we -are made subject in the course of our life; for in the period of life, -short as it is, no man, either of these here or of others, is made by -nature so happy, that there will not come to him many times, and not -once only, the desire to be dead rather than to live; for misfortunes -falling upon us and diseases disturbing our happiness make the time -of life, though short indeed, seem long: thus, since life is full of -trouble, death has become the most acceptable refuge for man; and God, -having given him to taste of the sweetness of life, is discovered in -this matter to be full of jealousy." - -47. Xerxes made answer saying: "Artabanos, of human life, which is such -as thou dost define it to be, let us cease to speak, and do not remember -evils when we have good things in hand: but do thou declare to me -this:--If the vision of the dream had not appeared with so much -evidence, wouldest thou still be holding thy former opinion, -endeavouring to prevent me from marching against Hellas, or wouldest -thou have changed from it? Come, tell me this exactly." He answered -saying: "O king, may the vision of the dream which appeared have such -fulfilment as we both desire! but I am even to this moment full of -apprehension and cannot contain myself, taking into account many things -besides, and also seeing that two things, which are the greatest things -of all, are utterly hostile to thee." - -48. To this Xerxes made answer in these words: "Thou strangest of men, -47 of what nature are these two things which thou sayest are utterly -hostile to me? Is it that the land-army is to be found fault with in -the matter of numbers, and that the army of the Hellenes appears to thee -likely to be many times as large as ours? or dost thou think that our -fleet will fall short of theirs? or even that both of these things -together will prove true? For if thou thinkest that in these respects -our power is deficient, one might make gathering at once of another -force." - -49. Then he made answer and said: "O king, neither with this army would -any one who has understanding find fault, nor with the number of the -ships; and indeed if thou shalt assemble more, the two things of which -I speak will be made thereby yet more hostile: and these two things -are--the land and the sea. For neither in the sea is there, as I -suppose, a harbour anywhere large enough to receive this fleet of thine, -if a storm should arise, and to ensure the safety of the ships till it -be over; and yet not one alone 48 ought this harbour to be, but there -should be such harbours along the whole coast of the continent by which -thou sailest; and if there are not harbours to receive thy ships, know -that accidents will rule men and not men the accidents. Now having told -thee of one of the two things, I am about to tell thee of the other. The -land, I say, becomes hostile to thee in this way:--if nothing shall -come to oppose thee, the land is hostile to thee by so much the more -in proportion as thou shalt advance more, ever stealing on further and -further, 49 for there is no satiety of good fortune felt by men: -and this I say, that with no one to stand against thee the country -traversed, growing more and more as time goes on, will produce for -thee famine. Man, however, will be in the best condition, if when he is -taking counsel he feels fear, reckoning to suffer everything that can -possibly come, but in doing the deed he is bold." - -50. Xerxes made answer in these words: "Artabanos, reasonably dost thou -set forth these matters; but do not thou fear everything nor reckon -equally for everything: for if thou shouldest set thyself with regard to -all matters which come on at any time, to reckon for everything equally, -thou wouldest never perform any deed. It is better to have good courage -about everything and to suffer half the evils which threaten, than to -have fear beforehand about everything and not to suffer any evil at all: -and if, while contending against everything which is said, thou omit to -declare the course which is safe, thou dost incur in these matters the -reproach of failure equally with him who says the opposite to this. This -then, I say, is evenly balanced: but how should one who is but man know -the course which is safe? I think, in no way. To those then who choose -to act, for the most part gain is wont to come; but to those who reckon -for everything and shrink back, it is not much wont to come. Thou seest -the power of the Persians, to what great might it has advanced: if then -those who came to be kings before me had had opinions like to thine, or, -though not having such opinions, had had such counsellors as thou, thou -wouldest never have seen it brought forward to this point. As it is -however, by running risks they conducted it on to this: for great power -is in general gained by running great risks. We therefore, following -their example, are making our march now during the fairest season of the -year; and after we have subdued all Europe we shall return back home, -neither having met with famine anywhere nor having suffered any other -thing which is unpleasant. For first we march bearing with us ourselves -great store of food, and secondly we shall possess the corn-crops of all -the peoples to whose land and nation we come; and we are making a march -now against men who plough the soil, and not against nomad tribes." - -51. After this Artabanos said: "O king, since thou dost urge us not to -have fear of anything, do thou I pray thee accept a counsel from me; -for when speaking of many things it is necessary to extend speech to a -greater length. Cyrus the son of Cambyses subdued all Ionia except the -Athenians, so that it was tributary to the Persians. These men therefore -I counsel thee by no means to lead against their parent stock, seeing -that even without these we are able to get the advantage over our -enemies. For supposing that they go with us, either they must prove -themselves doers of great wrong, if they join in reducing their mother -city to slavery, or doers of great right, if they join in freeing her: -now if they show themselves doers of great wrong, they bring us no -very large gain in addition; but if they show themselves doers of great -right, they are able then to cause much damage to thy army. Therefore -lay to heart also the ancient saying, how well it has been said that at -the first beginning of things the end does not completely appear." - -52. To this Xerxes made answer: "Artabanos, of all the opinions which -thou hast uttered, thou art mistaken most of all in this; seeing that -thou fearest lest the Ionians should change side, about whom we have a -most sure proof, of which thou art a witness thyself and also the -rest are witnesses who went with Dareios on his march against the -Scythians,--namely this, that the whole Persian army then came to be -dependent upon these men, whether they would destroy or whether they -would save it, and they displayed righteous dealing and trustworthiness, -and nought at all that was unfriendly. Besides this, seeing that they -have left children and wives and wealth in our land, we must not even -imagine that they will make any rebellion. 50 Fear not then this thing -either, but have a good heart and keep safe my house and my government; -for to thee of all men I entrust my sceptre of rule." - -53. Having thus spoken and having sent Artabanos back to Susa, next -Xerxes summoned to his presence the men of most repute among the -Persians, and when they were come before him, he spoke to them as -follows: "Persians, I assembled you together desiring this of you, that -ye should show yourselves good men and should not disgrace the deeds -done in former times by the Persians, which are great and glorious; but -let us each one of us by himself, and all together also, be zealous in -our enterprise; for this which we labour for is a common good for all. -And I exhort you that ye preserve in the war without relaxing your -efforts, because, as I am informed, we are marching against good men, -and if we shall overcome them, there will not be any other army of -men which will ever stand against us. Now therefore let us begin the -crossing, after having made prayer to those gods who have the Persians -51 for their allotted charge." - -54. During this day then they were making preparation to cross over; and -on the next day they waited for the Sun, desiring to see him rise, and -in the meantime they offered all kinds of incense upon the bridges and -strewed the way with branches of myrtle. Then, as the Sun was rising, -Xerxes made libation from a golden cup into the sea, and prayed to the -Sun, that no accident might befall him such as should cause him to cease -from subduing Europe, until he had come to its furthest limits. After -having thus prayed he threw the cup into the Hellespont and with it a -golden mixing-bowl and a Persian sword, which they call akinakes: but -whether he cast them into the sea as an offering dedicated to the -Sun, or whether he had repented of his scourging of the Hellespont and -desired to present a gift to the sea as amends for this, I cannot for -certain say. - -55. When Xerxes had done this, they proceeded to cross over, the whole -army both the footmen and the horsemen going by one bridge, namely that -which was on the side of the Pontus, while the baggage-animals and the -attendants went over the other, which was towards the Egean. First the -ten thousand Persians led the way, all with wreaths, and after them came -the mixed body of the army made up of all kinds of nations: these on -that day; and on the next day, first the horsemen and those who had -their spear-points turned downwards, these also wearing wreaths; and -after them the sacred horses and the sacred chariot, and then Xerxes -himself and the spear-bearers and the thousand horsemen; and after them -the rest of the army. In the meantime the ships also put out from shore -and went over to the opposite side. I have heard however another account -which says that the king crossed over the very last of all. - -56. When Xerxes had crossed over into Europe, he gazed upon the army -crossing under the lash; and his army crossed over in seven days and -seven nights, going on continuously without any pause. Then, it is said, -after Xerxes had now crossed over the Hellespont, a man of that coast -exclaimed: "Why, O Zeus, in the likeness of a Persian man and taking for -thyself the name of Xerxes instead of Zeus, art thou proposing to -lay waste Hellas, taking with thee all the nations of men? for it was -possible for thee to do so even without the help of these." - -57. When all had crossed over, after they had set forth on their way -a great portent appeared to them, of which Xerxes made no account, -although it was easy to conjecture its meaning,--a mare gave birth to a -hare. Now the meaning of this was easy to conjecture in this way, namely -that Xerxes was about to march an army against Hellas very proudly and -magnificently, but would come back again to the place whence he came, -running for his life. There happened also a portent of another kind -while he was still at Sardis,--a mule brought forth young and gave birth -to a mule which had organs of generation of two kinds, both those of the -male and those of the female, and those of the male were above. Xerxes -however made no account of either of these portents, but proceeded on -his way, and with him the land-army. - -58. The fleet meanwhile was sailing out of the Hellespont and coasting -along, going in the opposite direction to the land-army; for the fleet -was sailing towards the West, making for the promontory of Sarpedon, to -which it had been ordered beforehand to go, and there wait for the army; -but the land-army meanwhile was making its march towards the East and -the sunrising, through the Chersonese, keeping on its right the tomb of -Helle the daughter of Athamas, and on its left the city of Cardia, and -marching through the midst of a town the name of which is Agora. 52 -Thence bending round the gulf called Melas and having crossed over the -river Melas, the stream of which did not suffice at this time for the -army but failed,--having crossed, I say, this river, from which the gulf -also has its name, it went on Westwards, passing by Ainos a city of the -Aiolians, and by the lake Stentoris, until at last it came to Doriscos. - -59. Now Doriscos is a sea-beach and plain of great extent in Thrace, and -through it flows the great river Hebros: here a royal fortress had been -built, the same which is now called Doriscos, and a garrison of Persians -had been established in it by Dareios, ever since the time when he went -on his march against the Scythians. It seemed then to Xerxes that the -place was convenient to order his army and to number it throughout, and -so he proceeded to do. The commanders of the ships at the bidding of -Xerxes had brought all their ships, when they arrived at Doriscos, up -to the sea-beach which adjoins Doriscos, on which there is situated -both Sale a city of the Samothrakians, and also Zone, and of which the -extreme point is the promontory of Serreion, which is well known; and -the region belonged in ancient time to the Kikonians. To this beach then -they had brought in their ships, and having drawn them up on land they -were letting them get dry: and during this time he proceeded to number -the army at Doriscos. - -60. Now of the number which each separate nation supplied I am not able -to give certain information, for this is not reported by any persons; -but of the whole land-army taken together the number proved to be one -hundred and seventy myriads: 53 and they numbered them throughout in -the following manner:--they gathered together in one place a body of -ten thousand men, and packing them together 54 as closely as they could, -they drew a circle round outside: and thus having drawn a circle round -and having let the ten thousand men go from it, they built a wall of -rough stones round the circumference of the circle, rising to the height -of a man's navel. Having made this, they caused others to go into the -space which had been built round, until they had in this manner numbered -them all throughout: and after they had numbered them, they ordered them -separately by nations. - -61. Now those who served were as follows:--The Persians with this -equipment:--about their heads they had soft 55 felt caps called tiaras, -and about their body tunics of various colours with sleeves, presenting -the appearance of iron scales like those of a fish, 56 and about the -legs trousers; and instead of the ordinary shields they had shields of -wicker-work, 57 under which hung quivers; and they had short spears and -large bows and arrows of reed, and moreover daggers hanging by the right -thigh from the girdle: and they acknowledged as their commander Otanes -the father of Amestris the wife of Xerxes. Now these were called by the -Hellenes in ancient time Kephenes; by themselves however and by their -neighbours they were called Artaians: but when Perseus, the son of -Danae and Zeus, came to Kepheus the son of Belos 58 and took to wife -his daughter Andromeda, there was born to them a son to whom he gave -the name Perses, and this son he left behind there, for it chanced that -Kepheus had no male offspring: after him therefore this race was named. - -62. The Medes served in the expedition equipped in precisely the same -manner; for this equipment is in fact Median and not Persian: and the -Medes acknowledged as their commander Tigranes an Achaimenid. These -in ancient time used to be generally called Arians; but when Medea the -Colchian came from Athens to these Arians, they also changed their name. -Thus the Medes themselves report about themselves. The Kissians served -with equipment in other respects like that of the Persians, but instead -of the felt caps they wore fillets: 59and of the Kissians Anaphes -the son of Otanes was commander. The Hyrcanians were armed like the -Persians, acknowledging as their leader Megapanos, the same who after -these events became governor of Babylon. - -63. The Assyrians served with helmets about their heads made of bronze -or plaited in a Barbarian style which it is not easy to describe; and -they had shields and spears, and daggers like the Egyptian knives, 60 -and moreover they had wooden clubs with knobs of iron, and corslets of -linen. These are by the Hellenes called Syrians, but by the Barbarians -they have been called always 61 Assyrians: [among these were the -Chaldeans]: 62 and the commander of them was Otaspes the son of -Artachaies. - -64. The Bactrians served wearing about their heads nearly the same -covering as the Medes, and having native bows of reed and short spears. -The Scaran Scythians had about their heads caps 63 which were carried -up to a point and set upright and stiff; and they wore trousers, and -carried native bows and daggers, and besides this axes of the kind -called sagaris. These were called Amyrgian Sacans, being in fact -Scythians; for the Persians call all the Scythians Sacans: and of the -Bactrians and Sacans the commander was Hystaspes, the son of Dareios and -of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus. - -65. The Indians wore garments made of tree-wool, and they had bows -of reed and arrows of reed with iron points. Thus were the Indians -equipped; and serving with the rest they had been assigned to -Pharnazathres the son of Artabates. - -66. The Arians 64 were equipped with Median bows, and in other respects -like the Bactrians: and of the Arians Sisamnes the son of Hydarnes was -in command. The Parthians and Chorasmians and Sogdians and Gandarians -and Dadicans served with the same equipment as the Bactrians. Of these -the commanders were, Artabazos the son of Pharnakes of the Parthians and -Chorasmians, Azanes the son of Artaios of the Sogdians, and Artyphios -the son of Artabanos of the Gandarians and Dadicans. The Caspians -served wearing coats of skin 65 and having native bows of reed and short -swords: 66 thus were these equipped; and they acknowledged as their -leader Ariomardos the brother of Artyphios. The Sarangians were -conspicuous among the rest by wearing dyed garments; and they had -boots reaching up to the knee, and Median bows and spears: of these -the commander was Pherendates the son of Megabazos. The Pactyans -were wearers of skin coats 67 and had native bows and daggers: these -acknowledged as their commander Artayntes the son of Ithamitres. - -68. The Utians and Mycans and Paricanians were equipped like the -Pactyans: of these the commanders were, Arsamenes the son of Dareios -of the Utians and Mycans, and of the Paricanians Siromitres the son of -Oiobazos. - -69. The Arabians wore loose mantles 68 girt up, and they carried -at their right side bows that bent backward 69 of great length. The -Ethiopians had skins of leopards and lions tied upon them, and bows made -of a slip 70 of palm-wood, which were of great length, not less than -four cubits, and for them small arrows of reed with a sharpened stone at -the head instead of iron, the same stone with which they engrave seals: -in addition to this they had spears, and on them was the sharpened horn -of a gazelle by way of a spear-head, and they had also clubs with knobs -upon them. Of their body they used to smear over half with white, 71 -when they went into battle, and the other half with red. 72 Of the -Arabians and the Ethiopians who dwelt above Egypt the commander was -Arsames, the son of Dareios and of Artystone, the daughter of Cyrus, -whom Dareios loved most of all his wives, and had an image made of her -of beaten gold. - -70. Of the Ethiopians above Egypt and of the Arabians the commander, I -say, was Arsames; but the Ethiopians from the direction of the sunrising -(for the Ethiopians were in two bodies) had been appointed to serve with -the Indians, being in no way different from the other Ethiopians, but in -their language and in the nature of their hair only; for the Ethiopians -from the East are straight-haired, but those of Libya have hair more -thick and woolly than that of any other men. These Ethiopians from Asia -were armed for the most part like the Indians, but they had upon their -heads the skin of a horse's forehead flayed off with the ears and the -mane, and the mane served instead of a crest, while they had the ears of -the horse set up straight and stiff: and instead of shields they used to -make defences to hold before themselves of the skins of cranes. - -71. The Libyans went with equipments of leather, and they used javelins -burnt at the point. These acknowledged as their commander Massages the -son of Oarizos. - -72. The Paphlagonians served with plaited helmets upon their heads, -small shields, and spears of no great size, and also javelins and -daggers; and about their feet native boots reaching up to the middle of -the shin. The Ligyans and Matienians and Mariandynoi and Syrians served -with the same equipment as the Paphlagonians: these Syrians are called -by the Persians Cappadokians. Of the Paphlagonians and Matienians the -commander was Dotos the son of Megasidros, and of the Mariandynoi and -Lygians and Syrians, Gobryas, who was the son of Dareios and Artystone. - -73. The Phrygians had an equipment very like that of the Paphlagonians -with some slight difference. Now the Phrygians, as the Macedonians say, -used to be called Brigians during the time that they were natives of -Europe and dwelt with the Macedonians; but after they had changed into -Asia, with their country they changed also their name and were called -Phrygians. The Armenians were armed just like the Phrygians, being -settlers from the Phrygians. Of these two together the commander was -Artochmes, who was married to a daughter of Dareios. - -74. The Lydians had arms very closely resembling those of the Hellenes. -Now the Lydians were in old time called Medonians, and they were named -again after Lydos the son of Atys, changing their former name. The -Mysians had upon their heads native helmets, and they bore small shields -and used javelins burnt at the point. These are settlers from the -Lydians, and from mount Olympos they are called Olympienoi. Of -the Lydians and Mysians the commander was Artaphrenes the son of -Artaphrenes, he who invaded Marathon together with Datis. - -75. The Thracians served having fox-skins upon their heads and tunics -about their body, with loose mantles of various colours thrown round -over them; and about their feet and lower part of the leg they wore -boots of deer-skin; and besides this they had javelins and round -bucklers and small daggers. These when they had crossed over into Asia -came to be called Bithynians, but formerly they were called, as they -themselves report, Strymonians, since they dwelt upon the river Strymon; -and they say that they were driven out of their abode by the Teucrians -and Mysians. Of the Thracians who lived in Asia the commander was -Bassakes the son of Artabanos. - -76.... 73 and they had small shields of raw ox-hide, and each man -carried two hunting-spears of Lykian workmanship. 74 On their heads they -wore helmets of bronze, and to the helmets the ears and horns of an ox -were attached, in bronze, and upon them also there were crests; and the -lower part of their legs was wrapped round with red-coloured strips of -cloth. Among these men there is an Oracle of Ares. - -77. The Meonian Cabelians, who are called Lasonians, had the same -equipment as the Kilikians, and what this was I shall explain when in -the course of the catalogue I come to the array of the Kilikians. The -Milyans had short spears, and their garments were fastened on with -buckles; some of them had Lykian bows, and about their heads they had -caps made of leather. Of all these Badres the son of Hystanes was in -command. - -78. The Moschoi had wooden caps upon their heads, and shields and small -spears, on which long points were set. The Tibarenians and Macronians -and Mossynoicoi served with equipment like that of the Moschoi, and -these were arrayed together under the following commanders,--the Moschoi -and Tibarenians under Ariomardos, who was the son of Dareios and -of Parmys, the daughter of Smerdis son of Cyrus; the Macronians and -Mossynoicoi under Artayctes the son of Cherasmis, who was governor of -Sestos on the Hellespont. - -79. The Mares wore on their heads native helmets of plaited work, and -had small shields of hide and javelins; and the Colchians wore wooden -helmets about their heads, and had small shields of raw ox-hide and -short spears, and also knives. Of the Mares and Colchians the commander -was Pharandates the son of Teaspis. The Alarodians and Saspeirians -served armed like the Colchians; and of these the commander was -Masistios the son of Siromitres. - -80. The island tribes which came with the army from the Erythraian Sea, -belonging to the islands in which the king settles those who are called -the "Removed," 75 had clothing and arms very like those of the Medes. Of -these islanders the commander was Mardontes the son of Bagaios, who in -the year after these events was a commander of the army at Mykale and -lost his life in the battle. - -81. These were the nations which served in the campaign by land and had -been appointed to be among the foot-soldiers. Of this army those who -have been mentioned were commanders; and they were the men who sit it in -order by divisions and numbered it and appointed commanders of thousands -and commanders of tens of thousands, but the commanders of hundreds and -of tens were appointed by the commanders of ten thousands; and there -were others who were leaders of divisions and nations. - -82. These, I say, who have been mentioned were commanders of the army; -and over these and over the whole army together that went on foot there -were in command Mardonios the son of Gobryas, Tritantaichmes the son of -that Artabanos who gave the opinion that they should not make the march -against Hellas, Smerdomenes the son of Otanes (both these being sons of -brothers of Dareios and so cousins of Xerxes), 76 Masistes the son of -Dareios and Atossa, Gergis the son of Ariazos, and Megabyzos the son of -Zopyros. - -83. These were generals of the whole together that went on foot, -excepting the ten thousand; and of these ten thousand chosen Persians -the general was Hydarnes the son of Hydarnes; and these Persians -were called "Immortals," because, if any one of them made the number -incomplete, being overcome either by death or disease, another man was -chosen to his place, and they were never either more or fewer than -ten thousand. Now of all the nations, the Persians showed the greatest -splendour of ornament and were themselves the best men. They had -equipment such as has been mentioned, and besides this they were -conspicuous among the rest for great quantity of gold freely used; and -they took with them carriages, and in them concubines and a multitude -of attendants well furnished; and provisions for them apart from the -soldiers were borne by camels and beasts of burden. - -84. The nations who serve as cavalry are these; not all however supplied -cavalry, but only as many as here follow:--the Persians equipped in the -same manner as their foot-soldiers, except that upon their heads some of -them had beaten-work of metal, either bronze or iron. - -85. There are also certain nomads called Sagartians, Persian in race -and in language and having a dress which is midway between that of the -Persians and that of the Pactyans. These furnished eight thousand horse, -and they are not accustomed to have any arms either of bronze or of iron -excepting daggers, but they use ropes twisted of thongs, and trust to -these when they go into war: and the manner of fighting of these men is -as follows:--when they come to conflict with the enemy, they throw the -ropes with nooses at the end of them, and whatsoever the man catches by -the throw, 77 whether horse or man, he draws to himself, and they being -entangled in toils are thus destroyed. - -86. This is the manner of fighting of these men, and they were arrayed -next to the Persians. The Medes had the same equipment as their men -on foot, and the Kissians likewise. The Indians were armed in the same -manner as those of them who served on foot, and they both rode horses -78 and drove chariots, in which were harnessed horses or wild asses. The -Bactrians were equipped in the same way as those who served on foot, -and the Caspians likewise. The Libyans too were equipped like those who -served on foot, and these also all drove chariots. So too the Caspians -79 and Paricanians were equipped like those who served on foot, and they -all rode on camels, which in swiftness were not inferior to horses. - -87. These nations alone served 80 as cavalry, and the number of the -cavalry proved to be eight myriads, 81 apart from the camels and the -chariots. Now the rest of the cavalry was arrayed in squadrons, but the -Arabians were placed after them and last of all, for the horses could -not endure the camels, and therefore they were placed last, in order -that the horses might not be frightened. - -88. The commanders of the cavalry were Harmamithras and Tithaios sons of -Datis, but the third, Pharnuches, who was in command of the horse with -them, had been left behind at Sardis sick: for as they were setting -forth from Sardis, an accident befell him of an unwished-for kind,--as -he was riding, a dog ran up under his horse's feet, and the horse -not having seen it beforehand was frightened, and rearing up he threw -Pharnuches off his back, who falling vomited blood, and his sickness -turned to a consumption. To the horse however they forthwith at the -first did as he commanded, that is to say, the servants led him away -to the place where he had thrown his master and cut off his legs at the -knees. Thus was Pharnuches removed from his command. - -89. Of the triremes the number proved to be one thousand two hundred and -seven, and these were they who furnished them:--the Phenicians, together -with the Syrians 82 who dwell in Palestine furnished three hundred; -and they were equipped thus, that is to say, they had about their heads -leathern caps made very nearly in the Hellenic fashion, and they wore -corslets of linen, and had shields without rims and javelins. These -Phenicians dwelt in ancient time, as they themselves report, upon the -Erythraian Sea, and thence they passed over and dwell in the country -along the sea coast of Syria; and this part of Syria and all as far as -Egypt is called Palestine. The Egyptians furnished two hundred ships: -these men had about their heads helmets of plaited work, and they had -hollow shields with the rims large, and spears for sea-fighting, and -large axes: 83 the greater number of them wore corslets, and they had -large knives. - -90. These men were thus equipped; and the Cyprians furnished a hundred -and fifty ships, being themselves equipped as follows,--their kings had -their heads wound round with fillets, 84 and the rest had tunics, 85 -but in other respects they were like the Hellenes. Among these there -are various races as follows,--some of them are from Salamis and Athens, -others from Arcadia, others from Kythnos, others again from Phenicia and -others from Ethiopia, as the Cyprians themselves report. - -91. The Kilikians furnished a hundred ships; and these again had about -their heads native helmets, and for shields they carried targets made of -raw ox-hide: they wore tunics 86 of wool and each man had two javelins -and a sword, this last being made very like the Egyptian knives. These -in old time were called Hypachaians, and they got their later name from -Kilix the son of Agenor, a Phenician. The Pamphylians furnished thirty -ships and were equipped in Hellenic arms. These Pamphylians are of those -who were dispersed from Troy together with Amphilochos and Calchas. - -92. The Lykians furnished fifty ships; and they were wearers of corslets -and greaves, and had bows of cornel-wood and arrows of reeds without -feathers and javelins and a goat-skin hanging over their shoulders, and -about their heads felt caps wreathed round with feathers; also they had -daggers and falchions. 87 The Lykians were formerly called Termilai, -being originally of Crete, and they got their later name from Lycos the -son of Pandion, an Athenian. - -93. The Dorians of Asia furnished thirty ships; and these had Hellenic -arms and were originally from the Peloponnese. The Carians supplied -seventy ships; and they were equipped in other respects like Hellenes -but they had also falchions and daggers. What was the former name of -these has been told in the first part of the history. 88 - -94. The Ionians furnished a hundred ships, and were equipped -like Hellenes. Now the Ionians, so long time as they dwelt in the -Peloponnese, in the land which is now called Achaia, and before the -time when Danaos and Xuthos came to the Peloponnese, were called, as the -Hellenes report, Pelasgians of the Coast-land, 89 and then Ionians after -Ion the son of Xuthos. - -95. The islanders furnished seventeen ships, and were armed like -Hellenes, this also being a Pelasgian race, though afterwards it came to -be called Ionian by the same rule as the Ionians of the twelve cities, -who came from Athens. The Aiolians supplied sixty ships; and these were -equipped like Hellenes and used to be called Pelasgians in the old time, -as the Hellenes report. The Hellespontians, excepting those of Abydos -(for the men of Abydos had been appointed by the king to stay in their -place and be guards of the bridges), the rest, I say, of those who -served in the expedition from the Pontus furnished a hundred ships, -and were equipped like Hellenes: these are colonists of the Ionians and -Dorians. - -96. In all the ships there served as fighting-men Persians, Medes, or -Sacans;: and of the ships, those which sailed best were furnished by the -Phenicians, and of the Phenicians the best by the men of Sidon. Over all -these men and also over those of them who were appointed to serve in the -land-army, there were for each tribe native chieftains, of whom, since I -am not compelled by the course of the inquiry, I make no mention by the -way; for in the first place the chieftains of each separate nation were -not persons worthy of mention, and then moreover within each nation -there were as many chieftains as there were cities. These went with the -expedition too not as commanders, but like the others serving as slaves; -for the generals who had the absolute power and commanded the various -nations, that is to say those who were Persians, having already been -mentioned by me. - -97. Of the naval force the following were commanders,--Ariabignes the -son of Dareios, Prexaspes the son of Aspathines, Megabazos the son of -Megabates, and Achaimenes the son of Dareios; that is to say, of the -Ionian and Carian force Ariabignes, who was the son of Dareios and of -the daughter of Gobryas; of the Egyptians Achaimenes was commander, -being brother of Xerxes by both parents; and of the rest of the armament -the other two were in command: and galleys of thirty oars and of fifty -oars, and light vessels, 90 and long 91 ships to carry horses had been -assembled together, as it proved, to the number of three thousand. - -98. Of those who sailed in the ships the men of most note after the -commanders were these,--of Sidon, Tetramnestos son of Anysos; of -Tyre, Matten 92 son of Siromos; or Arados, Merbalos son of Agbalos; of -Kilikia, Syennesis son of Oromedon; of Lykia, Kyberniscos son of Sicas; -of Cyprus, Gorgos son of Chersis and Timonax son of Timagoras; of Caria, -Histiaios son of Tymnes, Pigres son of Hysseldomos, 93 and Damasithymos -son of Candaules. - -99. Of the rest of the officers I make no mention by the way (since I am -not bound to do so), but only of Artemisia, at whom I marvel most that -she joined the expedition against Hellas, being a woman; for after her -husband died, she holding the power herself, although she had a son -who was a young man, went on the expedition impelled by high spirit -and manly courage, no necessity being laid upon her. Now her name, as I -said, was Artemisia and she was the daughter of Lygdamis, and by descent -she was of Halicarnassos on the side of her father, but of Crete by her -mother. She was ruler of the men of Halicarnassos and Cos and Nisyros -and Calydna, furnishing five ships; and she furnished ships which were -of all the fleet reputed the best after those of the Sidonians, and -of all his allies she set forth the best counsels to the king. Of the -States of which I said that she was leader I declare the people to be -all of Dorian race, those of Halicarnassos being Troizenians, and the -rest Epidaurians. So far then I have spoken of the naval force. - -100. Then when Xerxes had numbered the army, and it had been arranged in -divisions, he had a mind to drive through it himself and inspect it: and -afterwards he proceeded so to do; and driving through in a chariot -by each nation, he inquired about them and his scribes wrote down the -names, until he had gone from end to end both of the horse and of the -foot. When he had done this, the ships were drawn down into the sea, -and Xerxes changing from his chariot to a ship of Sidon sat down under a -golden canopy and sailed along by the prows of the ships, asking of all -just as he had done with the land-army, and having the answers written -down. And the captains had taken their ships out to a distance of about -four hundred feet from the beach and were staying them there, all having -turned the prows of the ships towards the shore in an even line 94 and -having armed all the fighting-men as for war; and he inspected them -sailing within, between the prows of the ships and the beach. - -101. Now when he had sailed through these and had disembarked from his -ship, he sent for Demaratos the son of Ariston, who was marching -with him against Hellas; and having called him he asked as follows: -"Demaratos, now it is my pleasure to ask thee somewhat which I desire -to know. Thou art not only a Hellene, but also, as I am informed both -by thee and by the other Hellenes who come to speech with me, of a city -which is neither the least nor the feeblest of Hellas. Now therefore -declare to me this, namely whether the Hellenes will endure to raise -hands against me: for, as I suppose, even if all the Hellenes and -the remaining nations who dwell towards the West should be gathered -together, they are not strong enough in fight to endure my attack, -supposing them to be my enemies. 95 I desire however to be informed also -of thy opinion, what thou sayest about these matters." He inquired thus, -and the other made answer and said: "O king, shall I utter the truth -in speaking to thee, or that which will give pleasure?" and he bade -him utter the truth, saying that he should suffer nothing unpleasant in -consequence of this, any more than he suffered before. - -102. When Demaratos heard this, he spoke as follows: "O king, since thou -biddest me by all means utter the truth, and so speak as one who shall -not be afterwards convicted by thee of having spoken falsely, I say -this:--with Hellas poverty is ever an inbred growth, while valour is one -that has been brought in, being acquired by intelligence and the force -of law; and of it Hellas makes use ever to avert from herself not only -poverty but also servitude to a master. Now I commend all the Hellenes -who are settled in those Dorian lands, but this which I am about to say -has regard not to all, but to the Lacedemonians alone: of these I say, -first that it is not possible that they will ever accept thy terms, -which carry with them servitude for Hellas; and next I say that they -will stand against thee in fight, even if all the other Hellenes shall -be of thy party: and as for numbers, ask now how many they are, that -they are able to do this; for whether it chances that a thousand of them -have come out into the field, these will fight with thee, or if there be -less than this, or again if there be more." - -103. Xerxes hearing this laughed, and said: "Demaratos, what a speech is -this which thou hast uttered, saying that a thousand men will fight with -this vast army! Come tell me this:--thou sayest that thou wert thyself -king of these men; wilt thou therefore consent forthwith to fight with -ten men? and yet if your State is such throughout as thou dost describe -it, thou their king ought by your laws to stand in array against double -as many as another man; that is to say, if each of them is a match for -ten men of my army, I expect of thee that thou shouldest be a match for -twenty. Thus would be confirmed the report which is made by thee: but if -ye, who boast thus greatly are such men and in size so great only as -the Hellenes who come commonly to speech with me, thyself included, then -beware lest this which has been spoken prove but an empty vaunt. For -come, let me examine it by all that is probable: how could a thousand or -ten thousand or even fifty thousand, at least if they were all equally -free and were not ruled by one man, stand against so great an army? -since, as thou knowest, we shall be more than a thousand coming about -each one of them, supposing them to be in number five thousand. If -indeed they were ruled by one man after our fashion, they might perhaps -from fear of him become braver than it was their nature to be, or they -might go compelled by the lash to fight with greater numbers, being -themselves fewer in number; but if left at liberty, they would do -neither of these things: and I for my part suppose that, even if equally -matched in numbers, the Hellenes would hardly dare to fight with the -Persians taken alone. With us however this of which thou speakest is -found in single men, 96 not indeed often, but rarely; for there are -Persians of my spearmen who will consent to fight with three men of the -Hellenes at once: but thou hast had no experience of these things and -therefore thou speakest very much at random." - -104. To this Demaratos replied: "O king, from the first I was sure that -if I uttered the truth I should not speak that which was pleasing to -thee; since however thou didst compel me to speak the very truth, I told -thee of the matters which concern the Spartans. And yet how I am at this -present time attached to them by affection thou knowest better than any; -seeing that first they took away from me the rank and privileges which -came to me from my fathers, and then also they have caused me to be -without native land and an exile; but thy father took me up and gave -me livelihood and a house to dwell in. Surely it is not to be supposed -likely that the prudent man will thrust aside friendliness which is -offered to him, but rather that he will accept it with full contentment. -97 And I do not profess that I am able to fight either with ten men or -with two, nay, if I had my will, I would not even fight with one; but if -there were necessity or if the cause which urged me to the combat were -a great one, I would fight most willingly with one of these men who says -that he is a match for three of the Hellenes. So also the Lacedemonians -are not inferior to any men when fighting one by one, and they are the -best of all men when fighting in a body: for though free, yet they are -not free in all things, for over them is set Law as a master, whom they -fear much more even than thy people fear thee. It is certain at least -that they do whatsoever that master commands; and he commands ever the -same thing, that is to say, he bids them not flee out of battle from -any multitude of men, but stay in their post and win the victory or lose -their life. But if when I say these things I seem to thee to be speaking -at random, of other things for the future I prefer to be silent; and -at this time I spake only because I was compelled. May it come to pass -however according to thy mind, O king." - -105. He thus made answer, and Xerxes turned the matter to laughter -and felt no anger, but dismissed him with kindness. Then after he had -conversed with him, and had appointed Mascames son of Megadostes to -be governor at this place Doriscos, removing the governor who had been -appointed by Dareios, Xerxes marched forth his army through Thrace to -invade Hellas. - -106. And Mascames, whom he left behind here, proved to be a man of such -qualities that to him alone Xerxes used to send gifts, considering him -the best of all the men whom either he himself or Dareios had appointed -to be governors,--he used to send him gifts, I say, every year, and so -also did Artaxerxes the son of Xerxes to the descendants of Mascames. -For even before this march governors had been appointed in Thrace and -everywhere about the Hellespont; and these all, both those in Thrace and -in the Hellespont, were conquered by the Hellenes after this expedition, -except only the one who was at Doriscos; but Mascames at Doriscos none -were ever 98 able to conquer, though many tried. For this reason the -gifts are sent continually for him from the king who reigns over the -Persians. - -107. Of those however who were conquered by the Hellenes Xerxes did not -consider any to be a good man except only Boges, who was at Eion: him -he never ceased commending, and he honoured very highly his children who -survived him in the land of Persia. For in truth Boges proved himself -worthy of great commendation, seeing that when he was besieged by the -Athenians under Kimon the son of Miltiades, though he might have gone -forth under a truce and so returned home to Asia, he preferred not to -do this, for fear that the king should that it was by cowardice that he -survived; and he continued to hold out till the last. Then when there -was no longer any supply of provisions within the wall, he heaped -together a great pyre, and he cut the throats of his children, his wife, -his concubines and his servants, and threw them into the fire; and after -this he scattered all the gold and silver in the city from the wall into -the river Strymon, and having so done he threw himself into the fire. -Thus he is justly commended even to this present time by the Persians. - -108. Xerxes from Doriscos was proceeding onwards to invade Hellas; and -as he went he compelled those who successively came in his way, to join -his march: for the whole country as far as Thessaly had been reduced to -subjection, as has been set forth by me before, and was tributary under -the king, having been subdued by Megabazos and afterwards by Mardonios. -And he passed in his march from Doriscos first by the Samothrakian -strongholds, of which that which is situated furthest towards the West -is a city called Mesambria. Next to this follows Stryme, a city of the -Thasians, and midway between them flows the river Lisos, which at this -time did not suffice when supplying its water to the army of Xerxes, but -the stream failed. This country was in old time called Gallaike, but now -Briantike; however by strict justice this also belongs to the Kikonians. - -109. Having crossed over the bed of the river Lisos after it had been -dried up, he passed by these Hellenic cities, namely Maroneia, Dicaia -and Abdera. These I say he passed by, and also the following lakes of -note lying near them,--the Ismarian lake, lying between Maroneia and -Stryme; the Bistonian lake near Dicaia, into which two rivers pour their -waters, the Trauos 99 and the Compsantos; 100 and at Abdera no lake -indeed of any note was passed by Xerxes, but the river Nestos, which -flows there into the sea. Then after passing these places he went by the -cities of the mainland, 101 near one of which there is, as it chances, -a lake of somewhere about thirty furlongs in circumference, abounding in -fish and very brackish; this the baggage-animals alone dried up, being -watered at it: and the name of this city is Pistyros. 102 - -110. These cities, I say, lying by the sea coast and belonging to -Hellenes, he passed by, leaving them on the left hand; and the tribes of -Thracians through whose country he marched were as follows, namely -the Paitians, Kikonians, Bistonians, Sapaians, Dersaians, Edonians, -Satrians. Of these they who were settled along the sea coast accompanied -him with their ships, and those of them who dwelt inland and have been -enumerated by me, were compelled to accompany him on land, except the -Satrians: - -111, the Satrians however never yet became obedient to any man, so far -as we know, but they remain up to my time still free, alone of all the -Thracians; for they dwell in lofty mountains, which are covered with -forest of all kinds and with snow, and also they are very skilful in -war. These are they who possess the Oracle of Dionysos; which Oracle is -on their most lofty mountains. Of the Satrians those who act as prophets -103 of the temple are the Bessians; it is a prophetess 104 who utters -the oracles, as at Delphi; and beyond this there is nothing further of a -remarkable character. 105 - -112. Xerxes having passed over the land which has been spoken of, next -after this passed the strongholds of the Pierians, of which the name -of the one is Phagres and of the other Pergamos. By this way, I say, -he made his march, going close by the walls of these, and keeping Mount -Pangaion on the right hand, which is both great and lofty and in which -are mines both of gold and of silver possessed by the Pierians and -Odomantians, and especially by the Satrians. - -113. Thus passing by the Paionians, Doberians and Paioplians, who dwell -beyond Pangaion towards the North Wind, he went on Westwards, until at -last he came to the river Strymon and the city of Eion, of which, -so long as he lived, Boges was commander, the same about whom I was -speaking a short time back. This country about Mount Pangaion is called -Phyllis, and it extends Westwards to the river Angites, which flows into -the Strymon, and Southwards it stretches to the Strymon itself; and at -this river the Magians sacrificed for good omens, slaying white horses. - -114. Having done this and many other things in addition to this, as -charms for the river, at the Nine Ways 106 in the land of the Edonians, -they proceeded by the bridges, for they had found the Strymon already -yoked with bridges; and being informed that this place was called the -Nine Ways, they buried alive in it that number of boys and maidens, -children of the natives of the place. Now burying alive is a Persian -custom; for I am informed that Amestris also, the wife of Xerxes, when -she had grown old, made return for her own life to the god who is said -to be beneath the earth by burying twice seven children of Persians who -were men of renown. - -115. As the army proceeded on its march from the Strymon, it found after -this a sea-beach stretching towards the setting of the sun, and passed -by the Hellenic city, Argilos, which was there placed. This region and -that which lies above it is called Bisaltia. Thence, keeping on the left -hand the gulf which lies of Posideion, he went through the plain which -is called the plain of Syleus, passing by Stageiros a Hellenic city, and -so came to Acanthos, taking with him as he went each one of these tribes -and also of those who dwell about Mount Pangaion, just as he did those -whom I enumerated before, having the men who dwelt along the sea coast -to serve in the ships and those who dwelt inland to accompany him on -foot. This road by which Xerxes the king marched his army, the Thracians -do not disturb nor sow crops over, but pay very great reverence to it -down to my own time. - -116. Then when he had come to Acanthos, Xerxes proclaimed a -guest-friendship with the people of Acanthos and also presented them -with the Median dress 107 and commended them, perceiving that they were -zealous to serve him in the war and hearing of that which had been dug. - -117. And while Xerxes was in Acanthos, it happened that he who had -been set over the making of the channel, Artachaies by name, died of -sickness, a man who was highly esteemed by Xerxes and belonged to -the Achaimenid family; also he was in stature the tallest of all the -Persians, falling short by only four fingers of being five royal cubits -108 in height, and he had a voice the loudest of all men; so that Xerxes -was greatly grieved at the loss of him, and carried him forth and buried -him with great honour, and the whole army joined in throwing up a mound -for him. To this Artachaies the Acanthians by the bidding of an oracle -do sacrifice as a hero, calling upon his name in worship. - -118. King Xerxes, I say, was greatly grieved at the loss of Artachaies: -and meanwhile the Hellenes who were entertaining his army and providing -Xerxes with dinners had been brought to utter ruin, so that they were -being driven from house and home; seeing that when the Thasians, for -example, entertained the army of Xerxes and provided him with a dinner -on behalf of their towns upon the mainland, Antipater the son of Orgeus, -who had been appointed for this purpose, a man of repute among the -citizens equal to the best, reported that four hundred talents of silver -had been spent upon the dinner. - -119. Just so or nearly so in the other cities also those who were set -over the business reported the reckoning to be: for the dinner was -given as follows, having been ordered a long time beforehand, and being -counted by them a matter of great importance:--In the first place, -so soon as they heard of it from the heralds who carried round the -proclamation, the citizens in the various cities distributed corn among -their several households, and all continued to make wheat and barley -meal for many months; then they fed cattle, finding out and obtaining -the finest animals for a high price; and they kept birds both of the -land and of the water, in cages or in pools, all for the entertainment -of the army. Then again they had drinking-cups and mixing-bowls made of -gold and of silver, and all the other things which are placed upon the -table: these were made for the king himself and for those who ate at his -table; but for the rest of the army only the things appointed for food -were provided. Then whenever the army came to any place, there was a -tent pitched ready wherein Xerxes himself made his stay, while the rest -of the army remained out in the open air; and when it came to be time -for dinner, then the entertainers had labour; but the others, after they -had been satiated with food and had spent the night there, on the next -day tore up the tent and taking with them all the movable furniture -proceeded on their march, leaving nothing, but carrying all away with -them. - -120. Then was uttered a word well spoken by Megacreon, a man of Abdera, -who advised those of Abdera to go in a body, both themselves and their -wives, to their temples, and to sit down as suppliants of the gods, -entreating them that for the future also they would ward off from them -the half of the evils which threatened; and he bade them feel great -thankfulness to the gods for the past events, because king Xerxes had -not thought good to take food twice in each day; for if it had been -ordered to them beforehand to prepare breakfast also in like manner as -the dinner, it would have remained for the men of Abdera either not -to await the coming of Xerxes, or if they stayed, to be crushed by -misfortune more than any other men upon the Earth. - -121. They then, I say, though hard put to it, yet were performing that -which was appointed to them; and from Acanthos Xerxes, after having -commanded the generals to wait for the fleet at Therma, let the ships -take their course apart from himself, (now this Therma is that which is -situated on the Thermaic gulf, from which also this gulf has its name); -and thus he did because he was informed that this was the shortest way: -for from Doriscos as far as Acanthos the army had been making its march -thus:--Xerxes had divided the whole land-army into three divisions, and -one of them he had set to go along the sea accompanying the fleet, of -which division Mardonios and Masistes were commanders; another third -of the army had been appointed to go by the inland way, and of this the -generals in command were Tritantaichmes and Gergis; and meanwhile the -third of the subdivisions, with which Xerxes himself went, marched in -the middle between them, and acknowledged as its commanders Smerdomenes -and Megabyzos. - -122. The fleet, when it was let go by Xerxes and had sailed right -through the channel made in Athos (which went across to the gulf on -which are situated the cities of Assa, Piloros, Singos and Sarte), -having taken up a contingent from these cities also, sailed thence -with a free course to the Thermaic gulf, and turning round Ampelos the -headland of Torone, it left on one side the following Hellenic cities, -from which it took up contingents of ships and men, namely Torone, -Galepsos, Sermyle, Mekyberna, Olynthos: this region is called Sithonia. - -123. And the fleet of Xerxes, cutting across from the headland of -Ampelos to that of Canastron, which runs out furthest to sea of all -Pallene, took up there contingents of ships and men from Potidaia, -Aphytis, Neapolis, Aige, Therambo, Skione, Mende and Sane, for these are -the cities which occupy the region which now is called Pallene, but was -formerly called Phlegra. Then sailing along the coast of this country -also the fleet continued its course towards the place which has been -mentioned before, taking up contingents also from the cities which come -next after Pallene and border upon the Thermaic gulf; and the names -of them are these,--Lipaxos, Combreia, Lisai, Gigonos, Campsa, Smila, -Aineia; and the region in which these cities are is called even to -the present day Crossaia. Then sailing from Aineia, with which name I -brought to an end the list of the cities, at once the fleet came into -the Thermaic gulf and to the region of Mygdonia, and so it arrived at -the aforesaid Therma and at the cities of Sindos and Chalestra upon the -river Axios. This river is the boundary between the land of Mygdonia -and Bottiaia, of which district the narrow region which lies on the sea -coast is occupied by the cities of Ichnai and Pella. - -124. Now while his naval force was encamped about the river Axios an the -city of Therma and the cities which lie between these two, waiting for -the coming of the king, Xerxes and the land-army were proceeding from -Acanthos, cutting through the middle by the shortest way 109 with a view -to reaching Therma: and he was proceeding through Paionia and Crestonia -to the river Cheidoros, 110 which beginning from the land of the -Crestonians, runs through the region of Mygdonia and comes out alongside -of the marsh which is by the river Axios. - -125. As he was proceeding by this way, lions attacked the camels which -carried his provisions; for the lions used to come down regularly by -night, leaving their own haunts, but they touched nothing else, neither -beast of burden nor man, but killed the camels only: and I marvel what -was the cause, and what was it that impelled the lions to abstain from -all else and to attack the camels only, creatures which they had never -seen before, and of which they had had no experience. - -126. Now there are in these parts both many lions and also wild oxen, -those that have the very large horns which are often brought into -Hellas: and the limit within which these lions are found is on the one -side the river Nestos, which flows through Abdera, and on the other the -Achelos, which flows through Acarnania; for neither do the East of the -Nestos, in any part of Europe before you come to this, would you see a -lion, nor again in the remaining part of the continent to the West of -the Acheloos, but they are produced in the middle space between these -rivers. - -127. When Xerxes had reached Therma he established the army there; and -his army encamping there occupied of the land along by the sea no less -than this,--beginning from the city of Therma and from Mygdonia it -extended as far as the river Lydias and the Haliacmon, which form the -boundary between the lands of Bottiaia and Macedonia, mingling their -waters together in one and the same stream. The Barbarians, I say, were -encamped in these regions; and of the rivers which have been enumerated, -only the river Cheidoros flowing from the Crestonian land was -insufficient for the drinking of the army and failed in its stream. - -128. Then Xerxes seeing from Therma the mountains of Thessaly, Olympos -and Ossa, that they were of very great height, and being informed that -in the midst between them there was a narrow channel, through which -flows the Peneios, and hearing also that by this way there was a good -road leading to Thessaly, formed a desire to sail thither and look at -the outlet of the Peneios, because he was meaning to march by the upper -road, through the land of the Macedonians who dwell inland, until he -came to the Perraibians, passing by the city of Gonnos; for by this way -he was informed that it was safest to go. And having formed this desire, -so also he proceeded to do; that is, he embarked in a Sidonian ship, the -same in which he used always to embark when he wished to do anything of -this kind, and he displayed a signal for the others to put out to sea -also, leaving there the land-army. Then when Xerxes had looked at the -outlet of the Peneios, he was possessed by great wonder, and summoning -his guides he asked them whether it was possible to turn the river aside -and bring it out to the sea by another way. - -129. Now it is said that Thessaly was in old time a lake, being enclosed -on all sides by very lofty mountains: for the parts of it which lie -towards the East are shut in by the ranges of Pelion and Ossa, which -join one another in their lower slopes, the parts towards the North -Wind by Olympos, those towards the West by Pindos and those towards -the mid-day and the South Wind by Othrys; and the region in the midst, -between these mountains which have been named, is Thessaly, forming as -it were a hollow. Whereas then many rivers flow into it and among them -these five of most note, namely Peneios, Apidanos, Onochonos, Enipeus -and Pamisos, these, which collect their waters from the mountains that -enclose Thessaly round, and flow into this plain, with names separate -each one, having their outflow into the sea by one channel and that a -narrow one, first mingling their waters all together in one and the -same stream; and so soon as they are mingled together, from that point -onwards the Peneios prevails with its name over the rest and causes -the others to lose their separate names. And it is said that in -ancient time, there not being yet this channel and outflow between the -mountains, these rivers, and besides these rivers the lake Boibeis also, -had no names as they have now, but by their waters they made Thessaly -to be all sea. The Thessalians themselves say that Poseidon made the -channel through which the Peneios flows; and reasonably they report -it thus, because whosoever believes that it is Poseidon who shakes the -Earth and that the partings asunder produced by earthquake are the work -of this god, would say, if he saw this, that it was made by Poseidon; -for the parting asunder of the mountains is the work of an earthquake, -as is evident to me. - -130. So the guides, when Xerxes asked whether there was any other -possible outlet to the sea for the Peneios, said with exact knowledge -of the truth: "O king, for this river there is no other outgoing which -extends to the sea, but this alone; for all Thessaly is circled about -with mountains as with a crown." To this Xerxes is said to have replied: -"The Thessalians then are prudent men. This it appears was that which -they desired to guard against in good time 111 when they changed their -counsel, 112 reflecting on this especially besides other things, namely -that they had a country which, it appears, is easy to conquer and may -quickly be taken: for it would have been necessary only to let the -river flow over their land by making an embankment to keep it from going -through the narrow channel and so diverting the course by which now it -flows, in order to put all Thessaly under water except the mountains." -This he said in reference to the sons of Aleuas, because they, being -Thessalians, were the first of the Hellenes who gave themselves over to -the king; for Xerxes thought that they offered him friendship on behalf -of their whole nation. Having said thus and having looked at the place, -he sailed back to Therma. - -131. He then was staying in the region of Pieria many days, for the road -over the mountains of Macedonia was being cut meanwhile by a third part -of his army, that all the host might pass over by this way into the land -of the Perraibians: and now the heralds returned who had been sent to -Hellas to demand the gift of earth, some empty-handed and others bearing -earth and water. - -132. And among those who gave that which was demanded were the -following, namely the Thessalians, Dolopians, Enianians, 113 -Perraibians, Locrians, Megnesians, Malians, Achaians of Phthiotis, and -Thebans, with the rest of the Boeotians also excepting the Thespians and -Plataians. Against these the Hellenes who took up war with the Barbarian -made an oath; and the oath was this,--that whosoever being Hellenes had -given themselves over to the Persian, not being compelled, these, if -their own affairs should come to a good conclusion, they would dedicate -as an offering 114 to the god at Delphi. - -133. Thus ran the oath which was taken by the Hellenes: Xerxes however -had not sent to Athens or to Sparta heralds to demand the gift of earth, -and for this reason, namely because at the former time when Dareios had -sent for this very purpose, the one people threw the men who made the -demand into the pit 115 and the others into a well, and bade them take -from thence earth and water and bear them to the king. For this reason -Xerxes did not send men to make this demand. And what evil thing 116 -came upon the Athenians for having done this to the heralds, I am not -able to say, except indeed that their land and city were laid waste; but -I do not think that this happened for that cause: - -134, on the Lacedemonians however the wrath fell of Talthybios, the -herald of Agamemnon; for in Sparta there is a temple of Talthybios, and -there are also descendants of Talthybios called Talthybiads, to whom -have been given as a right all the missions of heralds which go from -Sparta; and after this event it was not possible for the Spartans when -they sacrificed to obtain favourable omens. This was the case with them -for a long time; and as the Lacedemonians were grieved and regarded it -as a great misfortune, and general assemblies were repeatedly gathered -together and proclamation made, asking if any one of the Lacedemonians -was willing to die for Sparta, at length Sperthias the son of Aneristos -and Bulis the son of Nicolaos, Spartans of noble birth and in wealth -attaining to the first rank, voluntarily submitted to pay the penalty to -Xerxes for the heralds of Dareios which had perished at Sparta. Thus the -Spartans sent these to the Medes to be put to death. - -135. And not only the courage then shown by these men is worthy of -admiration, but also the following sayings in addition: for as they were -on their way to Susa they came to Hydarnes (now Hydarnes was a Persian -by race and commander of those who dwelt on the sea coasts of Asia), and -he offered them hospitality and entertained them; and while they were -his guests he asked them as follows: "Lacedemonians, why is it that ye -flee from becoming friends to the king? for ye may see that the king -knows how to honour good men, when ye look at me and at my fortunes. So -also ye, Lacedemonians, if ye gave yourselves to the king, since ye have -the reputation with him already of being good men, would have rule each -one of you over Hellenic land by the gift of the king." To this they -made answer thus: "Hydarnes, thy counsel with regard to us is not -equally balanced, 117 for thou givest counsel having made trial indeed -of the one thing, but being without experience of the other: thou -knowest well what it is to be a slave, but thou hast never yet made -trial of freedom, whether it is pleasant to the taste or no; for if thou -shouldest make trial of it, thou wouldest then counsel us to fight for -it not with spears only but also with axes." - -136. Thus they answered Hydarnes; and then, after they had gone up to -Susa and had come into the presence of the king, first when the spearmen -of the guard commanded them and endeavoured to compel them by force to -do obeisance to the king by falling down before him, they said that they -would not do any such deed, though they should be pushed down by them -head foremost; for it was not their custom to do obeisance to a man, -and it was not for this that they had come. Then when they had resisted -this, next they spoke these words or words to this effect: "O king of -the Medes, the Lacedemonians sent us in place of the heralds who were -slain in Sparta, to pay the penalty for their lives." When they said -this, Xerxes moved by a spirit of magnanimity replied that he would -not be like the Lacedemonians; for they had violated the rules which -prevailed among all men by slaying heralds, but he would not do that -himself which he blamed them for having done, nor would he free the -Lacedemonians from their guilt by slaying these in return. - -137. Thus the wrath of Talthybios ceased for the time being, even though -the Spartans had done no more than this and although Sperthias and Bulis -returned back to Sparta; but a long time after this it was roused -again during the war between the Peloponnesians and Athenians, as the -Lacedemonians report. This I perceive to have been most evidently -the act of the Deity: for in that the wrath of Talthybios fell upon -messengers and did not cease until it had been fully satisfied, so much -was but in accordance with justice; but that it happened to come upon -the sons of these men who went up to the king on account of the wrath, -namely upon Nicolaos the son of Bulis and Aneristos the son of Sperthias -(the same who conquered the men of Halieis, who came from Tiryns, by -sailing into their harbour with a merchant ship filled with fighting -men),--by this it is evident to me that the matter came to pass by -the act of the Deity caused by this wrath. For these men, sent by the -Lacedemonians as envoys to Asia, having been betrayed by Sitalkes the -son of Teres king of the Thracians and by Nymphodoros the son of Pythes -a man of Abdera, were captured at Bisanthe on the Hellespont; and -then having been carried away to Attica they were put to death by -the Athenians, and with them also Aristeas the son of Adeimantos the -Corinthian. These things happened many years after the expedition of the -king; and I return now to the former narrative. - -138. Now the march of the king's army was in name against Athens, but in -fact it was going against all Hellas: and the Hellenes being informed of -this long before were not all equally affected by it; for some of them -having given earth and water to the Persian had confidence, supposing -that they would suffer no hurt from the Barbarian; while others not -having given were in great terror, seeing that there were not ships -existing in Hellas which were capable as regards number of receiving the -invader in fight, and seeing that the greater part of the States were -not willing to take up the war, but adopted readily the side of the -Medes. - -139. And here I am compelled by necessity to declare an opinion which in -the eyes of most men would seem to be invidious, but nevertheless I will -not abstain from saying that which I see evidently to be the truth. If -the Athenians had been seized with fear of the danger which threatened -them and had left their land, 118 or again, without leaving their land, -had stayed and given themselves up to Xerxes, none would have made any -attempt by sea to oppose the king. If then none had opposed Xerxes by -sea, it would have happened on the land somewhat thus:--even if -many tunics of walls 119 had been thrown across the Isthmus by the -Peloponnesians, the Lacedemonians would have been deserted by their -allies, not voluntarily but of necessity, since these would have been -conquered city after city by the naval force of the Barbarian, and so -they would have been left alone: and having been left alone and having -displayed great deeds of valour, they would have met their death nobly. -Either they would have suffered this fate, or before this, seeing the -other Hellenes also taking the side of the Medes, they would have made -an agreement with Xerxes; and thus in either case Hellas would have come -to be under the rule of the Persians: for as to the good to be got from -the walls thrown across the Isthmus, I am unable to discover what it -would have been, when the king had command of the sea. As it is however, -if a man should say that the Athenians proved to be the saviours of -Hellas, he would not fail to hit the truth; for to whichever side these -turned, to that the balance was likely to incline: and these were they -who, preferring that Hellas should continue to exist in freedom, roused -up all of Hellas which remained, so much, that is, as had not gone over -to the Medes, and (after the gods at least) these were they who repelled -the king. Nor did fearful oracles, which came from Delphi and cast them -into dread, induce them to leave Hellas, but they stayed behind and -endured to receive the invader of their land. - -140. For the Athenians had sent men to Delphi to inquire and were -preparing to consult the Oracle; and after these had performed the usual -rites in the sacred precincts, when they had entered the sanctuary 120 -and were sitting down there, the Pythian prophetess, whose name was -Aristonike, uttered to them this oracle: - - - "Why do ye sit, O ye wretched? Flee thou 121 to the uttermost - limits, Leaving thy home and the heights of the wheel-round city - behind thee! Lo, there remaineth now nor the head nor the body in - safety,--Neither the feet below nor the hands nor the middle are - left thee,--All are destroyed 122 together; for fire and the - passionate War-god, 123 Urging the Syrian 124 car to speed, doth - hurl them 125 to ruin. Not thine alone, he shall cause many more - great strongholds to perish, Yes, many temples of gods to the - ravening fire shall deliver,--Temples which stand now surely with - sweat of their terror down-streaming, Quaking with dread; and lo! - from the topmost roof to the pavement Dark blood trickles, - forecasting the dire unavoidable evil. Forth with you, forth from - the shrine, and steep your soul in the sorrow!" 126 - -141. Hearing this the men who had been sent by the Athenians to consult -the Oracle were very greatly distressed; and as they were despairing by -reason of the evil which had been prophesied to them, Timon the son of -Androbulos, a man of the Delphians in reputation equal to the first, -counselled them to take a suppliant's bough and to approach the second -time and consult the Oracle as suppliants. The Athenians did as he -advised and said: "Lord, 127 we pray thee utter to us some better oracle -about our native land, having respect to these suppliant boughs which we -have come to thee bearing; otherwise surely we will not depart away from -the sanctuary, but will remain here where we are now, even until we -bring our lives to an end." When they spoke these words, the prophetess -gave them a second oracle as follows: - - - "Pallas cannot prevail to appease great Zeus in Olympos, Though she - with words very many and wiles close-woven entreat him. But I will - tell thee this more, and will clench it with steel adamantine: Then - when all else shall be taken, whatever the boundary 128 of Kecrops - Holdeth within, and the dark ravines of divinest Kithairon, A - bulwark of wood at the last Zeus grants to the Trito-born goddess - Sole to remain unwasted, which thee and thy children shall profit. - Stay thou not there for the horsemen to come and the footmen - unnumbered; Stay thou not still for the host from the mainland to - come, but retire thee, Turning thy back to the foe, for yet thou - shalt face him hereafter. Salamis, thou the divine, thou shalt cause - sons of women to perish, Or when the grain 129 is scattered or - when it is gathered together." - -142. This seemed to them to be (as in truth it was) a milder utterance -than the former one; therefore they had it written down and departed -with it to Athens: and when the messengers after their return made -report to the people, many various opinions were expressed by persons -inquiring into the meaning of the oracle, and among them these, standing -most in opposition to one another:--some of the elder men said they -thought that the god had prophesied to them that the Acropolis should -survive; for the Acropolis of the Athenians was in old time fenced with -a thorn hedge; and they conjectured accordingly that this saying about -the "bulwark of wood" referred to the fence: others on the contrary said -that the god meant by this their ships, and they advised to leave all -else and get ready these. Now they who said that the ships were the -bulwark of wood were shaken in their interpretation by the two last -verses which the prophetess uttered: - - - "Salamis, thou the divine, thou shalt cause sons of women to perish, - Or when the grain is scattered or when it is gathered together." - -In reference to these verses the opinions of those who said that the -ships were the bulwark of wood were disturbed; for the interpreters of -oracles took these to mean that it was fated for them, having got ready -for a sea-fight, to suffer defeat round about Salamis. - -143. Now there was one man of the Athenians who had lately been coming -forward to take a place among the first, whose name was Themistocles, -called son of Neocles. This man said that the interpreters of oracles -did not make right conjecture of the whole, and he spoke as follows, -saying that if these words that had been uttered referred really to the -Athenians, he did not think it would have been so mildly expressed in -the oracle, but rather thus, "Salamis, thou the merciless," instead of -"Salamis, thou the divine," at least if its settlers were destined to -perish round about it: but in truth the oracle had been spoken by the -god with reference to the enemy, if one understood it rightly, and not -to the Athenians: therefore he counselled them to get ready to fight a -battle by sea, for in this was their bulwark of wood. When Themistocles -declared his opinion thus, the Athenians judged that this was to be -preferred by them rather than the advice of the interpreters of oracles, -who bade them not make ready for a sea-fight, nor in short raise their -hands at all in opposition, but leave the land of Attica and settle in -some other. - -144. Another opinion too of Themistocles before this one proved the best -at the right moment, when the Athenians, having got large sums of money -in the public treasury, which had come in to them from the mines which -are at Laureion, were intending to share it among themselves, taking -each in turn the sum of ten drachmas. Then Themistocles persuaded the -Athenians to give up this plan of division and to make for themselves -with this money two hundred ships for the war, meaning by that the war -with the Eginetans: for this war having arisen 130 proved in fact the -salvation of Hellas at that time, by compelling the Athenians to become -a naval power. And the ships, not having been used for the purpose for -which they had been made, thus proved of service at need to Hellas. -These ships then, I say, the Athenians had already, having built them -beforehand, and it was necessary in addition to these to construct -others. They resolved then, when they took counsel after the oracle was -given, to receive the Barbarian invading Hellas with their ships in full -force, following the commands of the god, in combination with those of -the Hellenes who were willing to join them. - -145. These oracles had been given before to the Athenians: and when -those Hellenes who had the better mind about Hellas 131 came together to -one place, and considered their affairs and interchanged assurances with -one another, then deliberating together they thought it well first of -all things to reconcile the enmities and bring to an end the wars which -they had with one another. Now there were wars engaged 132 between -others also, and especially between the Athenians and the Eginetans. -After this, being informed that Xerxes was with his army at Sardis, they -determined to send spies to Asia to make observation of the power of -the king; and moreover they resolved to send envoys to Argos to form an -alliance against the Persian, and to send others to Sicily to Gelon -the son of Deinomenes and also to Corcyra, to urge them to come to the -assistance of Hellas, and others again to Crete; for they made it their -aim that if possible the Hellenic race might unite in one, and that they -might join all together and act towards the same end, since dangers were -threatening all the Hellenes equally. Now the power of Gelon was said to -be great, far greater than any other Hellenic power. - -146. When they had thus resolved, they reconciled their enmities and -then sent first three men as spies to Asia. These having come to Sardis -and having got knowledge about the king's army, were discovered, and -after having been examined by the generals of the land-army were being -led off to die. For these men, I say, death had been determined; but -Xerxes, being informed of this, found fault with the decision of the -generals and sent some of the spearmen of his guard, enjoining them, if -they should find the spies yet alive, to bring them to his presence. So -having found them yet surviving they brought them into the presence of -the king; and upon that Xerxes, being informed for what purpose they -had come, commanded the spearmen to lead them round and to show them the -whole army both foot and horse, and when they should have had their fill -of looking at these things, to let them go unhurt to whatsoever land -they desired. - -147. Such was the command which he gave, adding at the same time this -saying, namely that if the spies had been put to death, the Hellenes -would not have been informed beforehand of his power, how far beyond -description it was; while on the other hand by putting to death three -men they would not very greatly have damaged the enemy; but when these -returned back to Hellas, he thought it likely that the Hellenes, hearing -of his power, would deliver up their freedom to him themselves, before -the expedition took place which was being set in motion; and thus there -would be no need for them to have the labour of marching an army against -them. This opinion of his is like his manner of thinking at other times; -133 for when Xerxes was in Abydos, he saw vessels which carried corn -from the Pontus sailing out through the Hellespont on their way to Egina -and the Peloponnese. Those then who sat by his side, being informed that -the ships belonged to the enemy, were prepared to capture them, and were -looking to the king to see when he would give the word; but Xerxes asked -about them whither the men were sailing, and they replied: "Master, to -thy foes, conveying to them corn": he then made answer and said: "Are we -not also sailing to the same place as these men, furnished with corn as -well as with other things necessary? How then do these wrong us, since -they are conveying provisions for our use?" - -148. The spies then, having thus looked at everything and after that -having been dismissed, returned back to Europe: and meanwhile those -of the Hellenes who had sworn alliance against the Persian, after the -sending forth of the spies proceeded to send envoys next to Argos. Now -the Argives report that the matters concerning themselves took place -as follows:--They were informed, they say, at the very first of the -movement which was being set on foot by the Barbarian against Hellas; -and having been informed of this and perceiving that the Hellenes would -endeavour to get their alliance against the Persians, they had sent -messengers to inquire of the god at Delphi, and to ask how they should -act in order that it might be best for themselves: because lately there -had been slain of them six thousand men by the Lacedemonians and by -Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides, 134 and this in fact was the reason -that they were sending to inquire: and when they inquired, the Pythian -prophetess made answer to them as follows: - - - "Thou to thy neighbours a foe, by the gods immortal beloved, - Keep thou thy spear 135 within bounds, and sit well-guarded behind it: - Guard well the head, and the head shall preserve the limbs and the body." - -Thus, they say, the Pythian prophetess had replied to them before this; -and afterwards when the messengers of the Hellenes came, as I said, to -Argos, they entered the Council-chamber and spoke that which had been -enjoined to them; and to that which was said the Council replied that -the Argives were ready to do as they were requested, on condition that -they got peace made with the Lacedemonians for thirty years and that -they had half the leadership of the whole confederacy: and yet by -strict right (they said) the whole leadership fell to their share, but -nevertheless it was sufficient for them to have half. - -149. Thus they report that the Council made answer, although the oracle -forbade them to make the alliance with the Hellenes; and they were -anxious, they say, that a truce from hostilities for thirty years should -be made, although they feared the oracle, in order, as they allege, that -their sons might grow to manhood in these years; whereas if a truce did -not exist, they had fear that, supposing another disaster should come -upon them in fighting against the Persian in addition to that which had -befallen them already, they might be for all future time subject to -the Lacedemonians. To that which was spoken by the Council those of the -envoys who were of Sparta replied, that as to the truce they would refer -the matter to their public assembly, 136 but as to the leadership they -had themselves been commissioned to make reply, and did in fact say -this, namely that they had two kings, while the Argives had one; and it -was not possible to remove either of the two who were of Sparta from the -leadership, but there was nothing to prevent the Argive king from having -an equal vote with each of their two. Then, say the Argives, they could -not endure the grasping selfishness of the Spartans, but chose to -be ruled by the Barbarians rather than to yield at all to the -Lacedemonians; and they gave notice to the envoys to depart out of the -territory of the Argives before sunset, or, if not, they would be dealt -with as enemies. - -150. The Argives themselves report so much about these matters: but -there is another story reported in Hellas to the effect that Xerxes -sent a herald to Argos before he set forth to make an expedition against -Hellas, and this herald, they say, when he had come, spoke as follows: -"Men of Argos, king Xerxes says to you these things:--We hold that -Perses, from whom we are descended, was the son of Perseus, the son of -Danae, and was born of the daughter of Kepheus, Andromeda; and according -to this it would seem that we are descended from you. It is not fitting -then that we should go forth on an expedition against those from whom we -trace our descent, nor that ye should set yourselves in opposition to us -by rendering assistance to others; but it is fitting that ye keep still -and remain by yourselves: for if things happen according to my mind, -I shall not esteem any people to be of greater consequence than you." -Having heard this the Argives, it is said, considered it a great matter; -and therefore at first they made no offer of help nor did they ask for -any share; but afterwards, when the Hellenes tried to get them on their -side, then, since they knew well that the Lacedemonians would not give -them a share in the command, they asked for this merely in order that -they might have a pretext for remaining still. - -151. Also some of the Hellenes report that the following event, in -agreement with this account, came to pass many years after these -things:--there happened, they say, to be in Susa the city of Memnon 137 -envoys of the Athenians come about some other matter, namely Callias the -son of Hipponicos and the others who went up with him; and the Argives -at that very time had also sent envoys to Susa, and these asked -Artoxerxes the son of Xerxes, whether the friendship which they had -formed with Xerxes still remained unbroken, if they themselves desired -to maintain it, 138 or whether they were esteemed by him to be enemies; -and king Artoxerxes said that it most certainly remained unbroken, and -that there was no city which he considered to be more his friend than -Argos. - -152. Now whether Xerxes did indeed send a herald to Argos saying that -which has been reported, and whether envoys of the Argives who had gone -up to Susa inquired of Artoxerxes concerning friendship, I am not able -to say for certain; nor do I declare any opinion about the matters in -question other than that which the Argives themselves report: but I know -this much, that if all the nations of men should bring together into one -place the evils which they have suffered themselves, desiring to make -exchange with their neighbours, each people of them, when they had -examined closely the evils suffered by their fellows, would gladly carry -away back with them those which they had brought. 139 Thus it is not the -Argives who have acted most basely of all. I however am bound to report -that which is reported, though I am not bound altogether to believe -it; and let this saying be considered to hold good as regards every -narrative in the history: for I must add that this also is reported, -namely that the Argives were actually those who invited the Persian to -invade Hellas, because their war with the Lacedemonians had had an evil -issue, being willing to suffer anything whatever rather than the trouble -which was then upon them. - -153. That which concerns the Argives has now been said: and meanwhile -envoys had come to Sicily from the allies, to confer with Gelon, among -whom was also Syagros from the Lacedemonians. Now the ancestor of this -Gelon, he who was at Gela as a settler, 140 was a native of the island -of Telos, which lies off Triopion; and when Gela was founded by the -Lindians of Rhodes and by Antiphemos, he was not left behind. Then in -course of time his descendants became and continued to be priests of the -mysteries of the Earth goddesses, 141 an office which was acquired by -Telines one of their ancestors in the following manner:--certain of the -men of Gela, being worsted in a party struggle, had fled to Mactorion, -the city which stands above Gela: these men Telines brought back to Gela -from exile with no force of men but only with the sacred rites of these -goddesses; but from whom he received them, or whether he obtained them -for himself, 142 this I am not able to say; trusting in these -however, he brought the men back from exile, on the condition that his -descendants should be priests of the mysteries of the goddesses. To me -it has caused wonder also that Telines should have been able to perform -so great a deed, considering that which I am told; for such deeds, I -think, are not apt to proceed from every man, but from one who has a -brave spirit and manly vigour, whereas Telines is said by the dwellers -in Sicily to have been on the contrary a man of effeminate character and -rather poor spirit. - -154. He then had thus obtained the privilege of which I speak: and when -Cleander the son of Pantares brought his life to an end, having been -despot of Gela for seven years and being killed at last by Sabyllos a -man of Gela, then Hippocrates succeeded to the monarchy, who was -brother of Cleander. And while Hippocrates was despot, Gelon, who was a -descendant of Telines the priest of the mysteries, was spearman of the -guard 143 to Hippocrates with many others and among them Ainesidemos the -son of Pataicos. Then after no long time he was appointed by reason -of valour to be commander of the whole cavalry; for when Hippocrates -besieged successively the cities of Callipolis, Naxos, Zancle, Leontini, -and also Syracuse and many towns of the Barbarians, in these wars Gelon -showed himself a most brilliant warrior; and of the cities which I -just now mentioned, not one except Syracuse escaped being reduced to -subjection by Hippocrates: the Syracusans however, after they had been -defeated in battle at the river Eloros, were rescued by the Corinthians -and Corcyreans; these rescued them and brought the quarrel to a -settlement on this condition, namely that the Syracusans should deliver -up Camarina to Hippocrates. Now Camarina used in ancient time to belong -to the men of Syracuse. - -155. Then when it was the fate of Hippocrates also, after having been -despot for the same number of years as his brother Cleander, to be -killed at the city of Hybla, whither he had gone on an expedition -against the Sikelians, then Gelon made a pretence of helping the sons -of Hippocrates, Eucleides and Cleander, when the citizens were no longer -willing to submit; but actually, when he had been victorious in a battle -over the men of Gela, he robbed the sons of Hippocrates of the power and -was ruler himself. After this stroke of fortune Gelon restored those of -the Syracusans who were called "land-holders," 144 after they had been -driven into exile by the common people and by their own slaves, who -were called Kyllyrians, 145 these, I say, he restored from the city of -Casmene to Syracuse, and so got possession of this last city also, for -the common people of Syracuse, when Gelon came against them, delivered -up to him their city and themselves. - -156. So after he had received Syracuse into his power, he made less -account of Gela, of which he was ruler also in addition, and he gave -it in charge to Hieron his brother, while he proceeded to strengthen -Syracuse. So forthwith that city rose and shot up to prosperity; for in -the first place he brought all those of Camarina to Syracuse and made -them citizens, and razed to the ground the city of Camarina; then -secondly he did the same to more than half of the men of Gela, as he had -done to those of Camarina: and as regards the Megarians of Sicily, when -they were besieged and had surrendered by capitulation, the well-to-do -men 146 of them, though they had stirred up war with him and expected -to be put to death for this reason, he brought to Syracuse and made them -citizens, but the common people of the Megarians, who had no share in -the guilt of this war and did not expect that they would suffer any -evil, these also he brought to Syracuse and sold them as slaves to be -carried away from Sicily: and the same thing he did moreover to the men -of Euboia in Sicily, making a distinction between them: and he dealt -thus with these two cities because he thought that a body of commons was -a most unpleasant element in the State. - -157. In the manner then which has been described Gelon had become a -powerful despot; and at this time when the envoys of the Hellenes had -arrived at Syracuse, they came to speech with him and said as follows: -"The Lacedemonians and their allies sent us to get thee to be on our -side against the Barbarian; for we suppose that thou art certainly -informed of him who is about to invade Hellas, namely that a Persian -is designing to bridge over the Hellespont, and to make an expedition -against Hellas, leading against us out of Asia all the armies of the -East, under colour of marching upon Athens, but in fact meaning to bring -all Hellas to subjection under him. Do thou therefore, seeing that 147 -thou hast attained to a great power and hast no small portion of Hellas -for thy share, being the ruler of Sicily, come to the assistance of -those who are endeavouring to free Hellas, and join in making her free; -for if all Hellas be gathered together in one, it forms a great body, -and we are made a match in fight for those who are coming against us; -but if some of us go over to the enemy and others are not willing to -help, and the sound portion of Hellas is consequently small, there is at -once in this a danger that all Hellas may fall to ruin. For do not thou -hope that if the Persian shall overcome us in battle he will not come -to thee, but guard thyself against this beforehand; for in coming to -our assistance thou art helping thyself; and the matter which is wisely -planned has for the most part a good issue afterwards." - -158. The envoys spoke thus; and Gelon was very vehement with them, -speaking to them as follows: "Hellenes, a selfish speech is this, with -which ye have ventured to come and invite me to be your ally against the -Barbarian; whereas ye yourselves, when I in former time requested of you -to join with me in fighting against an army of Barbarians, contention -having arisen between me and the Carthaginians, and when I charged you -to exact vengeance of the men of Egesta for the death of Dorieos the son -of Anaxandrides, 148 while at the same time I offered to help in setting -free the trading-places, from which great advantages and gains have -been reaped by you,--ye, I say, then neither for my own sake came to my -assistance, nor in order to exact vengeance for the death of Dorieos; -and, so far as ye are concerned, all these parts are even now under the -rule of Barbarians. But since it turned out well for us and came to a -better issue, now that the war has come round and reached you, there has -at last arisen in your minds a recollection of Gelon. However, though I -have met with contempt at your hands, I will not act like you; but I am -prepared to come to your assistance, supplying two hundred triremes -and twenty thousand hoplites, with two thousand horsemen, two thousand -bowmen, two thousand slingers and two thousand light-armed men to run -beside the horsemen; and moreover I will undertake to supply corn for -the whole army of the Hellenes, until we have finished the war. These -things I engage to supply on this condition, namely that I shall be -commander and leader of the Hellenes against the Barbarian; but on any -other condition I will neither come myself nor will I send others." - -159. Hearing this Syagros could not contain himself but spoke these -words: "Deeply, I trow, would Agamemnon son of Pelops lament, 149 if he -heard that the Spartans had had the leadership taken away from them by -Gelon and by the Syracusans. Nay, but make thou no further mention of -this condition, namely that we should deliver the leadership to thee; -but if thou art desirous to come to the assistance of Hellas, know that -thou wilt be under the command of the Lacedemonians; and if thou dost -indeed claim not to be under command, come not thou to our help at all." - -160. To this Gelon, seeing that the speech of Syagros was adverse, set -forth to them his last proposal thus: "Stranger from Sparta, reproaches -sinking into the heart of a man are wont to rouse his spirit in anger -against them; thou however, though thou hast uttered insults against me -in thy speech, wilt not bring me to show myself unseemly in my reply. -But whereas ye so strongly lay claim to the leadership, it were fitting -that I should lay claim to it more than ye, seeing that I am the leader -of an army many times as large and of ships many more. Since however -this condition is so distasteful to you, 150 we will recede somewhat -from our former proposal. Suppose that ye should be leaders of -the land-army and I of the fleet; or if it pleases you to lead the -sea-forces, I am willing to be leader of those on land; and either ye -must be contented with these terms or go away without the alliance which -I have to give." - -161. Gelon, I say, made these offers, and the envoy of the Athenians, -answering before that of the Lacedemonians, replied to him as follows: -"O king of the Syracusans, it was not of a leader that Hellas was in -want when it sent us to thee, but of an army. Thou however dost not set -before us the hope that thou wilt send an army, except thou have the -leadership of Hellas; and thou art striving how thou mayest become -commander of the armies of Hellas. So long then as it was thy demand to -be leader of the whole army of the Hellenes, it was sufficient for us -Athenians to keep silence, knowing that the Lacedemonian would be able -to make defence even for us both; but now, since being repulsed from the -demand for the whole thou art requesting to be commander of the naval -force, we tell that thus it is:--not even if the Lacedemonian shall -permit thee to be commander of it, will we permit thee; for this at -least is our own, if the Lacedemonians do not themselves desire to have -it. With these, if they desire to be the leaders, we do not contend; -but none others beside ourselves shall we permit to be in command of -the ships: for then to no purpose should we be possessors of a -sea-force larger than any other which belongs to the Hellenes, if, being -Athenians, we should yield the leadership to Syracusans, we who boast of -a race which is the most ancient of all and who are of all the Hellenes -the only people who have not changed from one land to another; to whom -also belonged a man whom Homer the Epic poet said was the best of all -who came to Ilion in drawing up an army and setting it in array. 151 -Thus we are not justly to be reproached if we say these things." - -162. To this Gelon made answer thus: "Stranger of Athens, it would seem -that ye have the commanders, but that ye will not have the men to be -commanded. Since then ye will not at all give way, but desire to -have the whole, it were well that ye should depart home as quickly as -possible and report to the Hellenes that the spring has been taken out -of their year." Now this is the meaning of the saying:--evidently the -spring is the noblest part of the year; and so he meant to say that -his army was the noblest part of the army of the Hellenes: for Hellas -therefore, deprived of his alliance, it was, he said, as if the spring -had been taken out of the year. 152 - -163. The envoys of the Hellenes, having thus had conference with Gelon, -sailed away; and Gelon upon this, fearing on the one hand about the -Hellenes, lest they should not be able to overcome the Barbarian, and -on the other hand considering it monstrous and not to be endured that -he should come to Peloponnesus and be under the command of the -Lacedemonians, seeing that he was despot of Sicily, gave up the thought -of this way and followed another: for so soon as he was informed that -the Persian had crossed over the Hellespont, he sent Cadmos the son of -Skythes, a man of Cos, with three fifty-oared galleys to Delphi, bearing -large sums of money and friendly proposals, to wait there and see how -the battle would fall out: and if the Barbarian should be victorious, -he was to give him the money and also to offer him earth and water -from those over whom Gelon had rule; but if the Hellenes should be -victorious, he was bidden to bring it back. - -164. Now this Cadmos before these events, having received from his -father in a prosperous state the government 153 of the people of Cos, -had voluntarily and with no danger threatening, but moved merely by -uprightness of nature, placed the government in the hands of the people -of Cos 154 and had departed to Sicily, where he took from 155 the -Samians and newly colonised the city of Zancle, which had changed its -name to Messene. This same Cadmos, having come thither in such manner -as I have said, Gelon was now sending, having selected him on account of -the integrity which in other matters he had himself found to be in him; -and this man, in addition to the other upright acts which had been done -by him, left also this to be remembered, which was not the least of -them: for having got into his hands that great sum of money which Gelon -entrusted to his charge, though he might have taken possession of it -himself he did not choose to do so; but when the Hellenes had got the -better in the sea-fight and Xerxes had marched away and departed, he -also returned to Sicily bringing back with him the whole sum of money. - -165. The story which here follows is also reported by those who dwell in -Sicily, namely that, even though he was to be under the command of the -Lacedemonians, Gelon would have come to the assistance of the Hellenes, -but that Terillos, the son of Crinippos and despot of Himera, having -been driven out of Himera by Theron the son of Ainesidemos 156 the ruler -of the Agrigentines, was just at this very time bringing in an army -of Phenicians, Libyans, Iberians, Ligurians, Elisycans, Sardinians and -Corsicans, to the number of thirty myriads, 157 with Amilcas the son of -Annon king of the Carthaginians as their commander, whom Terillos had -persuaded partly by reason of his own guest-friendship, and especially -by the zealous assistance of Anaxilaos the son of Cretines, who was -despot of Rhegion, and who to help his father-in-law endeavoured to -bring in Amilcas to Sicily, and had given him his sons as hostages; -for Anaxilaos was married to the daughter of Terillos, whose name was -Kydippe. Thus it was, they say, that Gelon was not able to come to the -assistance of the Hellenes, and sent therefore the money to Delphi. - -166. In addition to this they report also that, as it happened, Gelon -and Theron were victorious over Amilcas the Carthaginian on the very -same day when the Hellenes were victorious at Salamis over the Persian. -And this Amilcas, who was a Carthaginian on the father's side but on -the mother's Syracusan, and who had become king of the Carthaginians by -merit, when the engagement took place and he was being worsted in the -battle, disappeared, as I am informed; for neither alive nor dead did he -appear again anywhere upon the earth, though Gelon used all diligence in -the search for him. - -167. Moreover there is also this story reported by the Carthaginians -themselves, who therein relate that which is probable in itself, namely -that while the Barbarians fought with the Hellenes in Sicily from the -early morning till late in the afternoon (for to such a length the -combat is said to have been protracted), during this time Amilcas was -remaining in the camp and was making sacrifices to get good omens of -success, offering whole bodies of victims upon a great pyre: and when he -saw that there was a rout of his own army, he being then, as it chanced, -in the act of pouring a libation over the victims, threw himself into -the fire, and thus he was burnt up and disappeared. Amilcas then having -disappeared, whether it was in such a manner as this, as it is reported -by the Phenicians, or in some other way, 159 the Carthaginians both -offer sacrifices to him now, and also they made memorials of him then in -all the cities of their colonies, and the greatest in Carthage itself. - -168. So far of the affairs of Sicily: and as for the Corcyreans, they -made answer to the envoys as follows, afterwards acting as I shall tell: -for the same men who had gone to Sicily endeavoured also to obtain the -help of these, saying the same things which they said to Gelon; and -the Corcyreans at the time engaged to send a force and to help in the -defence, declaring that they must not permit Hellas to be ruined without -an effort on their part, for if it should suffer disaster, they would -be reduced to subjection from the very first day; but they must give -assistance so far as lay in their power. Thus speciously they made -reply; but when the time came to send help, they manned sixty ships, -having other intentions in their minds, and after making much difficulty -they put out to sea and reached Peloponnese; and then near Pylos and -Tainaron in the land of the Lacedemonians they kept their ships at -anchor, waiting, as Gelon did, to see how the war would turn out: for -they did not expect that the Hellenes would overcome, but thought that -the Persian would gain the victory over them with ease and be ruler of -all Hellas. Accordingly they were acting of set purpose, in order that -they might be able to say to the Persian some such words as these: "O -king, when the Hellenes endeavoured to obtain our help for this war, -we, who have a power which is not the smallest of all, and could have -supplied a contingent of ships in number not the smallest, but after the -Athenians the largest, did not choose to oppose thee or to do anything -which was not to thy mind." By speaking thus they hoped that they would -obtain some advantage over the rest, and so it would have happened, as -I am of opinion: while they had for the Hellenes an excuse ready made, -that namely of which they actually made use: for when the Hellenes -reproached them because they did not come to help, they said that they -had manned sixty triremes, but had not been able to get past Malea -owing to the Etesian Winds; therefore it was that they had not come to -Salamis, nor was it by any want of courage on their part that they had -been left of the sea-fight. - -169. These then evaded the request of the Hellenes thus: but the -Cretans, when those of the Hellenes who had been appointed to deal with -these endeavoured to obtain their help, did thus, that is to say, they -joined together and sent men to inquire of the god at Delphi whether -it would be better for them if they gave assistance to Hellas: and the -Pythian prophetess answered: "Ye fools, do ye think those woes too -few, 160 which Minos sent upon you in his wrath, 161 because of the -assistance that ye gave to Menelaos? seeing that, whereas they did -not join with you in taking vengeance for his death in Camicos, ye -nevertheless joined with them in taking vengeance for the woman who by -a Barbarian was carried off from Sparta." When the Cretans heard this -answer reported, they abstained from the giving of assistance. - -170. For the story goes that Minos, having come to Sicania, which is now -called Sicily, in search of Daidalos, died there by a violent death; and -after a time the Cretans, urged thereto by a god, all except the men of -Polichne and Praisos, came with a great armament to Sicania and besieged -for seven years the city of Camicos, which in my time was occupied by -the Agrigentines; and at last not being able either to capture it or -to remain before it, because they were hard pressed by famine, they -departed and went away. And when, as they sailed, they came to be off -the coast of Iapygia, a great storm seized them and cast them away upon -the coast; and their vessels being dashed to pieces, they, since they -saw no longer any way of coming to Crete, founded there the city of -Hyria; and there they stayed and were changed so that they became -instead of Cretans, Messapians of Iapygia, and instead of islanders, -dwellers on the mainland: then from the city of Hyria they founded those -other settlements which the Tarentines long afterwards endeavoured to -destroy and suffer great disaster in that enterprise, so that this in -fact proved to be the greatest slaughter of Hellenes that is known to -us, and not only of the Tarentines themselves but of those citizens of -Rhegion who were compelled by Mikythos the son of Choiros to go to -the assistance of the Tarentines, and of whom there were slain in this -manner three thousand men: of the Tarentines themselves however, who -were slain there, there was no numbering made. This Mikythos, who was a -servant of Anaxilaos, had been left by him in charge of Rhegion; and he -it was who after being driven out of Rhegion took up his abode at Tegea -of the Arcadians and dedicated those many statues at Olympia. - -171. This of the men of Rhegion and of the Tarentines has been an -episode 162 in my narrative: in Crete however, as the men of Praisos -report, after it had been thus stripped of inhabitants, settlements were -made by various nations, but especially by Hellenes; and in the next -generation but one after the death of Minos came the Trojan war, in -which the Cretans proved not the most contemptible of those who came to -assist Menelaos. Then after this, when they had returned home from Troy, -famine and pestilence came upon both the men and their cattle, until at -last Crete was stripped of its inhabitants for the second time, and a -third population of Cretans now occupy it together with those which -were left of the former inhabitants. The Pythian prophetess, I say, by -calling these things to their minds stopped them from giving assistance -to the Hellenes, though they desired to do so. - -172. As for the Thessalians, they at first had taken the side of the -Persians against their will, and they gave proof that they were not -pleased by that which the Aleuadai were designing; for so soon as they -heard that the Persian was about to cross over into Europe, they sent -envoys to the Isthmus: now at the Isthmus were assembled representatives -of Hellas chosen by the cities which had the better mind about -Hellas: having come then to these, the envoys of the Thessalians -said: "Hellenes, ye must guard the pass by Olympos, in order that both -Thessaly and the whole of Hellas may be sheltered from the war. We are -prepared to join with you in guarding it, but ye must send a large force -as well as we; for if ye shall not send, be assured that we shall make -agreement with the Persian; since it is not right that we, standing as -outposts so far in advance of the rest of Hellas, should perish alone in -your defence: and not being willing 163 to come to our help, ye cannot -apply to us any force to compel inability; 164 but we shall endeavour to -devise some means of safety for ourselves." - -173. Thus spoke the Thessalians; and the Hellenes upon this resolved to -send to Thessaly by sea an army of men on foot to guard the pass: and -when the army was assembled it set sail through Euripos, and having -come to Alos in the Achaian land, it disembarked there and marched into -Thessaly leaving the ships behind at Alos, and arrived at Tempe, -the pass which leads from lower Macedonia into Thessaly by the river -Peneios, going between the mountains of Olympos and Ossa. There the -Hellenes encamped, being assembled to the number of about ten thousand -hoplites, and to them was added the cavalry of the Thessalians; and the -commander of the Lacedemonians was Euainetos the son of Carenos, who had -been chosen from the polemarchs, 165 not being of the royal house, and -of the Athenians Themistocles the son of Neocles. They remained however -but few days here, for envoys came from Alexander the son of Amyntas the -Macedonian, who advised them to depart thence and not to remain in the -pass and be trodden under foot by the invading host, signifying to them -at the same time both the great numbers of the army and the ships which -they had. When these gave them this counsel, they followed the advice, -for they thought that the counsel was good, and the Macedonian was -evidently well-disposed towards them. Also, as I think, it was fear that -persuaded them to it, when they were informed that there was another -pass besides this to the Thessalian land by upper Macedonia through -the Perraibians and by the city of Gonnos, the way by which the army of -Xerxes did in fact make its entrance. So the Hellenes went down to their -ships again and made their way back to the Isthmus. - -174. Such was the expedition to Thessaly, which took place when the king -was about to cross over from Asia to Europe and was already at Abydos. -So the Thessalians, being stripped of allies, upon this took the side of -the Medes with a good will and no longer half-heartedly, so that in the -course of events they proved very serviceable to the king. - -175. When the Hellenes had returned to the Isthmus, they deliberated, -having regard to that which had been said by Alexander, where and in -what regions they should set the war on foot: and the opinion which -prevailed was to guard the pass at Thermopylai; for it was seen to be -narrower than that leading into Thessaly, and at the same time it was -single, 166 and nearer also to their own land; and as for the path by -means of which were taken those of the Hellenes who were taken by the -enemy at Thermopylai, they did not even know of its existence until -they were informed by the people of Trachis after they had come to -Thermopylai. This pass then they resolved to guard, and not permit the -Barbarian to go by into Hellas; and they resolved that the fleet should -sail to Artemision in the territory of Histiaia: for these points are -near to one another, so that each division of their forces could have -information of what was happening to the other. And the places are so -situated as I shall describe. - -176. As to Artemision first, coming out of the Thracian Sea the space -is contracted from great width to that narrow channel which lies between -the island of Skiathos and the mainland of Magnesia; and after the -strait there follows at once in Euboea the sea-beach called Artemision, -upon which there is a temple of Artemis. Then secondly the passage into -Hellas by Trechis is, where it is narrowest, but fifty feet wide: it is -not here however that the narrowest part of this whole region lies, -but in front of Thermopylai and also behind it, consisting of a single -wheel-track only 167 both by Alpenoi, which lies behind Thermopylai and -again by the river Phoinix near the town of Anthela there is no space -but a single wheel-track only: and on the West of Thermopylai there is -a mountain which is impassable and precipitous, rising up to a great -height and extending towards the range of Oite, while on the East of the -road the sea with swampy pools succeeds at once. In this passage there -are hot springs, which the natives of the place call the "Pots," 168 and -an altar of Heracles is set up near them. Moreover a wall had once been -built at this pass, and in old times there was a gate set in it; which -wall was built by the Phokians, who were struck with fear because the -Thessalians had come from the land of the Thesprotians to settle in -the Aiolian land, the same which they now possess. Since then the -Thessalians, as they supposed, were attempting to subdue them, the -Phokians guarded themselves against this beforehand; and at that time -they let the water of the hot springs run over the passage, that the -place might be converted into a ravine, and devised every means that the -Thessalians might not make invasion of their land. Now the ancient wall -had been built long before, and the greater part of it was by that time -in ruins from lapse of time; the Hellenes however resolved to set it -up again, and at this spot to repel the Barbarian from Hellas: and very -near the road there is a village called Alpenoi, from which the Hellenes -counted on getting supplies. - -177. These places then the Hellenes perceived to be such as their -purpose required; for they considered everything beforehand and -calculated that the Barbarians would not be able to take advantage -either of superior numbers or of cavalry, and therefore they resolved -here to receive the invader of Hellas: and when they were informed that -the Persian was in Pieria, they broke up from the Isthmus and set forth -for the campaign, some going to Thermopylai by land, and others making -for Artemision by sea. - -178. The Hellenes, I say, were coming to the rescue with speed, having -been appointed to their several places: and meanwhile the men of Delphi -consulted the Oracle of the god on behalf of themselves and on behalf -of Hellas, being struck with dread; and a reply was given them that they -should pray to the Winds, for these would be powerful helpers of Hellas -in fight. So the Delphians, having accepted the oracle, first reported -the answer which had been given them to those of the Hellenes who -desired to be free; and having reported this to them at a time when they -were in great dread of the Barbarian, they laid up for themselves -an immortal store of gratitude: then after this the men of Delphi -established an altar for the Winds in Thuia, where is the sacred -enclosure of Thuia the daughter of Kephisos, after whom moreover this -place has its name; and also they approached them with sacrifices. - -179. The Delphians then according to the oracle even to this day make -propitiary offerings to the Winds: and meanwhile the fleet of Xerxes -setting forth from the city of Therma had passed over with ten of its -ships, which were those that sailed best, straight towards Skiathos, -where three Hellenic ships, a Troizenian, an Eginetan and an Athenian, -were keeping watch in advance. When the crews of these caught sight of -the ships of the Barbarians, they set off to make their escape: - -180, and the ship of Troizen, of which Prexinos was in command, was -pursued and captured at once by the Barbarians; who upon that took the -man who was most distinguished by beauty among the fighting-men on board -of her, 169 and cut his throat at the prow of the ship, making a good -omen for themselves of the first of the Hellenes whom they had captured -who was pre-eminent for beauty. The name of this man who was sacrificed -was Leon, and perhaps he had also his name to thank in some degree for -what befell him. - -181. The ship of Egina however, of which Asonides was master, even -gave them some trouble to capture it, seeing that Pytheas the son of -Ischenooes served as a fighting-man on board of her, who proved himself a -most valiant man on this day; for when the ship was being taken, he -held out fighting until he was hacked all to pieces: and as when he had -fallen he did not die, but had still breath in him, the Persians who -served as fighting-men on board the ships, because of his valour used -all diligence to save his life, both applying unguents of myrrh to heal -his wounds and also wrapping him up in bands of the finest linen; and -when they came back to their own main body, they showed him to all the -army, making a marvel of him and giving him good treatment; but the rest -whom they had taken in this ship they treated as slaves. - -182. Two of the three ships, I say, were captured thus; but the third, -of which Phormos an Athenian was master, ran ashore in its flight at -the mouth of the river Peneios; and the Barbarians got possession of -the vessel but not of the crew; for so soon as the Athenians had run the -ship ashore, they leapt out of her, and passing through Thessaly made -their way to Athens. - -183. Of these things the Hellenes who were stationed at Artemision were -informed by fire-signals from Skiathos; and being informed of them -and being struck with fear, they removed their place of anchorage from -Atermision to Chalkis, intending to guard the Euripos, but leaving at -the same time watchers by day 170 on the heights of Euboea. Of the ten -ships of the Barbarians three sailed up to the reef called Myrmex, 171 -which lies between Skiathos and Magnesia; and when the Barbarians had -there erected a stone pillar, which for that purpose they brought to -the reef, they set forth with their main body 172 from Therma, the -difficulties of the passage having now been cleared away, and sailed -thither with all their ships, having let eleven days go by since the -king set forth on his march from Therma. Now of this reef lying exactly -in the middle of the fairway they were informed by Pammon of Skyros. -Sailing then throughout the day the Barbarians accomplished the voyage -to Sepias in Magnesia and to the sea-beach which is between the city of -Casthanaia and the headland of Sepias. - -184. So far as this place and so far as Thermopylai the army was exempt -from calamity; and the number was then still, as I find by computation, -this:--Of the ships which came from Asia, which were one thousand two -hundred and seven, the original number of the crews supplied by the -several nations I find to have been twenty-four myriads and also in -addition to them one thousand four hundred, 173 if one reckons at the -rate of two hundred men to each ship: and on board of each of these -ships there served as fighting-men, 174 besides the fighting-men -belonging to its own nation in each case, thirty men who were Persians, -Medes, or Sacans; and this amounts to three myriads six thousand two -hundred and ten 175 in addition to the others. I will add also to this -and to the former number the crews of the fifty-oared galleys, assuming -that there were eighty men, more or less, 176 in each one. Of these -vessels there were gathered together, as was before said, three -thousand: it would follow therefore that there were in them -four-and-twenty myriads 177 of men. This was the naval force which came -from Asia, amounting in all to fifty-one myriads and also seven thousand -six hundred and ten in addition. 178 Then of the footmen there had been -found to be a hundred and seventy myriads, 179 and of the horsemen eight -myriads: 180 and I will add also to these the Arabian camel-drivers -and the Libyan drivers of chariots, assuming them to amount to twenty -thousand men. The result is then that the number of the ships' -crews combined with that of the land-army amounts to two hundred and -thirty-one myriads and also in addition seven thousand six hundred and -ten. 181 This is the statement of the Army which was brought up out of -Asia itself, without counting the attendants which accompanied it or the -corn-transports and the men who sailed in these. - -185. There is still to be reckoned, in addition to all this which has -been summed up, the force which was being led from Europe; and of this -we must give a probable estimate. 182 The Hellenes of Thrace and of the -islands which lie off the coast of Thrace supplied a hundred and twenty -ships; from which ships there results a sum of twenty-four thousand -men: and as regards the land-force which was supplied by the Thracians, -Paionians, Eordians, Bottiaians, the race which inhabits Chalkidike, the -Brygians, Pierians, Macedonians, Perraibians, Enianians, 183 Dolopians, -Magnesians, Achaians, and all those who dwell in the coast-region of -Thrace, of these various nations I estimate that there were thirty -myriads. 184 These myriads then added to those from Asia make a total -sum of two hundred and sixty-four myriads of fighting men and in -addition to these sixteen hundred and ten. 185 - -186. Such being the number of this body of fighting-men, 186 the -attendants who went with these and the men who were in the small vessels -187 which carried corn, and again in the other vessels which sailed -with the army, these I suppose were not less in number but more than -the fighting men. I assume them to be equal in number with these, and -neither at all more nor less; and so, being supposed equal in number -with the fighting body, they make up the same number of myriads as they. -Thus five hundred and twenty-eight myriads three thousand two hundred -and twenty 188 was the number of men whom Xerxes son of Dareios led as -far as Sepias and Thermopylai. - -187. This is the number of the whole army of Xerxes; but of the women -who made bread for it, and of the concubines and eunuchs no man can -state any exact number, nor again of the draught-animals and other -beasts of burden or of the Indian hounds, which accompanied it, could -any one state the number by reason of their multitude: so that it does -not occur to me to wonder that the streams of some rivers should have -failed them, but I wonder rather how the provisions were sufficient -to feed so many myriads; for I find on computation that if each man -received a quart 189 of wheat every day and nothing more, there would be -expended every day eleven myriads of medimnoi 190 and three hundred and -forty medimnoi besides: and here I am not reckoning anything for the -women, eunuchs, baggage-animals, or dogs. Of all these men, amounting -to so many myriads, not one was for beauty and stature more worthy than -Xerxes himself to possess this power. - -188. The fleet, I say, set forth and sailed: and when it had put in to -land in the region of Magnesia at the beach which is between the city of -Casthanaia and the headland of Sepias, the first of the ships which came -lay moored by the land and the others rode at anchor behind them; for, -as the beach was not large in extent, they lay at anchor with prows -projecting 191 towards the sea in an order which was eight ships deep. -For that night they lay thus; but at early dawn, after clear sky and -windless calm, the sea began to be violently agitated and a great storm -fell upon them with a strong East 192 Wind, that wind which they who -dwell about those parts call Hellespontias. Now as many of them as -perceived that the wind was rising and who were so moored that it was -possible for them to do so, drew up their ships on land before the storm -came, and both they and their ships escaped; but as for those of the -ships which it caught out at sea, some it cast away at the place called -Ipnoi 193 in Pelion and others on the beach, while some were wrecked -on the headland of Sepias itself, others at the city of Meliboia, and -others were thrown up on shore 194 at Casthanaia: and the violence of -the storm could not be resisted. - -189. There is a story reported that the Athenians had called upon Boreas -to aid them, by suggestion of an oracle, because there had come to them -another utterance of the god bidding them call upon their brother by -marriage to be their helper. Now according to the story of the -Hellenes Boreas has a wife who is of Attica, Oreithuia the daughter -of Erechththeus. By reason of this affinity, I say, the Athenians, -according to the tale which has gone abroad, conjectured that their -"brother by marriage" was Boreas, and when they perceived the wind -rising, as they lay with their ships at Chalkis in Euboea, or even -before that, they offered sacrifices and called upon Boreas and -Oreithuia to assist them and to destroy the ships of the Barbarians, as -they had done before round about mount Athos. Whether it was for this -reason that the wind Boreas fell upon the Barbarians while they lay at -anchor, I am not able to say; but however that may be, the Athenians -report that Boreas had come to their help in former times, and that at -this time he accomplished those things for them of which I speak; and -when they had returned home they set up a temple dedicated to Boreas by -the river Ilissos. - -190. In this disaster the number of the ships which were lost was not -less than four hundred, according to the report of those who state the -number which is lowest, with men innumerable and an immense quantity -of valuable things; insomuch that to Ameinocles the son of Cretines, -a Magnesian who held lands about Sepias, this shipwreck proved very -gainful; for he picked up many cups of gold which were thrown -up afterwards on the shore, and many also of silver, and found -treasure-chests 195 which had belonged to the Persians, and made -acquisition of other things of gold 196 more than can be described. This -man however, though he became very wealthy by the things which he found, -yet in other respects was not fortunate; for he too suffered misfortune, -being troubled by the slaying of a child. 197 - -191. Of the corn-transports and other vessels which perished there was -no numbering made; and so great was the loss that the commanders of the -fleet, being struck with fear lest the Thessalians should attack them -now that they had been brought into an evil plight, threw round their -camp a lofty palisade built of the fragments of wreck. For the storm -continued during three days; but at last the Magians, making sacrifice -of victims and singing incantations to appease the Wind by enchantments, -198 and in addition to this, offering to Thetis and the Nereids, caused -it to cease on the fourth day, or else for some other reason it abated -of its own will. Now they offered sacrifice to Thetis, being informed -by the Ionians of the story that she was carried off from the place by -Peleus, and that the whole headland of Sepias belonged to her and to the -other Nereids. - -192. The storm then had ceased on the fourth day; and meanwhile the -day-watchers had run down from the heights of Euboea on the day after -the first storm began, and were keeping the Hellenes informed of all -that had happened as regards the shipwreck. They then, being informed of -it, prayed first to Poseidon the Saviour and poured libations, and then -they hastened to go back to Artemision, expecting that there would be -but a very few ships of the enemy left to come against them. - -193. They, I say, came for the second time and lay with their ships -about Artemision: and from that time even to this they preserve the use -of the surname "Saviour" for Poseidon. Meanwhile the Barbarians, when -the wind had ceased and the swell of the sea had calmed down, drew their -ships into the sea and sailed on along the shore of the mainland, and -having rounded the extremity of Magnesia they sailed straight into the -gulf which leads towards Pagasai. In this gulf of Magnesia there is a -place where it is said that Heracles was left behind by Jason and his -comrades, having been sent from the Argo to fetch water, at the time -when they were sailing for the fleece to Aia in the land of Colchis: for -from that place they designed, when they had taken in water, to loose -199 their ship into the open sea; and from this the place has come -to have the name Aphetai. Here then the fleet of Xerxes took up its -moorings. - -194. Now it chanced that fifteen of these ships put out to sea a good -deal later than the rest, and they happened to catch sight of the ships -of the Hellenes at Artemision. These ships the Barbarians supposed to be -their own, and they sailed thither accordingly and fell among the enemy. -Of these the commander was Sandokes the son of Thamasios, the governor -of Kyme in Aiolia, whom before this time king Dareios had taken and -crucified (he being one of the Royal Judges) for this reason, 19901 -namely that Sandokes had pronounced judgment unjustly for money. So then -after he was hung up, Dareios reckoned and found that more good services -had been done by him to the royal house than were equal to his offences; -and having found this, and perceived that he had himself acted with more -haste than wisdom, he let him go. Thus he escaped from king Dareios, and -did not perish but survived; now, however, when he sailed in toward the -Hellenes, he was destined not to escape the second time; for when the -Hellenes saw them sailing up, perceiving the mistake which was being -made they put out against them and captured them without difficulty. - -195. Sailing in one of these ships Aridolis was captured, the despot of -Alabanda in Caria, and in another the Paphian commander Penthylos son of -Demonooes, who brought twelve ships from Paphos, but had lost eleven -of them in the storm which had come on by Sepias, and now was captured -sailing in towards Artemision with the one which had escaped. These men -the Hellenes sent away in bonds to the Isthmus of the Corinthians, after -having inquired of them that which they desired to learn of the army of -Xerxes. - -196. The fleet of the Barbarians then, except the fifteen ships of which -I said that Sandokes was in command, had arrived at Aphetai; and Xerxes -meanwhile with the land-army, having marched through Thessalia and -Achaia, had already entered the land of the Malians two days before, 200 -after having held in Thessaly a contest for his own horses, making trial -also of the Thessalian cavalry, because he was informed that it was the -best of all among the Hellenes; and in this trial the horses of Hellas -were far surpassed by the others. Now of the rivers in Thessalia the -Onochonos alone failed to suffice by its stream for the drinking of -the army; but of the rivers which flow in Achaia even that which is the -largest of them, namely Epidanos, even this, I say, held out but barely. - -197. When Xerxes had reached Alos of Achaia, the guides who gave him -information of the way, wishing to inform him fully of everything, -reported to him a legend of the place, the things, namely, which have to -do with the temple of Zeus Laphystios; 201 how Athamas the son of Aiolos -contrived death for Phrixos, having taken counsel with Ino, and after -this how by command of an oracle the Achaians propose to his descendants -the following tasks to be performed:--whosoever is the eldest of this -race, on him they lay an injunction that he is forbidden to enter the -City Hall, 202 and they themselves keep watch; now the City Hall is -called by the Achaians the "Hall of the People"; 203 and if he enter -it, it may not be that he shall come forth until he is about to be -sacrificed. They related moreover in addition to this, that many of -these who were about to be sacrificed had before now run away and -departed to another land, because they were afraid; and if afterwards -in course of time they returned to their own land and were caught, -they were placed 204 in the City Hall: and they told how the man is -sacrificed all thickly covered with wreaths, and with what form of -procession he is brought forth to the sacrifice. This is done to the -descendants of Kytissoros the son of Phrixos, because, when the Achaians -were making of Athamas the son of Aiolos a victim to purge the sins of -the land according to the command of an oracle, and were just about to -sacrifice him, this Kytissoros coming from Aia of the Colchians rescued -him; and having done so he brought the wrath of the gods upon his own -descendants. Having heard these things, Xerxes, when he came to the -sacred grove, both abstained from entering it himself, and gave the -command to his whole army to so likewise; and he paid reverence both to -the house and to the sacred enclosure of the descendants of Athamas. - -198. These then are the things which happened in Thessalia and in -Achaia; and from these regions he proceeded to the Malian land, going -along by a gulf of the sea, in which there is an ebb and flow of the -tide every day. Round about this gulf there is a level space, which in -parts is broad but in other parts very narrow; and mountains lofty and -inaccessible surrounding this place enclose the whole land of Malis and -are called the rocks of Trachis. The first city upon this gulf as one -goes from Achaia is Antikyra, by which the river Spercheios flowing from -the land of the Enianians 205 runs out into the sea. At a distance of -twenty furlongs 206 or thereabouts from this river there is another, -of which the name is Dyras; this is said to have appeared that it -might bring assistance to Heracles when he was burning: then again at -a distance of twenty furlongs from this there is another river called -Melas. - -199. From this river Melas the city of Trachis is distant five furlongs; -and here, in the parts where Trachis is situated, is even the widest -portion of all this district, as regards the space from the mountains to -the sea; for the plain has an extent of twenty-two thousand plethra. -207 In the mountain-range which encloses the land of Trachis there is a -cleft to the South of Trachis itself; and through this cleft the river -Asopos flows, and runs along by the foot of the mountain. - -200. There is also another river called Phoinix, to the South of the -Asopos, of no great size, which flowing from these mountains runs out -into the Asopos; and at the river Phoinix is the narrowest place, for -here has been constructed a road with a single wheel-track only. -Then from the river Phoinix it is a distance of fifteen furlongs to -Thermopylai; and in the space between the river Phoinix and Thermopylai -there is a village called Anthela, by which the river Asopos flows, and -so runs out into the sea; and about this village there is a wide space -in which is set up a temple dedicated to Demeter of the Amphictyons, and -there are seats for the Amphictyonic councillors and a temple dedicated -to Amphictyon himself. - -201. King Xerxes, I say, was encamped within the region of Trachis in -the land of the Malians, and the Hellenes within the pass. This place is -called by the Hellenes in general Thermopylai, but by the natives of the -place and those who dwell in the country round it is called Pylai. Both -sides then were encamped hereabout, and the one had command of all that -lies beyond Trachis 208 in the direction of the North Wind, and the -others of that which tends towards the South Wind and the mid-day on -this side of the continent. 209 - -202. These were the Hellenes who awaited the attack of the Persian in -this place:--of the Spartans three hundred hoplites; of the men of -Tegea and Mantineia a thousand, half from each place, from Orchomenos -in Arcadia a hundred and twenty, and from the rest of Arcadia a -thousand,--of the Arcadians so many; from Corinth four hundred, from -Phlius two hundred, and of the men of Mykene eighty: these were they who -came from the Peloponnese; and from the Boeotians seven hundred of the -Thespians, and of the Thebans four hundred. - -203. In addition to these the Locrians of Opus had been summoned to come -in their full force, and of the Phokians a thousand: for the Hellenes -had of themselves sent a summons to them, saying by messengers that they -had come as forerunners of the others, that the rest of the allies -were to be expected every day, that their sea was safely guarded, being -watched by the Athenians and the Eginetans and by those who had been -appointed to serve in the fleet, and that they need fear nothing: for -he was not a god, they said, who was coming to attack Hellas, but a man; -and there was no mortal, nor would be any, with those fortunes evil -had not been mingled at his very birth, and the greatest evils for the -greatest men; therefore he also who was marching against them, being -mortal, would be destined to fail of his expectation. They accordingly, -hearing this, came to the assistance of the others at Trachis. - -204. Of these troops, although there were other commanders also -according to the State to which each belonged, yet he who was most held -in regard and who was leader of the whole army was the Lacedemonian -Leonidas son of Anaxandrides, son of Leon, son of Eurycratides, son of -Anaxander, son of Eurycrates, son of Polydoros, son of Alcamenes, son of -Teleclos, son of Archelaos, son of Hegesilaos, son of Doryssos, son of -Leobotes, son of Echestratos, son of Agis, son of Eurysthenes, son of -Aristodemos, son of Aristomachos, son of Cleodaios, son of Hyllos, -son of Heracles; who had obtained the kingdom of Sparta contrary to -expectation. - -205. For as he had two brothers each older than himself, namely -Cleomenes and Dorieos, he had been far removed from the thought of -becoming king. Since however Cleomenes had died without male child, and -Dorieos was then no longer alive, but he also had brought his life to an -end in Sicily, 210 thus the kingdom came to Leonidas, both because was -of elder birth than Cleombrotos (for Cleombrotos was the youngest of the -sons of Anaxandrides) and also because he had in marriage the daughter -of Cleomenes. He then at this time went to Thermopylai, having chosen -the three hundred who were appointed by law 211 and men who chanced -to have sons; and he took with him besides, before he arrived, those -Thebans whom I mentioned when I reckoned them in the number of the -troops, of whom the commander was Leontiades the son of Eurymachos: and -for this reason Leonidas was anxious to take up these with him of all -the Hellenes, namely because accusations had been strongly brought -against them that they were taking the side of the Medes; therefore -he summoned them to the war, desiring to know whether they would send -troops with them or whether they would openly renounce the alliance of -the Hellenes; and they sent men, having other thoughts in their mind the -while. - -206. These with Leonidas the Spartans had sent out first, in order that -seeing them the other allies might join in the campaign, and for fear -that they also might take the side of the Medes, if they heard that the -Spartans were putting off their action. Afterwards, however, when they -had kept the festival, (for the festival of the Carneia stood in their -way), they intended then to leave a garrison in Sparta and to come to -help in full force with speed: and just so also the rest of the allies -had thought of doing themselves; for it chanced that the Olympic -festival fell at the same time as these events. Accordingly, since -they did not suppose that the fighting in Thermopylai would so soon be -decided, they sent only the forerunners of their force. - -207. These, I say, had intended to do thus: and meanwhile the Hellenes -at Thermopylai, when the Persian had come near to the pass, were in -dread, and deliberated about making retreat from their position. To the -rest of the Peloponnesians then it seemed best that they should go to -the Peloponnese and hold the Isthmus in guard; but Leonidas, when the -Phokians and Locrians were indignant at this opinion, gave his vote -for remaining there, and for sending at the same time messengers to the -several States bidding them to come up to help them, since they were but -few to repel the army of the Medes. - -208. As they were thus deliberating, Xerxes sent a scout on horseback -to see how many they were in number and what they were doing; for he had -heard while he was yet in Thessaly that there had been assembled in -this place a small force, and that the leaders of it were Lacedemonians -together with Leonidas, who was of the race of Heracles. And when the -horseman had ridden up towards their camp, he looked upon them and had -a view not indeed of the whole of their army, for of those which were -posted within the wall, which they had repaired and were keeping a -guard, it was not possible to have a view, but he observed those who -were outside, whose station was in front of the wall; and it chanced at -that time that the Lacedemonians were they who were posted outside. -So then he saw some of the men practising athletic exercises and -some combing their long hair: and as he looked upon these things he -marvelled, and at the same time he observed their number: and when he -had observed all exactly, he rode back unmolested, for no one attempted -to pursue him and he found himself treated with much indifference. And -when he returned he reported to Xerxes all that which he had seen. - -209. Hearing this Xerxes was not able to conjecture the truth about the -matter, namely that they were preparing themselves to die and to deal -death to the enemy so far as they might; but it seemed to him that they -were acting in a manner merely ridiculous; and therefore he sent for -Demaratos the son of Ariston, who was in his camp, and when he came, -Xerxes asked him of these things severally, desiring to discover what -this was which the Lacedemonians were doing: and he said: "Thou didst -hear from my mouth at a former time, when we were setting forth to go -against Hellas, the things concerning these men; and having heard them -thou madest me an object of laughter, because I told thee of these -things which I perceived would come to pass; for to me it is the -greatest of all ends to speak the truth continually before thee, O -king. Hear then now also: these men have come to fight with us for the -passage, and this is it that they are preparing to do; for they have a -custom which is as follows;--whenever they are about to put their lives -in peril, then they attend to the arrangement of their hair. Be assured -however, that if thou shalt subdue these and the rest of them which -remain behind in Sparta, there is no other race of men which will await -thy onset, O king, or will raise hands against thee: for now thou art -about to fight against the noblest kingdom and city of those which are -among the Hellenes, and the best men." To Xerxes that which was said -seemed to be utterly incredible, and he asked again a second time in -what manner being so few they would fight with his host. He said; "O -king, deal with me as with a liar, if thou find not that these things -come to pass as I say." - -210. Thus saying he did not convince Xerxes, who let four days go by, -expecting always that they would take to flight; but on the fifth day, -when they did not depart but remained, being obstinate, as he thought, -in impudence and folly, he was enraged and sent against them the Medes -and the Kissians, charging them to take the men alive and bring them -into his presence. Then when the Medes moved forward and attacked -the Hellenes, there fell many of them, and others kept coming up -continually, and they were not driven back, though suffering great loss: -and they made it evident to every man, and to the king himself not least -of all, that human beings are many but men are few. This combat went on -throughout the day: - -211, and when the Medes were being roughly handled, then these retired -from the battle, and the Persians, those namely whom the king called -"Immortals," of whom Hydarnes was commander, took their place and came -to the attack, supposing that they at least would easily overcome the -enemy. When however these also engaged in combat with the Hellenes, -they gained no more success than the Median troops but the same as they, -seeing that they were fighting in a place with a narrow passage, using -shorter spears than the Hellenes, and not being able to take advantage -of their superior numbers. The Lacedemonians meanwhile were fighting -in a memorable fashion, and besides other things of which they made -display, being men perfectly skilled in fighting opposed to men who were -unskilled, they would turn their backs to the enemy and make a pretence -of taking to flight; and the Barbarians, seeing them thus taking a -flight, would follow after them with shouting and clashing of arms: then -the Lacedemonians, when they were being caught up, turned and faced -the Barbarians; and thus turning round they would slay innumerable -multitudes of the Persians; and there fell also at these times a few of -the Spartans themselves. So, as the Persians were not able to obtain any -success by making trial of the entrance and attacking it by divisions -and every way, they retired back. - -212. And during these onsets it is said that the king, looking on, three -times leapt up from his seat, struck with fear for his army. Thus they -contended then: and on the following day the Barbarians strove with no -better success; for because the men opposed to them were few in number, -they engaged in battle with the expectation that they would be found to -be disabled and would not be capable any longer of raising their hands -against them in fight. The Hellenes however were ordered by companies as -well as by nations, and they fought successively each in turn, excepting -the Phokians, for these were posted upon the mountain to guard the path. -So the Persians, finding nothing different from that which they had seen -on the former day, retired back from the fight. - -213. Then when the king was in a strait as to what he should do in the -matter before him, Epialtes the son of Eurydemos, a Malian, came to -speech with him, supposing that he would win a very great reward -from the king; and this man told him of the path which leads over the -mountain to Thermopylai, and brought about the destruction of those -Hellenes who remained in that place. Afterwards from fear of the -Lacedemonians he fled to Thessaly, and when he had fled, a price was -proclaimed for his life by the Deputies, 212 when the Amphictyons -met for their assembly at Pylai. 213 Then some time afterwards having -returned to Antikyra he was slain by Athenades a man of Trachis. Now -this Athenades killed Epialtes for another cause, which I shall set -forth in the following part of the history, 214 but he was honoured for -it none the less by the Lacedemonians. - -214. Thus Epialtes after these events was slain: there is however -another tale told, that Onetes the son of Phanagoras, a man of Carystos, -and Corydallos of Antikyra were those who showed the Persians the way -round the mountain; but this I can by no means accept: for first we must -judge by this fact, namely that the Deputies of the Hellenes did not -proclaim a price for the lives of Onetes and Corydallos, but for that -of Epialtes the Trachinian, having surely obtained the most exact -information of the matter; and secondly we know that Epialtes was an -exile from his country to avoid this charge. True it is indeed that -Onetes might know of this path, even though he were not a Malian, if he -had had much intercourse with the country; but Epialtes it was who led -them round the mountain by the path, and him therefore I write down as -the guilty man. - -215. Xerxes accordingly, being pleased by that which Epialtes engaged -to accomplish, at once with great joy proceeded to send Hydarnes and the -men of whom Hydarnes was commander; 215 and they set forth from the camp -about the time when the lamps are lit. This path of which we speak -had been discovered by the Malians who dwell in that land, and having -discovered it they led the Thessalians by it against the Phokians, at -the time when the Phokians had fenced the pass with a wall and thus were -sheltered from the attacks upon them: so long ago as this had the pass -been proved by the Malians to be of no value. 216 And this path lies -as follows:--it begins from the river Asopos, which flows through the -cleft, and the name of this mountain and of the path is the same, namely -Anopaia; and this Anopaia stretches over the ridge of the mountain and -ends by the town of Alpenos, which is the first town of the Locrians -towards Malis, and by the stone called Black Buttocks 217 and the seats -of the Kercopes, where is the very narrowest part. - -217. By this path thus situated the Persians after crossing over the -Asopos proceeded all through the night, having on their right hand the -mountains of the Oitaians and on the left those of the Trachinians: and -when dawn appeared, they had reached the summit of the mountain. In -this part of the mountain there were, as I have before shown, a thousand -hoplites of the Phokians keeping guard, to protect their own country and -to keep the path: for while the pass below was guarded by those whom I -have mentioned, the path over the mountain was guarded by the Phokians, -who had undertaken the business for Leonidas by their own offer. - -218. While the Persians were ascending they were concealed from these, -since all the mountain was covered with oak-trees; and the Phokians -became aware of them after they had made the ascent as follows:--the day -was calm, and not a little noise was made by the Persians, as was likely -when leaves were lying spread upon the ground under their feet; upon -which the Phokians started up and began to put on their arms, and by -this time the Barbarians were close upon them. These, when they saw men -arming themselves, fell into wonder, for they were expecting that no one -would appear to oppose them, and instead of that they had met with an -armed force. Then Hydarnes, seized with fear lest the Phokians should -be Lacedemonians, asked Epialtes of what people the force was; and -being accurately informed he set the Persians in order for battle. The -Phokians however, when they were hit by the arrows of the enemy, which -flew thickly, fled and got away at once to the topmost peak of the -mountain, fully assured that it was against them that the enemy had -designed to come, 218 and here they were ready to meet death. These, -I say, were in this mind; but the Persians meanwhile with Epialtes and -Hydarnes made no account of the Phokians, but descended the mountain -with all speed. - -219. To the Hellenes who were in Thermopylai first the soothsayer -Megistias, after looking into the victims which were sacrificed, -declared the death which was to come to them at dawn of day; and -afterwards deserters brought the report 219 of the Persians having gone -round. These signified it to them while it was yet night, and thirdly -came the day-watchers, who had run down from the heights when day was -already dawning. Then the Hellenes deliberated, and their opinions were -divided; for some urged that they should not desert their post, while -others opposed this counsel. After this they departed from their -assembly, 220 and some went away and dispersed each to their several -cities, while others of them were ready to remain there together with -Leonidas. - -220. However it is reported also that Leonidas himself sent them away, -having a care that they might not perish, but thinking that it was not -seemly for himself and for the Spartans who were present to leave the -post to which they had come at first to keep guard there. I am inclined -rather to be of this latter opinion, 221 namely that because Leonidas -perceived that the allies were out of heart and did not desire to face -the danger with him to the end, he ordered them to depart, but held that -for himself to go away was not honourable, whereas if he remained, a -great fame of him would be left behind, and the prosperity of Sparta -would not be blotted out: for an oracle had been given by the Pythian -prophetess to the Spartans, when they consulted about this war at the -time when it was being first set on foot, to the effect that either -Lacedemon must be destroyed by the Barbarians, or their king must lose -his life. This reply the prophetess gave them in hexameter verses, and -it ran thus: - - - "But as for you, ye men who in wide-spaced Sparta inhabit, - Either your glorious city is sacked by the children of Perses, - Or, if it be not so, then a king of the stock Heracleian - Dead shall be mourned for by all in the boundaries of broad Lacedemon. - Him 222 nor the might of bulls nor the raging of lions shall hinder; - For he hath might as of Zeus; and I say he shall not be restrained, - Till one of the other of these he have utterly torn and divided." 223 - -I am of opinion that Leonidas considering these things and desiring to -lay up for himself glory above all the other Spartans, 224 dismissed the -allies, rather than that those who departed did so in such disorderly -fashion, because they were divided in opinion. - -221. Of this the following has been to my mind a proof as convincing as -any other, namely that Leonidas is known to have endeavoured to dismiss -the soothsayer also who accompanied this army, Megistias the Acarnanian, -who was said to be descended from Melampus, that he might not perish -with them after he had declared from the victims that which was about -to come to pass for them. He however when he was bidden to go would -not himself depart, but sent away his son who was with him in the army, -besides whom he had no other child. - -222. The allies then who were dismissed departed and went away, obeying -the word of Leonidas, and only the Thespians and the Thebans remained -behind with the Lacedemonians. Of these the Thebans stayed against their -will and not because they desired it, for Leonidas kept them, counting -them as hostages; but the Thespians very willingly, for they said that -they would not depart and leave Leonidas and those with him, but they -stayed behind and died with them. The commander of these was Demophilos -the son of Diadromes. - -223. Xerxes meanwhile, having made libations at sunrise, stayed for -some time, until about the hour when the market fills, and then made -an advance upon them; for thus it had been enjoined by Epialtes, seeing -that the descent of the mountain is shorter and the space to be passed -over much less than the going round and the ascent. The Barbarians -accordingly with Xerxes were advancing to the attack; and the Hellenes -with Leonidas, feeling that they were going forth to death, now advanced -out much further than at first into the broader part of the defile; for -when the fence of the wall was being guarded, 225 they on the former -days fought retiring before the enemy into the narrow part of the pass; -but now they engaged with them outside the narrows, and very many of -the Barbarians fell: for behind them the leaders of the divisions with -scourges in their hands were striking each man, ever urging them on to -the front. Many of them then were driven into the sea and perished, and -many more still were trodden down while yet alive by one another, and -there was no reckoning of the number that perished: for knowing the -death which was about to come upon them by reason of those who were -going round the mountain, they 226 displayed upon the Barbarians all the -strength which they had, to its greatest extent, disregarding danger and -acting as if possessed by a spirit of recklessness. - -224. Now by this time the spears of the greater number of them were -broken, so it chanced, in this combat, and they were slaying the -Persians with their swords; and in this fighting fell Leonidas, having -proved himself a very good man, and others also of the Spartans with -him, men of note, of whose names I was informed as of men who had proved -themselves worthy, and indeed I was told also the names of all the three -hundred. Moreover of the Persians there fell here, besides many others -of note, especially two sons of Dareios, Abrocomes and Hyperanthes, born -to Dareios of Phratagune the daughter of Artanes: now Artanes was the -brother of king Dareios and the son of Hystaspes, the son of Arsames; -and he in giving his daughter in marriage to Dareios gave also with her -all his substance, because she was his only child. - -225. Two brothers of Xerxes, I say, fell here fighting; and meanwhile -over the body of Leonidas there arose a great struggle between the -Persians and the Lacedemonians, until the Hellenes by valour dragged -this away from the enemy and turned their opponents to flight four -times. This conflict continued until those who had gone with Epialtes -came up; and when the Hellenes learnt that these had come, from that -moment the nature of the combat was changed; for they retired backwards -to the narrow part of the way, and having passed by the wall they went -and placed themselves upon the hillock, 227 all in a body together -except only the Thebans: now this hillock is in the entrance, where -now the stone lion is placed for Leonidas. On this spot while defending -themselves with daggers, that is those who still had them left, and also -with hands and with teeth, they were overwhelmed by the missiles of -the Barbarians, some of these having followed directly after them and -destroyed the fence of the wall, while others had come round and stood -about them on all sides. - -226. Such were the proofs of valour given by the Lacedemonians and -Thespians; yet the Spartan Dienekes is said to have proved himself -the best man of all, the same who, as they report, uttered this saying -before they engaged battle with the Medes:--being informed by one of -the men of Trachis that when the Barbarians discharged their arrows they -obscured the light of the sun by the multitude of the arrows, so great -was the number of their host, he was not dismayed by this, but making -small account of the number of the Medes, he said that their guest from -Trachis brought them very good news, for if the Medes obscured the light -of the sun, the battle against them would be in the shade and not in the -sun. - -227. This and other sayings of this kind they report that Dienekes the -Lacedemonian left as memorials of himself; and after him the bravest -they say of the Lacedemonians were two brothers Alpheos and Maron, sons -of Orsiphantos. Of the Thespians the man who gained most honour was -named Dithyrambos son of Harmatides. - -228. The men were buried were they fell; and for these, as well as for -those who were slain before being sent away 228 by Leonidas, there is an -inscription which runs thus: - - - "Here once, facing in fight three hundred myriads of foemen, - Thousands four did contend, men of the Peloponnese." - -This is the inscription for the whole body; and for the Spartans -separately there is this: - - - "Stranger, report this word, we pray, to the Spartans, that lying - Here in this spot we remain, faithfully keeping their laws." 229 - -This, I say, for the Lacedemonians; and for the soothsayer as follows: - - - "This is the tomb of Megistias renowned, whom the Median foemen, - Where Sperchios doth flow, slew when they forded the stream; - Soothsayer he, who then knowing clearly the fates that were coming, - Did not endure in the fray Sparta's good leaders to leave." - -The Amphictyons it was who honoured them with inscriptions and -memorial pillars, excepting only in the case of the inscription to -the soothsayer; but that of the soothsayer Megistias was inscribed by -Simonides the son of Leoprepes on account of guest-friendship. - -229. Two of these three hundred, it is said, namely Eurystos and -Aristodemos, who, if they had made agreement with one another, might -either have come safe home to Sparta together (seeing that they had -been dismissed from the camp by Leonidas and were lying at Alpenoi with -disease of the eyes, suffering extremely), or again, if they had not -wished to return home, they might have been slain together with the -rest,--when they might, I say, have done either one of these two -things, would not agree together; but the two being divided in opinion, -Eurystos, it is said, when he was informed that the Persians had gone -round, asked for his arms and having put them on ordered his Helot to -lead him to those who were fighting; and after he had led him thither, -the man who had led him ran away and departed, but Eurystos plunged into -the thick of the fighting, and so lost his life: but Aristodemos was -left behind fainting. 230 Now if either Aristodemos had been ill 231 -alone, and so had returned home to Sparta, or the men had both of -them come back together, I do not suppose that the Spartans would have -displayed any anger against them; but in this case, as the one of them -had lost his life and the other, clinging to an excuse which the first -also might have used, 232 had not been willing to die, it necessarily -happened that the Spartans had great indignation against Aristodemos. - -230. Some say that Aristodemos came safe to Sparta in this manner, and -on a pretext such as I have said; but others, that he had been sent as a -messenger from the camp, and when he might have come up in time to find -the battle going on, was not willing to do so, but stayed upon the road -and so saved his life, while his fellow-messenger reached the battle and -was slain. - -231. When Aristodemos, I say, had returned home to Lacedemon, he -had reproach and dishonour; 233 and that which he suffered by way of -dishonour was this,--no one of the Spartans would either give him light -for a fire or speak with him, and he had reproach in that he was called -Aristodemos the coward. 234 - -232. He however in the battle at Plataia repaired all the guilt that was -charged against him: but it is reported that another man also survived -of these three hundred, whose name was Pantites, having been sent as a -messenger to Thessaly, and this man, when he returned back to Sparta and -found himself dishonoured, is said to have strangled himself. - -233. The Thebans however, of whom the commander was Leontiades, being -with the Hellenes had continued for some time to fight against the -king's army, constrained by necessity; but when they saw that the -fortunes of the Persians were prevailing, then and not before, while the -Hellenes with Leonidas were making their way with speed to the hillock, -they separated from these and holding out their hands came near to the -Barbarians, saying at the same time that which was most true, namely -that they were on the side of the Medes and that they had been among the -first to give earth and water to the king; and moreover that they had -come to Thermopylai constrained by necessity, and were blameless for the -loss which had been inflicted upon the king: so that thus saying they -preserved their lives, for they had also the Thessalians to bear witness -to these words. However, they did not altogether meet with good fortune, -for some had even been slain as they had been approaching, and when they -had come and the Barbarians had them in their power, the greater -number of them were branded by command of Xerxes with the royal marks, -beginning with their leader Leontiades, the same whose son Eurymachos -was afterwards slain by the Plataians, when he had been made commander -of four hundred Thebans and had seized the city of the Plataians. 235 - -234. Thus did the Hellenes at Thermopylai contend in fight; and -Xerxes summoned Demaratos and inquired of him, having first said this: -"Demaratos, thou art a good man; and this I conclude by the truth of thy -words, for all that thou saidest turned out so as thou didst say. Now, -however, tell me how many in number are the remaining Lacedemonians, and -of them how many are like these in matters of war; or are they so even -all of them?" He said: "O king, the number of all the Lacedemonians is -great and their cities are many, but that which thou desirest to learn, -thou shalt know. There is in Lacedemon the city of Sparta, having about -eight thousand men; and these are all equal to those who fought here: -the other Lacedemonians are not equal to these, but they are good men -too." To this Xerxes said: "Demaratos, in what manner shall we with -least labour get the better of these men? Come set forth to us this; for -thou knowest the courses of their counsels, 236 seeing that thou wert -once their king." - -235. He made answer: "O king, if thou dost in very earnest take counsel -with me, it is right that I declare to thee the best thing. What if thou -shouldest send three hundred ships from thy fleet to attack the Laconian -land? Now there is lying near it an island named Kythera, about which -Chilon, who was a very wise man among us, said that it would be a -greater gain for the Spartans that it should be sunk under the sea than -that it should remain above it; for he always anticipated that something -would happen from it of such a kind as I am now setting forth to thee: -not that he knew of thy armament beforehand, but that he feared equally -every armament of men. Let thy forces then set forth from this island -and keep the Lacedemonians in fear; and while they have a war of their -own close at their doors, there will be no fear for thee from them that -when the remainder of Hellas is being conquered by the land-army, they -will come to the rescue there. Then after the remainder of Hellas has -been reduced to subjection, from that moment the Lacedemonian power will -be left alone and therefore feeble. If however thou shalt not do this, -I will tell thee what thou must look for. There is a narrow isthmus -leading to the Peloponnese, and in this place thou must look that other -battles will be fought more severe than those which have taken place, -seeing that all the Peloponnesians have sworn to a league against thee: -but if thou shalt do the other thing of which I spoke, this isthmus and -the cities within it will come over to thy side without a battle." - -236. After him spoke Achaimenes, brother of Xerxes and also commander -of the fleet, who chanced to have been present at this discourse and was -afraid lest Xerxes should be persuaded to do this: "O king," he said, -"I see that thou art admitting the speech of a man who envies thy good -fortune, or is even a traitor to thy cause: for in truth the Hellenes -delight in such a temper as this; they envy a man for his good luck, and -they hate that which is stronger than themselves. And if, besides other -misfortunes which we have upon us, seeing that four hundred of our ships -237 have suffered wreck, thou shalt send away another three hundred from -the station of the fleet to sail round Peloponnese, then thy antagonists -become a match for thee in fight; whereas while it is all assembled -together our fleet is hard for them to deal with, and they will not be -at all a match for thee: and moreover the whole sea-force will support -the land-force and be supported by it, if they proceed onwards together; -but if thou shalt divide them, neither wilt thou be of service to them -nor they to thee. My determination is rather to set thy affairs in good -order 238 and not to consider the affairs of the enemy, either where -they will set on foot the war or what they will do or how many in number -they are; for it is sufficient that they should themselves take thought -for themselves, and we for ourselves likewise: and if the Lacedemonians -come to stand against the Persians in fight, they will assuredly not -heal the wound from which they are now suffering." 239 - -237. To him Xerxes made answer as follows: "Achaimenes, I think that -thou speakest well, and so will I do; but Demaratos speaks that which he -believes to be best for me, though his opinion is defeated by thine: for -I will not certainly admit that which thou saidest, namely that he is -not well-disposed to my cause, judging both by what was said by him -before this, and also by that which is the truth, namely that though one -citizen envies another for his good fortune and shows enmity to him by -his silence, 240 nor would a citizen when a fellow-citizen consulted him -suggest that which seemed to him the best, unless he had attained to a -great height of virtue, and such men doubtless are few; yet guest-friend -to guest-friend in prosperity is well-disposed as nothing else on -earth, and if his friend should consult him, he would give him the best -counsel. Thus then as regards the evil-speaking against Demaratos, that -is to say about one who is my guest-friend, I bid every one abstain from -it in the future." - -238. Having thus said Xerxes passed in review the bodies of the dead; -and as for Leonidas, hearing that he had been the king and commander of -the Lacedemonians he bade them cut off his head and crucify him. And -it has been made plain to me by many proofs besides, but by none more -strongly than by this, that king Xerxes was enraged with Leonidas while -alive more than with any other man on earth; for otherwise he would -never have done this outrage to his corpse; since of all the men whom I -know, the Persians are accustomed most to honour those who are good men -in war. They then to whom it was appointed to do these things, proceeded -to do so. - -239. I will return now to that point of my narrative where it remained -unfinished. 241 The Lacedemonians had been informed before all others -that the king was preparing an expedition against Hellas; and thus it -happened that they sent to the Oracle at Delphi, where that reply was -given them which I reported shortly before this. And they got this -information in a strange manner; for Demaratos the son of Ariston -after he had fled for refuge to the Medes was not friendly to the -Lacedemonians, as I am of opinion and as likelihood suggests supporting -my opinion; but it is open to any man to make conjecture whether he did -this thing which follows in a friendly spirit or in malicious triumph -over them. When Xerxes had resolved to make a campaign against Hellas, -Demaratos, being in Susa and having been informed of this, had a desire -to report it to the Lacedemonians. Now in no other way was he able to -signify it, for there was danger that he should be discovered, but he -contrived thus, that is to say, he took a folding tablet and scraped off -the wax which was upon it, and then he wrote the design of the king upon -the wood of the tablet, and having done so he melted the wax and poured -it over the writing, so that the tablet (being carried without writing -upon it) might not cause any trouble to be given by the keepers of the -road. Then when it had arrived at Lacedemon, the Lacedemonians were not -able to make conjecture of the matter; until at last, as I am informed, -Gorgo, the daughter of Cleomenes and wife of Leonidas, suggested a plan -of which she had herself thought, bidding them scrape the wax and they -would find writing upon the wood; and doing as she said they found -the writing and read it, and after that they sent notice to the other -Hellenes. These things are said to have come to pass in this manner. 242 - - - - - -NOTES TO BOOK VII - -1 [ {kai ploia}, for transport of horses and also of provisions: however -these words are omitted in some of the best MSS.] - -2 [ {all ei}: this is the reading of the better class of MSS. The -rest have {alla}, which with {pressois} could only express a wish for -success, and not an exhortation to action.] - -3 [ {outos men oi o logos en timoros}: the words may mean "this manner -of discourse was helpful for his purpose."] - -4 [ {khresmologon e kai diatheten khresmon ton Mousaiou}.] - -5 [ {aphanizoiato}, representing the present tense {aphanizontai} in the -oracle.] - -6 [ {ton thronon touton}: most MSS. have {ton thronon, touto}.] - -7 [ {epistasthe kou pantes}: the MSS. have {ta epistasthe kou pantes}, -which is given by most Editors. In that case {oia erxan} would be an -exclamation, "What evils they did to us,... things which ye all know -well, I think."] - -8 [ {touton mentoi eineka}: it is hardly possible here to give {mentoi} -its usual meaning: Stein in his latest edition reads {touton men -toinun}.] - -9 [ {suneneike}: Stein reads {suneneike se}, "supposing that thou art -worsted."] - -10 [ {ep andri ge eni}, as opposed to a god.] - -11 [ {akousesthai tina psemi ton k.t.l.}, "each one of those who are -left behind."] - -12 [ {kai Kurou}, a conjectural emendation of {tou Kurou}. The text of -the MSS. enumerates all these as one continuous line of ascent. It is -clear however that the enumeration is in fact of two separate lines, -which combine in Teispes, the line of ascent through the father Dareios -being, Dareios, Hystaspes, Arsames, Ariamnes, Teispes, and through the -mother, Atossa, Cyrus, Cambyses, Teispes.] - -13 [ {kai mala}: perhaps, "even."] - -1301 [ Lit. "nor is he present who will excuse thee."] - -14 [ Lit. "my youth boiled over."] - -15 [ Lit. "words more unseemly than was right."] - -16 [ {all oude tauta esti o pai theia}.] - -17 [ {peplanesthai}.] - -18 [ {autai}: a correction of {autai}.] - -19 [ {se de epiphoitesei}: the better MSS. have {oude epiphoitesei}, -which is adopted by Stein.] - -20 [ {pempto de etei anomeno}.] - -21 [ {ton Ionion}.] - -22 [ {kai oud ei eperai pros tautesi prosgenomenai}: some MSS. read {oud -eterai pros tautesi genomenai}, which is adopted (with variations) by -some Editors. The meaning would be "not all these, nor others which -happened in addition to these, were equal to this one."] - -23 [ {ama strateuomenoisi}: {ama} is omitted in some MSS.] - -24 [ {stadion}, and so throughout.] - -25 [ {entos Sanes}: some MSS. read {ektos Sanes}, which is adopted by -Stein, who translates "beyond Sane, but on this side of Mount Athos": -this however will not suit the case of all the towns mentioned, -e.g. Acrothoon, and {ton Athen} just below clearly means the whole -peninsula.] - -26 [ {leukolinou}.] - -27 [ {ton de on pleiston}: if this reading is right, {siton} must be -understood, and some MSS. read {allon} for {alla} in the sentence above. -Stein in his latest edition reads {siton} instead of {pleiston}.] - -28 [ Lit. "the name of which happens to be Catarractes."] - -29 [ i.e. 4,000,000.] - -30 [ The {stater dareikos} was of nearly pure gold (cp. iv. 166), -weighing about 124 grains.] - -3001 [ {stele}, i.e. a square block of stone.] - -31 [ {athanato andri}, taken by some to mean one of the body of -"Immortals."] - -32 [ {akte pakhea}: some inferior MSS. read {akte trakhea}, and hence -some Editors have {akte trekhea}, "a rugged foreland."] - -33 [ {dolero}: some Editors read {tholero}, "turbid," by conjecture.] - -34 [ The meaning is much disputed. I understand Herodotus to state that -though the vessels lay of course in the direction of the stream from the -Hellespont, that is presenting their prows (or sterns) to the stream, -yet this did not mean that they pointed straight towards the Propontis -and Euxine; for the stream after passing Sestos runs almost from North -to South with even a slight tendency to the East (hence {eurou} a few -lines further on), so that ships lying in the stream would point in a -line cutting at right angles that of the longer axis (from East to -West) of the Pontus and Propontis. This is the meaning of {epikarsios} -elsewhere in Herodotus (i. 180 and iv. 101), and it would be rash -to assign to it any other meaning here. It is true however that the -expression {pros esperes} is used loosely below for the side toward the -Egean. For {anakokheue} a subject must probably be supplied from the -clause {pentekonterous--sunthentes}, "that it (i.e. the combination of -ships) might support etc.," and {ton tonon ton oplon} may either mean as -below "the stretched ropes," or "the tension of the ropes," which would -be relieved by the support: the latter meaning seems to me preferable.] - -Mr. Whitelaw suggests to me that {epikarsios} ({epi kar}) may mean -rather "head-foremost," which seems to be its meaning in Homer (Odyss. -ix. 70), and from which might be obtained the idea of intersection, -one line running straight up against another, which it has in other -passages. In that case it would here mean "heading towards the Pontus."] - -35 [ {tas men pros tou Pontou tes eteres}. Most commentators would -supply {gephures} with {tes eteres}, but evidently both bridges must -have been anchored on both sides.] - -36 [ {eurou}: Stein adopts the conjecture {zephurou}.] - -37 [ {ton pentekonteron kai triereon trikhou}: the MSS. give {ton -pentekonteron kai trikhou}, "between the fifty-oared galleys in as many -as three places," but it is strange that the fifty-oared galleys should -be mentioned alone, and there seems no need of {kai} with {trikhou}. -Stein reads {ton pentekonteron kai triereon} (omitting {trikhou} -altogether), and this may be right.] - -38 [ i.e. in proportion to the quantity: there was of course a greater -weight altogether of the papyrus rope.] - -39 [ {autis epezeugnuon}.] - -40 [ {ekleipsin}: cp. {eklipon} above.] - -41 [ Or, according to some MSS., "Nisaian."] - -42 [ i.e. not downwards.] - -43 [ {tina autou sukhnon omilon}.] - -44 [ {to Priamou Pergamon}.] - -45 [ {en Abudo mese}: some inferior authorities (followed by most -Editors) omit {mese}: but the district seems to be spoken of, as just -above.] - -46 [ {proexedre lothou leukou}: some kind of portico or loggia seems to -be meant.] - -47 [ {daimonie andoon}.] - -48 [ {ena auton}.] - -49 [ {to proso aiei kleptomenos}: "stealing thy advance continually," -i.e. "advancing insensibly further." Some take {kleptomenos} as passive, -"insensibly lured on further."] - -50 [ {neoteron ti poiesein}.] - -51 [ Or, according to some MSS., "the Persian land."] - -52 [ Lit. "the name of which happens to be Agora."] - -53 [ i.e. 1,700,000.] - -54 [ {sunnaxantes}: a conjectural emendation very generally adopted of -{sunaxantes} or {sunapsantes}.] - -55 [ {apageas}, i.e. not stiffly standing up; the opposite to -{pepeguias} (ch. 64).] - -56 [ {lepidos siderees opsin ikhthueideos}: many Editors suppose that -some words have dropped out. The {kithon} spoken of may have been a -coat of armour, but elsewhere the body armour {thorex} is clearly -distinguished from the {kithon}, see ix. 22.] - -57 [ {gerra}: cp. ix. 61 and 102.] - -58 [ Cp. i. 7.] - -59 [ {mitrephoroi esan}: the {mitre} was perhaps a kind of turban.] - -60 [ {tesi Aiguptiesi}, apparently {makhairesi} is meant to be supplied: -cp. ch. 91.] - -61 [ {eklethesan}, "were called" from the first.] - -62 [ These words are by some Editors thought to be an interpolation. The -Chaldeans in fact had become a caste of priests, cp. i. 181.] - -63 [ {kurbasias}: supposed to be the same as the tiara (cp. v. 49), but -in this case stiff and upright.] - -64 [ i.e. Areians, cp. iii. 93.] - -65 [ {sisurnas}: cp. iv. 109.] - -66 [ {akinakas}.] - -67 [ {sisurnophoroi}.] - -68 [ {zeiras}.] - -69 [ {toxa palintona}.] - -70 [ {spathes}, which perhaps means the stem of the leaf.] - -71 [ {gupso}, "white chalk."] - -72 [ {milto}, "red ochre."] - -73 [ Some words have apparently been lost containing the name of the -nation to which the following description applies. It is suggested that -this might be either the Chalybians or the Pisidians.] - -74 [ {lukioergeas}, an emendation from Athenaeus of {lukoergeas} (or -{lukergeas}), which might perhaps mean "for wolf-hunting."] - -75 [ {anastpastous}: cp. iii. 93.] - -76 [ Some Editors place this clause before the words: "and Smerdomenes -the son of Otanes," for we do not hear of Otanes or Smerdomenes -elsewhere as brother and nephew of Dareios. On the other hand Mardonios -was son of the sister of Dareios.] - -77 [ {tukhe}, "hits."] - -78 [ {keletas}, "single horses."] - -79 [ This name is apparently placed here wrongly. It has been proposed -to read {Kaspeiroi} or {Paktues}.] - -80 [ {ippeue}: the greater number of MSS. have {ippeuei} here as at -the beginning of ch. 84, to which this is a reference back, but with -a difference of meaning. There the author seemed to begin with the -intention of giving a full list of the cavalry force of the Persian -Empire, and then confined his account to those actually present on this -occasion, whereas here the word in combination with {mouna} refers only -to those just enumerated.] - -81 [ i.e. 80,000.] - -82 [ {Suroisi}, see note on ii. 104.] - -83 [ {tukous}, which appears to mean ordinarily a tool for -stone-cutting.] - -84 [ {mitresi}, perhaps "turbans."] - -85 [ {kithonas}: there is some probability in the suggestion of -{kitarias} here, for we should expect mention of a head-covering, and -the word {kitaris} (which is explained to mean the same as {tiara}), is -quoted by Pollux as occurring in Herodotus.] - -86 [ {kithonas}.] - -87 [ {drepana}, "reaping-hooks," cp. v. 112.] - -88 [ See i. 171.] - -89 [ {Pelasgoi Aigialees}.] - -90 [ {kerkouroi}.] - -91 [ {makra}: some MSS. and editions have {smikra}, "small."] - -92 [ Or "Mapen."] - -93 [ Or "Seldomos."] - -94 [ {metopedon}.] - -95 [ {me oentes arthmioi}. This is generally taken to mean, "unless they -were of one mind together"; but that would very much weaken the force of -the remark, and {arthmios} elsewhere is the opposite of {polemios}, cp. -vi. 83 and ix. 9, 37: Xerxes professes enmity only against those who had -refused to give the tokens of submission.] - -96 [ {men mounoisi}: these words are omitted in some good MSS., and -{mounoisi} has perhaps been introduced from the preceding sentence. The -thing referred to in {touto} is the power of fighting in single combat -with many at once, which Demaratos is supposed to have claimed for the -whole community of the Spartans.] - -97 [ {stergein malista}.] - -98 [ {oudamoi ko}.] - -99 [ Or, "Strauos."] - -100 [ Or, "Compsatos."] - -101 [ {tas epeirotidas polis}: it is not clear why these are thus -distinguished. Stein suggests {Thasion tas epeirotidas polis}, cp. -ch. [Footnote 118; and if that be the true reading {ion} is probably a -remnant of {Thasion} after {khoras}.] - -102 [ Or, "Pistiros."] - -103 [ {oi propheteountes}, i.e. those who interpret the utterances of -the Oracle, cp. viii. 36.] - -104 [ {promantis}.] - -105 [ {kai ouden poikiloteron}, an expression of which the meaning is -not quite clear; perhaps "and the oracles are not at all more obscure," -cp. Eur. Phoen. 470 and Hel. 711 (quoted by Baehr).] - -106 [ "Ennea Hodoi."] - -107 [ Cp. iii. 84.] - -108 [ The "royal cubit" is about 20 inches; the {daktulos}, "finger's -breadth," is rather less than 3/4 inch.] - -109 [ Or, "Cape Canastraion."] - -110 [ Or "Echeidoros": so it is usually called, but not by any MS. here, -and by a few only in ch. 127.] - -111 [ {pro mesogaian tamnon tes odou}: cp. iv. 12 and ix. 89.] - -112 [ Cp. ch. 6 and 174: but it does not appear that the Aleuadai, of -whom Xerxes is here speaking, ever thought of resistance, and perhaps -{gnosimakheontes} means, "when they submitted without resistance."] - -113 [ Some MSS. have {Ainienes} for {Enienes}.] - -114 [ {dekateusai}: there is sufficient authority for this rendering of -{dekateuein}, and it seems better here than to understand the word to -refer only to a "tithing" of goods.] - -115 [ {es to barathron}, the place of execution at Athens.] - -116 [ "undesirable thing."] - -117 [ {ouk ex isou}: i.e. it is one-sided, because the speaker has had -experience of only one of the alternatives.] - -118 [ Cp. ch. 143 (end), and viii. 62.] - -119 [ {teikheon kithones}, a poetical expression, quoted perhaps from -some oracle; and if so, {kithon} may here have the Epic sense of a "coat -of mail," equivalent to {thorex} in i. 181: see ch. 61, note 56.] - -120 [ {to megaron}.] - -121 [ The form of address changes abruptly to the singular number, -referring to the Athenian people.] - -122 [ {azela}, probably for {aionla}, which has been proposed as a -correction: or possibly "wretched."] - -123 [ {oxus Ares}.] - -124 [ i.e. Assyrian, cp. ch. 63.] - -125 [ {min}, i.e. the city, to which belong the head, feet, and body -which have been mentioned.] - -126 [ {kakois d' epikidnate thumon}: this might perhaps mean (as it is -taken by several Editors), "show a courageous soul in your troubles," -but that would hardly suit with the discouraging tone of the context.] - -127 [ {onax}, cp. iv. 15.] - -128 [ {ouros}: the word might of course be for {oros}, "mountain," and -{Kekropos ouros} would then mean the Acropolis (so it is understood by -Stein and others), but the combination with Kithairon makes it probable -that the reference is to the boundaries of Attica, and this seems more -in accordance with the reference to it in viii. 53.] - -129 [ {Demeteros}.] - -130 [ {sustas}, "having been joined" cp. viii. 142.] - -131 [ {ton peri ten Ellada Ellenon ta ameino phroneonton}: the MSS. have -{ton} also after {Ellenon}, which would mean "those of the Hellenes in -Hellas itself, who were of the better mind;" but the expression {ton -ta ameino phroneouseon peri ten Ellada} occurs in ch. 172: Some Editors -omit {Ellenon} as well as {ton}.] - -132 [ {egkekremenoi} (from {egkerannumi}, cp. v. 124), a conjectural -emendation (by Reiske) of {egkekhremenoi}. Others have conjectured -{egkekheiremenoi} or {egegermenoi}.] - -133 [ {te ge alle}: many Editors adopt the conjecture {tede alle} "is -like the following, which he expressed on another occasion."] - -134 [ See vi. 77: This calamity had occurred about fourteen years -before, and it was not in order to recover from this that the Argives -wished now for a thirty years' truce; but warned by this they desired -(they said) to guard against the consequence of a similar disaster -in fighting with the Persians, against whom, according to their own -account, they were going to defend themselves independently. So great -was their fear of this that, "though fearing the oracle," they were -willing to disobey it on certain conditions.] - -135 [ {probalaion}, cp. {probolous}, ch. 76.] - -136 [ {es tous pleunas}.] - -137 [ Cp. v. 53.] - -138 [ {ethelousi}: this is omitted in most of the MSS., but contained in -several of the best. Many Editors have omitted it.] - -139 [ {ta oikeia kaka} seems to mean the grievances which each has -against his neighbours, "if all the nations of men should bring together -into one place their own grievances against their neighbours, desiring -to make a settlement with them, each people, when they had examined -closely the grievances of others against themselves, would gladly carry -away back with them those which they had brought," judging that they had -offended others more than they had suffered themselves.] - -140 [ {oiketor o en Gele}: some Editors read by conjecture {oiketor eon -Geles}, others {oiketor en Gele}.] - -141 [ {iropsantai ton khthonion theon}: cp. vi. 134.] - -142 [ i.e. by direct inspiration.] - -143 [ {en dorupsoros}: the MSS. have {os en dorupsoros}. Some Editors -mark a lacuna.] - -144 [ {gamorous}, the name given to the highest class of citizens.] - -145 [ Or, "Killyrians." They were conquered Sicanians, in the position -of the Spartan Helots.] - -146 [ {pakheas}: cp. v. 30.] - -147 [ {gar}: inserted conjecturally by many Editors.] - -148 [ See v. 46.] - -149 [ {e ke meg oimexeie}, the beginning of a Homeric hexameter, cp. Il. -vii. 125.] - -150 [ Or, "since your speech is so adverse."] - -151 [ See Il. ii. 552.] - -152 [ Some Editors mark this explanation "Now this is the meaning-- -year," as interpolated.] - -153 [ {purannida}.] - -154 [ {es meson Kooisi katatheis ten arkhen}.] - -155 [ {para Samion}: this is the reading of the best MSS.: others have -{meta Samion}, "together with the Samians," which is adopted by many -Editors. There can be little doubt however that the Skythes mentioned in -vi. 23 was the father of this Cadmos, and we know from Thuc. vi. 4 that -the Samians were deprived of the town soon after they had taken it, by -Anaxilaos, who gave it the name of Messene, and no doubt put Cadmos in -possession of it, as the son of the former king.] - -156 [ Cp. ch. 154.] - -157 [ i.e. 300,000.] - -159 [ The MSS. add either {os Karkhedonioi}, or {os Karkhedonioi kai -Surekosioi}, but the testimony of the Carthaginians has just been given, -{os Phoinikes legousi}, and the Syracusans professed to be unable to -discover anything of him at all. Most of the Editors omit or alter the -words.] - -160 [ {epimemphesthe}: some Editors have tried corrections, e.g. {ou ti -memnesthe}, "do ye not remember," or {epimemnesthe}, "remember"; but cp. -viii. 106, {oste se me mempsasthai ten... diken}.] - -161 [ {osa umin... Minos epempse menion dakrumata}. The oracle would -seem to have been in iambic verse.] - -162 [ {parentheke}.] - -163 [ {ou boulomenoi}, apparently equivalent to {me boulemenoi}.] - -164 [ Cp. viii. 111.] - -165 [ i.e. the six commanders of divisions {morai} in the Spartan army.] - -166 [ {mia}: for this most MSS. have {ama}. Perhaps the true reading is -{ama mia}.] - -167 [ {amaxitos moune}, cp. ch. 200.] - -168 [ {Khutrous}.] - -169 [ {ton epibateon autes}.] - -170 [ {emeroskopous}: perhaps simply "scouts," cp. ch. 219, by which it -would seem that they were at their posts by night also, though naturally -they would not see much except by day.] - -171 [ i.e. "Ant."] - -172 [ {autoi}.] - -173 [ i.e. 241,400.] - -174 [ {epebateuon}.] - -175 [ 36,210.] - -176 [ {o ti pleon en auton e elasson}. In ch. 97, which is referred to -just above, these ships are stated to have been of many different kinds, -and not only fifty-oared galleys.] - -177 [ 240,000.] - -178 [ 517,610.] - -179 [ 1,700,000: see ch. 60.] - -180 [ 80,000.] - -181 [ 2,317,610.] - -182 [ {dokesin de dei legein}.] - -183 [ Some MSS. have {Ainienes} for {Enienes}.] - -184 [ 300,000.] - -185 [ 2,641,610.] - -186 [ {tou makhimou toutou}.] - -187 [ {akatoisi}.] - -188 [ 5,283,220.] - -189 [ {khoinika}, the usual daily allowance.] - -190 [ The {medimnos} is about a bushel and a half, and is equal to 48 -{khoinikes}. The reckoning here of 110,340 {medimnoi} is wrong, owing -apparently to the setting down of some numbers in the quotient which -were in fact part of the dividend.] - -191 [ {prokrossai ormeonto es ponton}: the meaning of {prokrossai} -is doubtful, but the introduction of the word is probably due to a -reminiscence of Homer, Il. xiv. 35, where the ships are described as -drawn up in rows one behind the other on shore, and where {prokrossas} -is often explained to mean {klimakedon}, i.e. either in steps one behind -the other owing to the rise of the beach, or in the arrangement of -the quincunx. Probably in this passage the idea is rather of the prows -projecting in rows like battlements {krossai}, and this is the sense -in which the word is used by Herodotus elsewhere (iv. 152). The word -{krossai} however is used for the successively rising stages of the -pyramids (ii. 125), and {prokrossos} may mean simply "in a row," or "one -behind the other," which would suit all passages in which it occurs, and -would explain the expression {prokrossoi pheromenoi epi ton kindunon}, -quoted by Athenaeus.] - -192 [ {apeliotes}. Evidently, from its name {Ellespontias} and from its -being afterwards called {Boreas}, it was actually a North-East Wind.] - -193 [ i.e. "Ovens."] - -194 [ {exebrassonto}.] - -195 [ {thesaurous}.] - -196 [ The word {khrusea}, "of gold," is omitted by some Editors.] - -197 [ "in his case also {kai touton} there was an unpleasing misfortune -of the slaying of a child {paidophonos} which troubled him," i.e. he -like others had misfortunes to temper his prosperity.] - -198 [ {goesi}, (from a supposed word {goe}): a correction of {geosi}, -"by enchanters," which is retained by Stein. Some read {khoesi}, "with -libations," others {boesi}, "with cries."] - -199 [ {aphesein}, whence the name {Aphetai} was supposed to be derived.] - -19901 [ Or, "had crucified... having convicted him of the following -charge, namely," etc. Cp. iii. 35 (end).] - -200 [ {tritaios}. According to the usual meaning of the word the sense -should be "on the third day after" entering Thessaly, but the distance -was much greater than a two-days' march.] - -201 [ i.e. "the Devourer."] - -202 [ {Prutaneiou}, "Hall of the Magistrates."] - -203 [ {leiton}.] - -204 [ {estellonto}: many Editors, following inferior MSS., read -{eselthontes} and make changes in the rest of the sentence.] - -205 [ Some MSS. have {Ainienon} for {Enienon}.] - -206 [ {stadion}.] - -207 [ {diskhilia te gar kai dismuria plethra tou pediou esti}. If the -text is right, the {plethron} must here be a measure of area. The amount -will then be about 5000 acres.] - -208 [ {mekhri Trekhinos}, "up to Trachis," which was the Southern -limit.] - -209 [ {to epi tautes tes epeirou}. I take {to epi tautes} to be an -adverbial expression like {tes eteres} in ch. 36, for I cannot think -that the rendering "towards this continent" is satisfactory.] - -210 [ See v. 45.] - -211 [ {tous katesteotas}. There is a reference to the body of 300 so -called {ippeis} (cp. i. 67), who were appointed to accompany the king in -war; but we must suppose that on special occasions the king made up -this appointed number by selection, and that in this case those were -preferred who had sons to keep up the family. Others (including Grote) -understand {tous katesteotas} to mean "men of mature age."] - -212 [ {ton Pulagoron}.] - -213 [ {es ten Pulaien}.] - -214 [ An indication that the historian intended to carry his work -further than the year 479.] - -215 [ See ch. 83.] - -216 [ {ek te tosou de katededekto eousa ouden khreste Melieusi}, i.e. {e -esbole}.] - -217 [ {Melampugon}.] - -218 [ Lit. "had set out to go at first."] - -219 [ Lit. "and afterwards deserters were they who reported."] - -220 [ {diakrithentes}.] - -221 [ {taute kai mallon te gnome pleistos eimi}.] - -222 [ i.e. the Persian.] - -223 [ {prin tond eteron dia panta dasetai}: i.e. either the city or the -king.] - -224 [ {mounon Spartieteon}: some Editors (following Plutarch) read -{mounon Spartieteon}, "lay up for the Spartans glory above all other -nations."] - -225 [ {to men gar eruma tou teikheos ephulasseto, oi de k.t.l.}] - -226 [ i.e. the Lacedemonians.] - -227 [ {izonto epi ton kolonon}.] - -228 [ Some Editors insert {tous} after {e}, "before those who were sent -away by Leonidas had departed."] - -229 [ {remasi}.] - -230 [ {leipopsukheonta}, a word which refers properly to bodily -weakness. It has been proposed to read {philopsukheonta}, "loving his -life," cp. vi. 29.] - -231 [ {algesanta}: some good MSS. have {alogesanta}, which is adopted by -Stein, "had in his ill-reckoning returned alone."] - -232 [ {tes autes ekhomenou prophasios}.] - -233 [ {atimien}.] - -234 [ {o tresas}.] - -235 [ Thuc. ii. 2 ff.] - -236 [ {tas diexodous ton bouleumaton}, cp. iii. 156.] - -237 [ {ton vees k.t.l.}: some Editors insert {ek} before {ton}, "by -which four hundred ships have suffered shipwreck."] - -238 [ {ta seoutou de tithemenos eu gnomen ekho}: for {ekho} some -inferior MSS. have {ekhe}, which is adopted by several Editors, "Rather -set thy affairs in good order and determine not to consider," etc.] - -239 [ {to pareon troma}, i.e. their defeat.] - -240 [ {kai esti dusmenes te sige}. Some commentators understand {te -sige} to mean "secretly," like {sige}, viii. 74.] - -241 [ See ch. 220.] - -242 [ Many Editors pronounce the last chapter to be an interpolation, -but perhaps with hardly sufficient reason.] - - - - - -BOOK VIII. THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED URANIA - -1. Those of the Hellenes who had been appointed to serve in the fleet -were these:--the Athenians furnished a hundred and twenty-seven ships, -and the Plataians moved by valour and zeal for the service, although -they had had no practice in seamanship, yet joined with the Athenians in -manning their ships. The Corinthians furnished forty ships, the -Megarians twenty; the Chalkidians manned twenty ships with which the -Athenians furnished them; 1 the Eginetans furnished eighteen ships, the -Sikyonians twelve, the Lacedemonians ten, the Epidaurians eight, the -Eretrians seven, the Troizenians five, the Styrians two, the Keians two -ships 2 and two fifty-oared galleys, while the Locrians of Opus came -also to the assistance of the rest with seven fifty-oared galleys. - -2. These were those who joined in the expedition to Artemision, and I -have mentioned them according to the number 3 of the ships which they -severally supplied: so the number of the ships which were assembled -at Artemision was (apart from the fifty-oared galleys) two hundred and -seventy-one: and the commander who had the supreme power was furnished -by the Spartans, namely Eurybiades son of Eurycleides, since the allies -said that they would not follow the lead of the Athenians, but unless a -Lacedemonian were leader they would break up the expedition which was to -be made: - -3, for it had come to be said at first, even before they sent to Sicily -to obtain allies, that the fleet ought to be placed in the charge of the -Athenians. So as the allies opposed this, the Athenians yielded, having -it much at heart that Hellas should be saved, and perceiving that if -they should have disagreement with one another about the leadership, -Hellas would perish: and herein they judged rightly, for disagreement -between those of the same race is worse than war undertaken with one -consent by as much as war is worse than peace. Being assured then of -this truth, they did not contend, but gave way for so long time as they -were urgently in need of the allies; and that this was so their conduct -proved; for when, after repelling the Persian from themselves, they were -now contending for his land and no longer for their own, they alleged -the insolence of Pausanias as a pretext and took away the leadership -from the Lacedemonians. This however took place afterwards. - -4. But at this time these Hellenes also who had come to Artemision, 4 -when they saw that a great number of ships had put in to Aphetai and -that everything was filled with their armament, were struck with fear, -because the fortunes of the Barbarians had different issue from -that which they expected, and they deliberated about retreating from -Artemision to the inner parts of Hellas. And the Euboeans perceiving -that they were so deliberating, asked Eurybiades to stay there by them -for a short time, until they should have removed out of their land their -children, and their households; and as they did not persuade him, they -went elsewhere and persuaded Themistocles the commander of the Athenians -by a payment of thirty talents, the condition being that the fleet -should stay and fight the sea-battle in front of Euboea. - -5. Themistocles then caused the Hellenes to stay in the following -manner:--to Eurybiades he imparted five talents of the sum with the -pretence that he was giving it from himself; and when Eurybiades had -been persuaded by him to change his resolution, Adeimantos son of -Okytos, the Corinthian commander, was the only one of all the others who -still made a struggle, saying that he would sail away from Artemision -and would not stay with the others: to him therefore Themistocles said -with an oath: "Thou at least shalt not leave us, for I will give thee -greater gifts than the king of the Medes would send to thee, if thou -shouldest desert thy allies." Thus he spoke, and at the same time he -sent to the ship of Adeimantos three talents of silver. So these all 5 -had been persuaded by gifts to change their resolution, and at the same -time the request of the Euboeans had been gratified and Themistocles -himself gained money; and it was not known that he had the rest of the -money, but those who received a share of this money were fully persuaded -that it had come from the Athenian State for this purpose. - -6. Thus they remained in Euboea and fought a sea-battle; and it came to -pass as follows:--when the Barbarians had arrived at Aphetai about the -beginning of the afternoon, having been informed even before they came -that a few ships of the Hellenes were stationed about Artemision and now -seeing them for themselves, they were eager to attack them, to see if -they could capture them. Now they did not think it good yet to sail -against them directly for this reason,--for fear namely that the -Hellenes, when they saw them sailing against them, should set forth to -take flight and darkness should come upon them in their flight; and so -they were likely (thought the Persians) 6 to get away; whereas it was -right, according to their calculation, that not even the fire-bearer 7 -should escape and save his life. - -7. With a view to this then they contrived as follows:--of the whole -number of their ships they parted off two hundred and sent them round -to sail by Caphereus and round Geriastos to the Euripos, going outside -Skiathos so that they might not be sighted by the enemy as they sailed -round Euboea: and their purpose was that with these coming up by that -way, and blocking the enemies' retreat, and themselves advancing against -them directly, they might surround them on all sides. Having formed this -plan they proceeded to send off the ships which were appointed for this, -and they themselves had no design of attacking the Hellenes on that day -nor until the signal agreed upon should be displayed to them by those -who were sailing round, to show that they had arrived. These ships, I -say, they were sending round, and meanwhile they were numbering the rest -at Aphetai. - -8. During this time, while these were numbering their ships, it happened -thus:--there was in that camp a man of Skione named Skyllias, as a diver -the best of all the men of that time, who also in the shipwreck which -took place by Pelion had saved for the Persians many of their goods and -many of them also he had acquired for himself: this Skyllias it appears -had had an intention even before this of deserting to the side of the -Hellenes, but it had not been possible for him to do so then. In what -manner after this attempt he did actually come to the Hellenes, I am not -able to say with certainty, but I marvel if the tale is true which is -reported; for it is said that he dived into the sea at Aphetai and did -not come up till he reached Artemision, having traversed here somewhere -about eighty furlongs through the sea. Now there are told about this man -several other tales which seem likely to be false, but some also which -are true: about this matter however let it be stated as my opinion that -he came to Artemision in a boat. Then when he had come, he forthwith -informed the commanders about the shipwreck, how it had come to pass, -and of the ships which had been sent away to go round Euboea. - -9. Hearing this the Hellenes considered the matter with one another; and -after many things had been spoken, the prevailing opinion was that -they should remain there that day and encamp on shore, and then, when -midnight was past, they should set forth and go to meet those ships -which were sailing round. After this however, as no one sailed out -to attack them, they waited for the coming of the late hours of the -afternoon and sailed out themselves to attack the Barbarians, desiring -to make a trial both of their manner of fighting and of the trick of -breaking their line. 8 - -10. And seeing them sailing thus against them with few ships, not only -the others in the army of Xerxes but also their commanders judged them -to be moved by mere madness, and they themselves also put out their -ships to sea, supposing that they would easily capture them: and their -expectation was reasonable enough, since they saw that the ships of the -Hellenes were few, while theirs were many times as numerous and sailed -better. Setting their mind then on this, they came round and enclosed -them in the middle. Then so many of the Ionians as were kindly disposed -to the Hellenes and were serving in the expedition against their will, -counted it a matter of great grief to themselves when they saw them -being surrounded and felt assured that not one of them would return -home, so feeble did they think the power of the Hellenes to be; while -those to whom that which was happening was a source of pleasure, were -vying with one another, each one endeavouring to be the first to take an -Athenian ship and receive gifts from the king: for in their camps there -was more report of the Athenians than of any others. - -11. The Hellenes meanwhile, when the signal was given, first set -themselves with prows facing the Barbarians and drew the sterns of their -ships together in the middle; and when the signal was given a second -time, although shut off in a small space and prow against prow, 9 they -set to work vigorously; and they captured thirty ships of the Barbarians -and also Philaon the son of Chersis, the brother of Gorgos kind of the -Salaminians, who was a man of great repute in the army. Now the first of -the Hellenes who captured a ship of the enemy was an Athenian, Lycomedes -the son of Aischraios, and he received the prize for valour. So these, -as they were contending in this sea-fight with doubtful result, -were parted from one another by the coming on of night. The Hellenes -accordingly sailed away to Artemision and the Barbarians to Aphetai, -the contest having been widely different from their expectation. In this -sea-fight Antidoros of Lemnos alone of the Hellenes who were with the -king deserted to the side of the Hellenes, and the Athenians on account -of this deed gave him a piece of land in Salamis. - -12. When the darkness had come on, although the season was the middle of -summer, yet there came on very abundant rain, which lasted through the -whole of the night, with crashing thunder 10 from Mount Pelion; and -the dead bodies and pieces of wreck were cast up at Aphetai and became -entangled round the prows of the ships and struck against the blades of -the oars: and the men of the army who were there, hearing these things -became afraid, expecting that they would certainly perish, to such -troubles had they come; for before they had had even breathing space -after the shipwreck and the storm which had arisen off Mount Pelion, -there had come upon them a hard sea-fight, and after the sea-fight a -violent storm of rain and strong streams rushing to the sea and crashing -thunder. - -13. These then had such a night as I have said; and meanwhile those of -them who had been appointed to sail round Euboea experienced the very -same night, but against them it raged much more fiercely, inasmuch as it -fell upon them while they were making their course in the open sea. And -the end of it proved distressful 11 to them; for when the storm and -the rain together came upon them as they sailed, being then off the -"Hollows" of Euboea, 12 they were borne by the wind not knowing by what -way they were carried, and were cast away upon the rocks. And all this -was being brought about by God in order that the Persian force might be -made more equal to that of the Hellenes and might not be by very much -the larger. - -14. These then, I say, were perishing about the Hollows of Euboea, and -meanwhile the Barbarians at Aphetai, when day had dawned upon them, of -which they were glad, were keeping their ships quiet, and were satisfied -in their evil plight to remain still for the present time; but to the -Hellenes there came as a reinforcement three-and-fifty Athenian ships. -The coming of these gave them more courage, and at the same time they -were encouraged also by a report that those of the Barbarians who had -been sailing round Euboea had all been destroyed by the storm that had -taken place. They waited then for the same time of day as before, and -then they sailed and fell upon some Kilikian ships; and having destroyed -these, they sailed away when the darkness came on, and returned to -Artemision. - -15. On the third day the commanders of the Barbarians, being exceedingly -indignant that so small a number of ships should thus do them damage, -and fearing what Xerxes might do, did not wait this time for the -Hellenes to begin the fight, but passed the word of command and put out -their ships to sea about the middle of the day. Now it so happened that -these battles at sea and the battles on land at Thermopylai took place -on the same days; and for those who fought by sea the whole aim of the -fighting was concerned with the channel of Euripos, just as the aim of -Leonidas and of his band was to guard the pass: the Hellenes accordingly -exhorted one another not to let the Barbarians go by into Hellas; while -these cheered one another on to destroy the fleet of the Hellenes and to -get possession of the straits. - -16. Now while the forces of Xerxes were sailing in order towards them, -the Hellenes kept quiet at Artemision; and the Barbarians, having made a -crescent of their ships that they might enclose them, were endeavouring -to surround them. Then the Hellenes put out to sea and engaged with -them; and in this battle the two sides were nearly equal to one another; -for the fleet of Xerxes by reason of its great size and numbers suffered -damage from itself, since the ships were thrown into confusion and ran -into one another: nevertheless it stood out and did not give way, -for they disdained to be turned to flight by so few ships. Many ships -therefore of the Hellenes were destroyed and many men perished, but many -more ships and men of the Barbarians. Thus contending they parted and -went each to their own place. - -17. In this sea-fight the Egyptians did best of the men who fought -for Xerxes; and these, besides other great deeds which they displayed, -captured five ships of the Hellenes together with their crews: while of -the Hellenes those who did best on this day were the Athenians, and of -the Athenians Cleinias the son of Alkibiades, who was serving with two -hundred man and a ship of his own, furnishing the expense at his own -proper cost. - -18. Having parted, both sides gladly hastened to their moorings; and -after they had separated and got away out of the sea-fight, although the -Hellenes had possession of the bodies of the dead and of the wrecks -of the ships, yet having suffered severely 13 (and especially -the Athenians, of whose ships half had been disabled), they were -deliberating now about retreating to the inner parts of Hellas. - -19. Themistocles however had conceived that if there should be detached -from the force of the Barbarians the Ionian and Carian nations, they -would be able to overcome the rest; and when the people of Euboea were -driving their flocks down to that sea, 14 he assembled the generals and -said to them that he thought he had a device by which he hoped to cause -the best of the king's allies to leave him. This matter he revealed to -that extent only; and with regard to their present circumstances, he -said that they must do as follows:--every one must slaughter of the -flocks of the Euboeans as many as he wanted, for it was better that -their army should have them than the enemy; moreover he advised that -each one should command his own men to kindle a fire: and as for the -time of their departure he would see to it in such wise that they should -come safe to Hellas. This they were content to do, and forthwith when -they had kindled a fire they turned their attention to the flocks. - -20. For in fact the Euboeans, neglecting the oracle of Bakis as if it -had no meaning at all, had neither carried away anything from their land -nor laid in any store of provisions with a view to war coming upon them, -and by their conduct moreover they had brought trouble upon themselves. -15 For the oracle uttered by Bakis about these matters runs as follows: - - - "Mark, when a man, a Barbarian, shall yoke the Sea with papyrus, - Then do thou plan to remove the loud-bleating goats from Euboea." - -In the evils which at this time were either upon them or soon to be -expected they might feel not a little sorry that they had paid no -attention to these lines. - -21. While these were thus engaged, there came to them the scout from -Trachis: for there was at Artemision a scout named Polyas, by birth -of Antikyra, to whom it had been appointed, if the fleet should be -disabled, 16 to signify this to those at Thermopylai, and he had a -vessel equipped and ready for this purpose; and similarly there was with -Leonidas Abronichos son of Lysicles, an Athenian, ready to carry news to -those at Artemision with a thirty-oared galley, if any disaster should -happen to the land-army. This Abronichos then had arrived, and he -proceeded to signify to them that which had come to pass about Leonidas -and his army; and then when they were informed of it no longer put off -their retreat, but set forth in the order in which they were severally -posted, the Corinthians first and the Athenians last. - -22. Themistocles however selected those ships of the Athenians which -sailed best, and went round to the springs of drinking-water, cutting -inscriptions on the stones there, which the Ionians read when they -came to Artemision on the following day. These inscriptions ran thus: -"Ionians, ye act not rightly in making expedition against the fathers of -your race and endeavouring to enslave Hellas. Best of all were it that -ye should come and be on our side; but if that may not be done by you, -stand aside even now from the combat against us and ask the Carians to -do the same as ye. If however neither of these two things is possible -to be done, and ye are bound down by too strong compulsion to be able -to make revolt, then in the action, when we engage battle, be purposely -slack, remember that ye are descended from us and that our quarrel with -the Barbarian took its rise at the first from you." Themistocles wrote -thus, having, as I suppose, two things together in his mind, namely that -either the inscriptions might elude the notice of the king and cause -the Ionians to change and come over to the side on which he was, or -that having been reported and denounced to Xerxes they might cause the -Ionians to be distrusted by him, and so he might keep them apart from -the sea-fights. - -23. Themistocles then had set these inscriptions: and to the Barbarians -there came immediately after these things a man of Histaia in a boat -bringing word of the retreat of the Hellenes from Artemision. They -however, not believing it, kept the messenger under guard and sent -swift-sailing ships to look on before. Then these having reported -the facts, at last as daylight was spreading over the sky, the whole -armament sailed in a body to Artemision; and having stayed at this place -till mid-day, after this they sailed to Histaia, and there arrived they -took possession of the city of Histaia and overran all the villages -which lie along the coast in the region of Ellopia, which is the land of -Histaia. - -24. While they were there, Xerxes, after he had made his dispositions -with regard to the bodies of the dead, sent a herald to the fleet: and -the dispositions which he made beforehand were as follows:--for all those -of his army who were lying dead at Thermopylai, (and there were as many -as twenty thousand in all), with the exception of about a thousand whom -he left, he dug trenches and buried them, laying over them leaves and -heaping earth upon them, that they might not be seen by the men of the -fleet. Then when the herald had gone over to Histaia, he gathered an -assembly of the whole force and spoke these words: "Allies, king Xerxes -grants permission to any one of you who desires it, to leave his post -and to come and see how he fights against those most senseless men who -looked to overcome the power of the king." - -25. When the herald had proclaimed this, then boats were of all things -most in request, so many were they who desired to see this sight; and -when they had passed over they went through the dead bodies and looked -at them: and every one supposed that those who were lying there were all -Lacedemonians or Thespians, though the Helots also were among those that -they saw: however, they who had passed over did not fail to perceive -that Xerxes had done that which I mentioned about the bodies of his own -dead; for in truth it was a thing to cause laughter even: on the one -side there were seen a thousand dead bodies lying, while the others -lay all gathered together in the same place, four thousand 17 of them. -During this day then they busied themselves with looking, and on the day -after this they sailed back to the ships at Histaia, while Xerxes and -his army set forth upon their march. - -26. There had come also to them a few deserters from Arcadia, men in -want of livelihood and desiring to be employed. These the Persians -brought into the king's presence and inquired about the Hellenes, what -they were doing; and one man it was who asked them this for all the -rest. They told them that the Hellenes were keeping the Olympic festival -and were looking on at a contest of athletics and horsemanship. He then -inquired again, what was the prize proposed to them, for the sake of -which they contended; and they told them of the wreath of olive which is -given. Then Tigranes 18 the son of Artabanos uttered a thought which -was most noble, though thereby he incurred from the king the reproach -of cowardice: for hearing that the prize was a wreath and not money, he -could not endure to keep silence, but in the presence of all he spoke -these words: "Ah! Mardonios, what kind of men are these against whom -thou hast brought us to fight, who make their contest not for money but -for honour!" Thus was it spoken by this man. - -27. In the meantime, so soon as the disaster at Thermopylai had come -about, the Thessalians sent a herald forthwith to the Phokians, against -whom they had a grudge always, but especially because of the latest -disaster which they had suffered: for when both the Thessalians -themselves and their allies had invaded the Phokian land not many -years before this expedition of the king, they had been defeated by the -Phokians and handled by them roughly. For the Phokians had been shut up -in Mount Parnassos having with them a soothsayer, Tellias the Eleian; -and this Tellias contrived for them a device of the following kind:--he -took six hundred men, the best of the Phokians, and whitened them over -with chalk, both themselves and their armour, and then he attacked the -Thessalians by night, telling the Phokians beforehand to slay every -man whom they should see not coloured over with white. So not only the -sentinels of the Thessalians, who saw these first, were terrified by -them, supposing it to be something portentous and other than it was, -but also after the sentinels the main body of their army; so that the -Phokians remained in possession of four thousand bodies of slain men and -shields; of which last they dedicated half at Abai and half at Delphi; -and from the tithe of booty got by this battle were made the large -statues which are contending for the tripod in front of the temple 19 -at Delphi, and others similar to these are dedicated as an offering at -Abai. - -28. Thus had the Phokians done to the Thessalian footmen, when they were -besieged by them; and they had done irreparable hurt to their cavalry -also, when this had invaded their land: for in the pass which is -by Hyampolis they had dug a great trench and laid down in it empty -wine-jars; and then having carried earth and laid it on the top and -made it like the rest of the ground, they waited for the Thessalians to -invade their land. These supposing that they would make short work with -the Phokians, 20 riding in full course fell upon the wine-jars; and -there the legs of their horses were utterly crippled. - -29. Bearing then a grudge for both of these things, the Thessalians sent -a herald and addressed them thus: "Phokians, we advise you to be more -disposed now to change your minds and to admit that ye are not on a -level with us: for in former times among the Hellenes, so long as it -pleased us to be on that side, we always had the preference over you, -and now we have such great power with the Barbarian that it rests with -us to cause you to be deprived of your land and to be sold into slavery -also. We however, though we have all the power in our hands, do not bear -malice, but let there be paid to us fifty talents of silver in return -for this, and we will engage to avert the dangers which threaten to come -upon your land." - -30. Thus the Thessalians proposed to them; for the Phokians alone of -all the people in those parts were not taking the side of the Medes, -and this for no other reason, as I conjecture, but only because of their -enmity with the Thessalians; and if the Thessalians had supported the -cause of the Hellenes, I am of opinion that the Phokians would have been -on the side of the Medes. When the Thessalians proposed this, they said -that they would not give the money, and that it was open to them to take -the Median side just as much as the Thessalians, if they desired it for -other reasons; but they would not with their own will be traitors to -Hellas. - -31. When these words were reported, then the Thessalians, moved with -anger against the Phokians, became guides to the Barbarian to show him -the way: and from the land of Trachis they entered Doris; for a narrow -strip 21 of the Dorian territory extends this way, about thirty furlongs -in breadth, lying between Malis and Phokis, the region which was in -ancient time called Dryopis; this land is the mother-country of the -Dorians in Peloponnese. Now the Barbarians did not lay waste this land -of Doris when they entered it, for the people of it were taking the side -of the Medes, and also the Thessalians did not desire it. - -32. When however from Doris they entered Phokis, they did not indeed -capture the Phokians themselves; for some of them had gone up to the -heights of Parnassos,--and that summit of Parnassos is very convenient to -receive a large number, which lies by itself near the city of Neon, the -name of it being Tithorea,--to this, I say, some of them had carried up -their goods and gone up themselves; but most of them had conveyed their -goods out to the Ozolian Locrians, to the city of Amphissa, which is -situated above the Crissaian plain. The Barbarians however overran the -whole land of Phokis, for so the Thessalians led their army, and all -that they came to as they marched they burned or cut down, and delivered -to the flames both the cities and the temples: - -33, for they laid everything waste, proceeding this way by the river -Kephisos, and they destroyed the city of Drymos by fire, and also -the following, namely Charadra, Erochos, Tethronion, Amphikaia, Neon, -Pedieis, Triteis, Elateia, Hyampolis, Parapotamioi and Abai, at which -last-named place there was a temple of Apollo, wealthy and furnished -with treasuries and votive offerings in abundance; and there was then, -as there is even now, the seat of an Oracle there: this temple they -plundered and burnt. Some also of the Phokians they pursued and captured -upon the mountains, and some women they did to death by repeated -outrage. - -34. Passing by Parapotamioi the Barbarians came to Panopeus, and from -this point onwards their army was separated and went different ways. The -largest and strongest part of the army, proceeding with Xerxes himself -against Athens, entered the land of the Boeotians, coming into the -territory of Orchomenos. Now the general body of the Boeotians was -taking the side of the Medes, and their cities were being kept by -Macedonians appointed for each, who had been sent by Alexander; and they -were keeping them this aim, namely in order to make it plain to Xerxes -that the Boeotians were disposed to be on the side of the Medes. - -35. These, I say, of the Barbarians took their way in this direction; -but others of them with guides had set forth to go to the temple at -Delphi, keeping Parnassos on their right hand: and all the parts of -Phokis over which these marched they ravaged; for they set fire to -the towns of Panopeus and Daulis and Aiolis. And for this reason they -marched in that direction, parted off from the rest of the army, namely -in order that they might plunder the temple at Delphi and deliver over -the treasures there to king Xerxes: and Xerxes was well acquainted with -all that there was in it of any account, better, I am told, than with -the things which he had left in his own house at home, seeing that many -constantly reported of them, and especially of the votive offerings of -Croesus the son of Alyattes. - -36. Meanwhile the Delphians, having been informed of this, had been -brought to extreme fear; and being in great terror they consulted the -Oracle about the sacred things, whether they should bury them in the -earth or carry them forth to another land; but the god forbade them to -meddle with these, saying that he was able by himself to take care of -his own. Hearing this they began to take thought for themselves, and -they sent their children and women over to Achaia on the other side -of the sea, while most of the men themselves ascended up towards the -summits of Parnassos and carried their property to the Corykian cave, -while others departed for refuge to Amphissa of the Locrians. In short -the Delphians had all left the town excepting sixty men and the prophet -of the Oracle. 22 - -37. When the Barbarians had come near and could see the temple, then the -prophet, whose name was Akeratos, saw before the cell 23 arms lying -laid out, having been brought forth out of the sanctuary, 24 which were -sacred and on which it was not permitted to any man to lay hands. He -then was going to announce the portent to those of the Delphians who -were still there, but when the Barbarians pressing onwards came opposite -the temple of Athene Pronaia, there happened to them in addition -portents yet greater than that which had come to pass before: for though -that too was a marvel, that arms of war should appear of themselves laid -forth outside the cell, yet this, which happened straightway after that, -is worthy of marvel even beyond all other prodigies. When the Barbarians -in their approach were opposite the temple of Athene Pronaia, at this -point of time from the heaven there fell thunderbolts upon them, and -from Parnassos two crags were broken away and rushed down upon them with -a great crashing noise falling upon many of them, while from the temple -of Pronaia there was heard a shout, and a battle-cry was raised. - -38. All these things having come together, there fell fear upon the -Barbarians; and the Delphians having perceived that they were flying, -came down after them and slew a great number of them; and those who -survived fled straight to Boeotia. These who returned of the Barbarians -reported, as I am informed, that in addition to this which we have said -they saw also other miraculous things; for two men (they said) in -full armour and of stature more than human followed them slaying and -pursuing. - -39. These two the Delphians say were the native heroes Phylacos and -Autonooes, whose sacred enclosures are about the temple, that of Phylacos -being close by the side of the road above the temple of Pronaia and that -of Autonooes near Castalia under the peak called Hyampeia. Moreover the -rocks which fell from Parnassos were still preserved even to my time, -lying in the sacred enclosure of Athene Pronaia, into which they fell -when they rushed through the ranks of the Barbarians. Such departure had -these men from the temple. - -40. Meanwhile the fleet of the Hellenes after leaving Artemision put in -to land at Salamis at the request of the Athenians: and for this reason -the Athenians requested them to put in to Salamis, namely in order that -they might remove out of Attica to a place of safety their children -and their wives, and also deliberate what they would have to do; for in -their present case they meant to take counsel afresh, because they had -been deceived in their expectation. For they had thought to find the -Peloponnesians in full force waiting for the Barbarians in Boeotia; they -found however nothing of this, but they were informed on the contrary -that the Peloponnesians were fortifying the Isthmus with a wall, valuing -above all things the safety of the Peloponnese and keeping this in -guard; and that they were disposed to let all else go. Being informed of -this, the Athenians therefore made request of them to put in to Salamis. -41. The others then put in their ships to land at Salamis, but the -Athenians went over to their own land; and after their coming they made -a proclamation that every one of the Athenians should endeavour to save -his children and household as best he could. So the greater number sent -them to Troizen, but others to Egina, and others to Salamis, and they -were urgent to put these out of danger, both because they desired -to obey the oracle and also especially for another reason, which was -this:--the Athenians say that a great serpent lives in the temple 25 -and guards the Acropolis; and they not only say this, but also they -set forth for it monthly offerings, as if it were really there; and the -offering consists of a honey-cake. This honey-cake, which before -used always to be consumed, was at this time left untouched. When the -priestess had signified this, the Athenians left the city much more and -with greater eagerness than before, seeing that the goddess also had (as -they supposed) left the Acropolis. Then when all their belongings had -been removed out of danger, they sailed to the encampment of the fleet. - -42. When those who came from Artemision had put their ships in to land -at Salamis, the remainder of the naval force of the Hellenes, being -informed of this, came over gradually to join them 26 from Troizen: -for they had been ordered beforehand to assemble at Pogon, which is the -harbour of the Troizenians. There were assembled accordingly now many -more ships than those which were in the sea-fight at Artemision, and -from more cities. Over the whole was set as admiral the same man as at -Artemision, namely Eurybiades the son of Eurycleides, a Spartan but not -of the royal house; the Athenians however supplied by far the greatest -number of ships and those which sailed the best. - -43. The following were those who joined the muster:--From Peloponnese the -Lacedemonians furnishing sixteen ships, the Corinthians furnishing the -same complement as at Artemision, the Sikyonians furnishing fifteen -ships, the Epidaurians ten, the Troizenians five, the men of Hermion -2601 three, these all, except the Hermionians, being of Doric and -Makednian 27 race and having made their last migration from Erineos -and Pindos and the land of Dryopis; 28 but the people of Hermion are -Dryopians, driven out by Heracles and the Malians from the land which is -now called Doris. - -44. These were the Peloponnesians who joined the fleet, and those of -the mainland outside the Peloponnese were as follows:--the Athenians, -furnishing a number larger than all the rest, 29 namely one hundred and -eighty ships, and serving alone, since the Plataians did not take -part with the Athenians in the sea-fight at Salamis, because when the -Hellenes were departing from Artemision and come near Chalkis, the -Plataians disembarked on the opposite shore of Boeotia and proceeded to -the removal of their households. So being engaged in saving these, -they had been left behind. As for the Athenians, in the time when -the Pelasgians occupied that which is now called Hellas, they were -Pelasgians, being named Cranaoi, and in the time of king Kecrops they -came to be called Kecropidai; then when Erechtheus had succeeded to his -power, they had their name changed to Athenians; and after Ion the son -of Xuthos became commander 30 of the Athenians, they got the name from -him of Ionians. - -45. The Megarians furnished the same complement as at Artermision; the -Amprakiots came to the assistance of the rest with seven ships, and the -Leucadians with three, these being by race Dorians from Corinth. - -46. Of the islanders the Eginetans furnished thirty; these had also -other ships manned, but with them they were guarding their own land, -while with the thirty which sailed best they joined in the sea-fight at -Salamis. Now the Eginetans are Dorians from Epidauros, and their -island had formerly the name of Oinone. After the Eginetans came the -Chalkidians with the twenty ships which were at Artemision, and -the Eretrians with their seven: these are Ionians. Next the Keians, -furnishing the same as before and being by race Ionians from Athens. The -Naxians furnished four ships, they having been sent out by the citizens -of their State to join the Persians, like the other islanders; but -neglecting these commands they had come to the Hellenes, urged thereto -by Democritos, a man of repute among the citizens and at that time -commander of a trireme. Now the Naxians are Ionians coming originally -from Athens. The Styrians furnished the same ships as at Artemision, and -the men of Kythnos one ship and one fifty-oared galley, these both being -Dryopians. Also the Seriphians, the Siphnians and the Melians served -with the rest; for they alone of the islanders had not given earth and -water to the Barbarian. - -47. These all who have been named dwelt inside the land of the -Thesprotians and the river Acheron; for the Thesprotians border upon the -land of the Amprakiots and Leucadians, and these were they who came from -the greatest distance to serve: but of those who dwell outside these -limits the men of Croton were the only people who came to the assistance -of Hellas in her danger; and these sent one ship, of whom the commander -was Phaylos, a man who had three times won victories at the Pythian -games. Now the men of Croton are by descent Achaians. - -48. All the rest who served in the fleet furnished triremes, but the -Melians, Siphnian and Seriphians fifty-oared galleys: the Melians, -who are by descent from Lacedemon, furnished two, the Siphnians and -Seriphians, who are Ionians from Athens, each one. And the whole number -of the ships, apart from the fifty-oared galleys, was three hundred and -seventy-eight. 31 - -49. When the commanders had assembled at Salamis from the States -which have been mentioned, they began to deliberate, Eurybiades having -proposed that any one who desired it should declare his opinion as -to where he thought it most convenient to fight a sea-battle in those -regions of which they had command; for Attica had already been let go, -and he was now proposing the question about the other regions. And the -opinions of the speakers for the most part agreed that they should -sail to the Isthmus and there fight a sea-battle in defence of the -Peloponnese, arguing that if they should be defeated in the sea-battle, -supposing them to be at Salamis they would be blockaded in an island, -where no help would come to them, but at the Isthmus they would be able -to land where their own men were. - -50. While the commanders from the Peloponnese argued thus, an Athenian -had come in reporting that the Barbarians were arrived in Attica and -that all the land was being laid waste with fire. For the army which -directed its march through Boeotia in company with Xerxes, after it had -burnt the city of the Thespians (the inhabitants having left it and gone -to the Peloponnese) and that of the Plataians likewise, had now come -to Athens and was laying waste everything in those regions. Now he had -burnt Thespiai 3101 and Plataia because he was informed by the Thebans -that these were not taking the side of the Medes. - -51. So in three months from the crossing of the Hellespont, whence the -Barbarians began their march, after having stayed there one month while -they crossed over into Europe, they had reached Attica, in the year when -Calliades was archon of the Athenians. And they took the lower city, -which was deserted, and then they found that there were still a few -Athenians left in the temple, either stewards of the temple or needy -persons, who had barred the entrance to the Acropolis with doors and -with a palisade of timber and endeavoured to defend themselves against -the attacks of the enemy, being men who had not gone out to Salamis -partly because of their poverty, and also because they thought that -they alone had discovered the meaning of the oracle which the Pythian -prophetess had uttered to them, namely that the "bulwark of wood" should -be impregnable, and supposed that this was in fact the safe refuge -according to the oracle, and not the ships. - -52. So the Persians taking their post upon the rising ground opposite -the Acropolis, which the Athenians call the Hill of Ares, 32 proceeded -to besiege them in this fashion, that is they put tow round about their -arrows and lighted it, and then shot them against the palisade. The -Athenians who were besieged continued to defend themselves nevertheless, -although they had come to the extremity of distress and their palisade -had played them false; nor would they accept proposals for surrender, -when the sons of Peisistratos brought them forward: but endeavouring to -defend themselves they contrived several contrivances against the enemy, -and among the rest they rolled down large stones when the Barbarians -approached the gates; so that for a long time Xerxes was in a -difficulty, not being able to capture them. - -53. In time however there appeared for the Barbarians a way of approach -after their difficulties, since by the oracle it was destined that all -of Attica which is on the mainland should come to be under the Persians. -Thus then it happened that on the front side 33 of the Acropolis behind -the gates and the way up to the entrance, in a place where no one was -keeping guard, nor would one have supposed that any man could ascend by -this way, here men ascended by the temple of Aglauros the daughter -of Kecrops, although indeed the place is precipitous: and when the -Athenians saw that they had ascended up to the Acropolis, some of them -threw themselves down from the wall and perished, while others took -refuge in the sanctuary 34 of the temple. Then those of the Persians -who had ascended went first to the gates, and after opening these they -proceeded to kill the suppliants; and when all had been slain by them, -they plundered the temple and set fire to the whole of the Acropolis. - -54. Then Xerxes, having fully taken possession of Athens, sent to Susa -a mounted messenger to report to Artabanos the good success which they -had. And on the next day after sending the herald he called together the -exiles of the Athenians who were accompanying him, and bade them go -up to the Acropolis and sacrifice the victims after their own manner; -whether it was that he had seen some vision of a dream which caused him -to give this command, or whether perchance he had a scruple in his -mind because he had set fire to the temple. The Athenian exiles did -accordingly that which was commanded them: - -55, and the reason why I made mention of this I will here declare:--there -is in this Acropolis a temple 35 of Erechtheus, who is said to have been -born of the Earth, and in this there is an olive-tree and a sea, which -(according to the story told by the Athenians) Poseidon and Athene, -when they contended for the land, set as witnesses of themselves. Now -it happened to this olive-tree to be set on fire with the rest of the -temple by the Barbarians; and on the next day after the conflagration -those of the Athenians who were commanded by the king to offer -sacrifice, saw when they had gone up to the temple that a shoot had run -up from the stock of the tree about a cubit in length. These then made -report of this. - -56. The Hellenes meanwhile at Salamis, when it was announced to them how -it had been as regards the Acropolis of the Athenians, were disturbed so -greatly that some of the commanders did not even wait for the question -to be decided which had been proposed, but began to go hastily to their -ships and to put up their sails, meaning to make off with speed; and by -those of them who remained behind it was finally decided to fight at -sea in defence of the Isthmus. So night came on, and they having been -dismissed from the council were going to their ships: - -57, and when Themistocles had come to his ship, Mnesiphilos an Athenian -asked him what they had resolved; and being informed by him that it had -been determined to take out the ships to the Isthmus and fight a battle -by sea in defence of the Peloponnese, he said: "Then, if they set sail -with the ships from Salamis, thou wilt not fight any more sea-battles -at all for the fatherland, for they will all take their way to their -several cities and neither Eurybiades nor any other man will be able -to detain them or to prevent the fleet from being dispersed: and Hellas -will perish by reason of evil counsels. But if there by any means, go -thou and try to unsettle that which has been resolved, if perchance thou -mayest persuade Eurybiades to change his plans, so as to stay here." - -58. This advice very much commended itself to Themistocles; and without -making any answer he went to the ship of Eurybiades. Having come thither -he said that he desired to communicate to him a matter which concerned -the common good; and Eurybiades bade him come into his ship and speak, -if he desired to say anything. Then Themistocles sitting down beside -him repeated to him all those things which he had heard Mnesiphilos say, -making as if they were his own thoughts, and adding to them many others; -until at last by urgent request he persuaded him to come out of his ship -and gather the commanders to the council. - -59. So when they were gathered together, before Eurybiades proposed -the discussion of the things for which he had assembled the commanders, -Themistocles spoke with much vehemence 36 being very eager to gain his -end; and as he was speaking, the Corinthian commander, Adeimantos the -son of Okytos, said: "Themistocles, at the games those who stand forth -for the contest before the due time are beaten with rods." He justifying -himself said: "Yes, but those who remain behind are not crowned." - -60. At that time he made answer mildly to the Corinthian; and to -Eurybiades he said not now any of those things which he had said before, -to the effect that if they should set sail from Salamis they would -disperse in different directions; for it was not seemly for him to bring -charges against the allies in their presence: but he held to another way -of reasoning, saying: "Now it is in thy power to save Hellas, if -thou wilt follow my advice, which is to stay here and here to fight a -sea-battle, and if thou wilt not follow the advice of those among these -men who bid thee remove the ships to the Isthmus. For hear both ways, -and then set them in comparison. If thou engage battle at the Isthmus, -thou wilt fight in an open sea, into which it is by no means convenient -for us that we go to fight, seeing that we have ships which are heavier -and fewer in number than those of the enemy. Then secondly thou wilt -give up to destruction Salamis and Megara and Egina, even if we have -success in all else; for with their fleet will come also the land-army, -and thus thou wilt thyself lead them to the Peloponnese and wilt risk -the safety of all Hellas. If however thou shalt do as I say, thou wilt -find therein all the advantages which I shall tell thee of:--in the first -place by engaging in a narrow place with few ships against many, if the -fighting has that issue which it is reasonable to expect, we shall have -very much the better; for to fight a sea-fight in a narrow space is for -our advantage, but to fight in a wide open space is for theirs. Then -again Salamis will be preserved, whither our children and our wives -have been removed for safety; and moreover there is this also secured -thereby, to which ye are most of all attached, namely that by remaining -here thou wilt fight in defence of the Peloponnese as much as if -the fight were at the Isthmus; and thou wilt not lead the enemy to -Peloponnese, if thou art wise. Then if that which I expect come to pass -and we gain a victory with our ships, the Barbarians will not come to -you at the Isthmus nor will they advance further than Attica, but they -will retire in disorder; and we shall be the gainers by the preservation -of Megara and Egina and Salamis, at which place too an oracle tells us -that we shall get the victory over our enemies. 37 Now when men take -counsel reasonably for themselves, reasonable issues are wont as a rule -to come, but if they do not take counsel reasonably, then God is not -wont generally to attach himself to the judgment of men." - -61. When Themistocles thus spoke, the Corinthian Adeimantos inveighed -against him for the second time, bidding him to be silent because he -had no native land, and urging Eurybiades not to put to the vote -the proposal of one who was a citizen of no city; for he said that -Themistocles might bring opinions before the council if he could show a -city belonging to him, but otherwise not. This objection he made against -him because Athens had been taken and was held by the enemy. Then -Themistocles said many evil things of him and of the Corinthians both, -and declared also that he himself and his countrymen had in truth a city -and a land larger than that of the Corinthians, so long as they had two -hundred ships fully manned; for none of the Hellenes would be able to -repel the Athenians if they came to fight against them. - -62. Signifying this he turned then to Eurybiades and spoke yet more -urgently: "If thou wilt remain here, and remaining here wilt show -thyself a good man, well; but if not, thou wilt bring about the -overthrow of Hellas, for upon the ships depends all our power in the -war. Nay, but do as I advise. If, however, thou shalt not do so, we -shall forthwith take up our households and voyage to Siris in Italy, -which is ours already of old and the oracles say that it is destined -to be colonised by us; and ye, when ye are left alone and deprived of -allies such as we are, will remember my words." - -63. When Themistocles thus spoke, Eurybiades was persuaded to change his -mind; and, as I think, he changed his mind chiefly from fear lest the -Athenians should depart and leave them, if he should take the ships to -the Isthmus; for if the Athenians left them and departed, the rest would -be no longer able to fight with the enemy. He chose then this counsel, -to stay in that place and decide matters there by a sea-fight. - -64. Thus those at Salamis, after having skirmished with one another in -speech, were making preparations for a sea-fight there, since Eurybiades -had so determined: and as day was coming on, at the same time when the -sun rose there was an earthquake felt both on the land and on the sea: -and they determined to pray to the gods and to call upon the sons of -Aiacos to be their helpers. And as they had determined, so also they -did; for when they had prayed to all the gods, they called Ajax and -Telamon to their help from Salamis, where the fleet was, 38 and sent -a ship to Egina to bring Aiacos himself and the rest of the sons of -Aiacos. - -65. Moreover Dicaios the son of Theokydes, an Athenian, who was an exile -and had become of great repute among the Medes at this time, declared -that when the Attic land was being ravaged by the land-army of Xerxes, -having been deserted by the Athenians, he happened then to be in company -with Demaratos the Lacedemonian in the Thriasian plain; and he saw a -cloud of dust going up from Eleusis, as if made by a company of about -thirty thousand men, and they wondered at the cloud of dust, by what men -it was caused. Then forthwith they heard a sound of voices, and Dicaios -perceived that the sound was the mystic cry Iacchos; but Demaratos, -having no knowledge of the sacred rites which are done at Eleusis, asked -him what this was that uttered the sound, and he said: "Demaratos, it -cannot be but that some great destruction is about to come to the army -of the king: for as to this, it is very manifest, seeing that Attica is -deserted, that this which utters the sound is of the gods, and that it -is going from Eleusis to help the Athenians and their allies: if then it -shall come down in the Peloponnese, there is danger for the king himself -and for the army which is upon the mainland, but if it shall direct -its course towards the ships which are at Salamis, the king will be in -danger of losing his fleet. This feast the Athenians celebrate every -year to the Mother and the Daughter; 39 and he that desires it, both of -them and of the other Hellenes, is initiated in the mysteries; and the -sound of voices which thou hearest is the cry Iacchos which they utter -at this feast." To this Demaratos said: "Keep silence and tell not this -tale to any other man; for if these words of thine be reported to the -king, thou wilt surely lose thy head, and neither I nor any other man -upon earth will be able to save thee: but keep thou quiet, and about -this expedition the gods will provide." He then thus advised, and after -the cloud of dust and the sound of voices there came a mist which was -borne aloft and carried towards Salamis to the camp of the Hellenes: and -thus they learnt (said he) that the fleet of Xerxes was destined to be -destroyed. Such was the report made by Dicaios the son of Theodykes, -appealing to Demaratos and others also as witnesses. - -66. Meanwhile those who were appointed to serve in the fleet of Xerxes, -having gazed in Trachis upon the disaster of the Lacedemonians and -having passed over from thence to Histiaia, after staying three days -sailed through Euripos, and in other three days they had reached -Phaleron. And, as I suppose, they made their attack upon Athens not -fewer in number both by land and sea than when they had arrived at -Sepias and at Thermopylai: for against those of them who perished by -reason of the storm and those who were slain at Thermopylai and in the -sea-fights at Artemision, I will set those who at that time were not -yet accompanying the king, the Malians, Dorians, Locrians, and Boeotians -(who accompanied him in a body, except the Thespians and Plataians), -and moreover those of Carystos, Andros, and Tenos, with all the other -islanders except the five cities of which I mentioned the names before; -for the more the Persian advanced towards the centre of Hellas, the more -nations accompanied him. - -67. So then, when all these had come to Athens except the Parians (now -the Parians had remained behind at Kythnos waiting to see how the war -would turn out),--when all the rest, I say, had come to Phaleron, then -Xerxes himself came down to the ships desiring to visit them and to -learn the opinions of those who sailed in them: and when he had come and -was set in a conspicuous place, then those who were despots of their own -nations or commanders of divisions being sent for came before him from -their ships, and took their seats as the king had assigned rank to each -one, first the king of Sidon, then he of Tyre, and after them the -rest: and when they were seated in due order, Xerxes sent Mardonios and -inquired, making trial of each one, whether he should fight a battle by -sea. - -68. So when Mardonios went round asking them, beginning with the king of -Sidon, the others gave their opinions all to the same effect, advising -him to fight a battle by sea, but Artemisia spoke these words:--(a) "Tell -the king I pray thee, Mardonios, that I, who have proved myself not to -be the worst in the sea-fights which have been fought near Euboea, and -have displayed deeds not inferior to those of others, speak to him thus: -Master, it is right that I set forth the opinion which I really have, -and say that which I happen to think best for thy cause: and this I -say,--spare thy ships and do not make a sea-fight; for the men are as -much stronger than thy men by sea, as men are stronger than women. And -why must thou needs run the risk of sea-battles? Hast thou not Athens in -thy possession, for the sake of which thou didst set forth on thy march, -and also the rest of Hellas? and no man stands in thy way to resist, but -those who did stand against thee came off as it was fitting that -they should. (b) Now the manner in which I think the affairs of thy -adversaries will have their issue, I will declare. If thou do not -hasten to make a sea-fight, but keep thy ships here by the land, either -remaining here thyself or even advancing on to the Peloponnese, that -which thou hast come to do, O master, will easily be effected; for the -Hellenes are not able to hold out against thee for any long time, but -thou wilt soon disperse them and they will take flight to their several -cities: since neither have they provisions with them in this island, as -I am informed, nor is it probable that if thou shalt march thy land-army -against the Peloponnese, they who have come from thence will remain -still; for these will have no care to fight a battle in defence of -Athens. (c) If however thou hasten to fight forthwith, I fear that -damage done to the fleet may ruin the land-army also. Moreover, O king, -consider also this, that the servants of good men are apt to grow bad, -but those of bad men good; and thou, who art of all men the best, hast -bad servants, namely those who are reckoned as allies, Egyptians and -Cyprians and Kilikians and Pamphylians, in whom there is no profit." - -69. When she thus spoke to Mardonios, those who were friendly to -Artemisia were grieved at her words, supposing that she would suffer -some evil from the king because she urged him not to fight at sea; while -those who had envy and jealousy of her, because she had been honoured -above all the allies, were rejoiced at the opposition, 40 supposing -that she would now be ruined. When however the opinions were reported -to Xerxes, he was greatly pleased with the opinion of Artemisia; and -whereas even before this he thought her excellent, he commended her -now yet more. Nevertheless he gave orders to follow the advice of the -greater number, thinking that when they fought by Euboea they were -purposely slack, because he was not himself present with them, whereas -now he had made himself ready to look on while they fought a sea-battle. - -70. So when they passed the word to put out to sea, they brought their -ships out to Salamis and quietly ranged themselves along the shore in -their several positions. At that time the daylight was not sufficient -for them to engage battle, for night had come on; but they made their -preparations to fight on the following day. Meanwhile the Hellenes -were possessed by fear and dismay, especially those who were from -Peloponnese: and these were dismayed because remaining in Salamis they -were to fight a battle on behalf of the land of the Athenians, and being -defeated they would be cut off from escape and blockaded in an island, -leaving their own land unguarded. And indeed the land-army of the -Barbarians was marching forward during that very night towards the -Peloponnese. - -71. Yet every means had been taken that the Barbarians might not be able -to enter Peloponnesus by land: for as soon as the Peloponnesians heard -that Leonidas and his company had perished at Thermopylai, they came -together quickly from the cities and took post at the Isthmus, and -over them was set as commander Cleombrotos, the son of Anaxandrides and -brother of Leonidas. These being posted at the Isthmus had destroyed the -Skironian way, and after this (having so determined in counsel with one -another) they began to build a wall across the Isthmus; and as they were -many myriads 41 and every man joined in the work, the work proceeded -fast; for stones and bricks and pieces of timber and baskets full of -sand were carried to it continually, and they who had thus come to help -paused not at all in their work either by night or by day. - -72. Now those of the Hellenes who came in full force to the Isthmus to -help their country were these,--the Lacedemonians, the Arcadians of every -division, the Eleians, Corinthians, Sikyonians, Epidaurians, Phliasians, -Troizenians and Hermionians. These were they who came to the help of -Hellas in her danger and who had apprehension for her, while the rest -of the Peloponnesians showed no care: and the Olympic and Carneian -festivals had by this time gone by. - -73. Now Peloponnesus is inhabited by seven races; and of these, two are -natives of the soil and are settled now in the place where they dwelt of -old, namely the Arcadians and the Kynurians; and one race, that of the -Achaians, though it did not remove from the Peloponnese, yet removed in -former time from its own land and dwells now in that which was not its -own. The remaining races, four in number, have come in from without, -namely the Dorians, Aitolians, Dryopians and Lemnians. Of the Dorians -there are many cities and of great renown; of the Aitolians, Elis -alone; of the Dryopians, Hermion 42 and Asine, which latter is opposite -Cardamyle in the Laconian land; and of the Lemnians, all the Paroreatai. -The Kynurians, who are natives of the soil, seem alone to be Ionians, -but they have become Dorians completely because they are subject to the -Argives and by lapse of time, being originally citizens of Orneai or -the dwellers in the country round Orneai. 43 Of these seven nations the -remaining cities, except those which I enumerated just now, stood aside -and did nothing; and if one may be allowed to speak freely, in thus -standing aside they were in fact taking the side of the Medes. - -74. Those at the Isthmus were struggling with the labour which I have -said, since now they were running a course in which their very being was -at stake, and they did not look to have any brilliant success with their -ships: while those who were at Salamis, though informed of this -work, were yet dismayed, not fearing so much for themselves as for -Peloponnesus. For some time then they spoke of it in private, one -man standing by another, and they marvelled at the ill-counsel of -Eurybiades; but at last it broke out publicly. A meeting accordingly was -held, and much was spoken about the same points as before, some saying -that they ought to sail away to Peloponnesus and run the risk in defence -of that, and not stay and fight for a land which had been captured by -the enemy, while the Athenians, Eginetans and Megarians urged that they -should stay there and defend themselves. - -75. Then Themistocles, when his opinion was like to be defeated by the -Peloponnesians, secretly went forth from the assembly, and having gone -out he sent a man to the encampment of the Medes in a boat, charging him -with that which he must say: this man's name was Sikinnos, and he was -a servant of Themistocles and tutor to his children; and after these -events Themistocles entered him as a Thespian citizen, when the -Thespians were admitting new citizens, and made him a wealthy man. He at -this time came with a boat and said to the commanders of the Barbarians -these words: "The commander of the Athenians sent me privately without -the knowledge of the other Hellenes (for, as it chances, he is disposed -to the cause of the king, and desires rather that your side should gain -the victory than that of the Hellenes), to inform you that the Hellenes -are planning to take flight, having been struck with dismay; and now it -is possible for you to execute a most noble work, if ye do not permit -them to flee away: for they are not of one mind with one another and -they will not stand against you in fight, but ye shall see them fighting -a battle by sea with one another, those who are disposed to your side -against those who are not." - -76. He then having signified to them this, departed out of the way; and -they, thinking that the message deserved credit, landed first a large -number of Persians in the small island of Psyttaleia, which lies between -Salamis and the mainland; and then, as midnight came on, they put out -the Western wing of their fleet to sea, circling round towards Salamis, -and also those stationed about Keos and Kynosura put out their ships -to sea; and they occupied all the passage with their ships as far as -Munychia. And for this reason they put out their ships, namely in order -that the Hellenes might not even be permitted to get away, but being cut -off in Salamis might pay the penalty for the contests at Artemision: -and they disembarked men of the Persians on the small island called -Psyttaleia for this reason, namely that when the fight should take -place, these might save the men of one side and destroy those of the -other, since there especially it was likely that the men and the wrecks -of ships would be cast up on shore, for the island lay in the way of the -sea-fight which was to be. These things they did in silence, that the -enemy might not have information of them. - -77. They then were making their preparations thus in the night without -having taken any sleep at all: and with regard to oracles, I am not able -to make objections against them that they are not true, for I do not -desire to attempt to overthrow the credit of them when they speak -clearly, looking at such matters as these which here follow: - - - "But when with ships they shall join the sacred strand of the goddess, - Artemis golden-sword-girded, and thee, wave-washed Kynosura, - Urged by a maddening hope, 44 having given rich Athens to plunder, - Then shall Justice divine quell Riot, of Insolence first-born, 45 - Longing to overthrow all things 46 and terribly panting for bloodhshed: - Brass shall encounter with brass, and Ares the sea shall empurple, - Tinging its waves with the blood: then a day of freedom for Hellas - Cometh from wide-seeing Zeus 47 and from Victory, lady and mother." 48 - -Looking to such things as this, and when Bakis speaks so clearly, I do -not venture myself to make any objections about oracles, nor can I admit -them from others. - -78. Now between the commanders that were at Salamis there came to be -great contention of speech and they did not yet know that the Barbarians -were surrounding them with their ships, but they thought that they were -still in their place as they saw them disposed in the day. - -79. Then while the commanders were engaged in strife, there came over -from Egina Aristeides the son of Lysimachos, an Athenian who had been -ostracised by the people, a man whom I hold (according to that which -I hear of his character) to have been the best and most upright of all -Athenians. This man came into the council and called forth Themistocles, -who was to him not a friend, but an enemy to the last degree; but -because of the greatness of the present troubles he let those matters be -forgotten and called him forth, desiring to communicate with him. Now he -had heard beforehand that the Peloponnesians were pressing to take -the ships away to the Isthmus. So when Themistocles came forth to him, -Aristeides spoke these words: "Both at other times when occasion arises, -and also especially at this time we ought to carry on rivalry as to -which of us shall do more service to our country. And I tell thee now -that it is indifferent whether the Peloponnesians say many words or few -about sailing away from hence; for having been myself an eye-witness I -tell thee that now not even if the Corinthians and Eurybiades himself -desire to sail out, will they be able; for we are encompassed round by -the enemy. Go thou in then, and signify this to them." - -80. He made answer as follows: "Thou advisest very well, 49 and also -the news which thou hast brought is good, since thou art come having -witnessed with thine own eyes that which I desired might come to pass: -for know that this which is being done by the Medes is of my suggestion; -because, when the Hellenes would not come to a battle of their own will, -it was necessary to bring them over to us against their will. Do thou -however, since thou art come bearing good news, thyself report it to -them; for if I say these things, I shall be thought to speak that which -I have myself invented, and I shall not persuade them, but they will -think that the Barbarians are not doing so. Do thou thyself however come -forward to speak, and declare to them how things are; and when thou hast -declared this, if they are persuaded, that will be the best thing, but -if this is not credible to them, it will be the same thing so far as -concerns us, for they will no longer be able to take to flight, if we -are encompassed on all sides, as thou sayest." - -81. Aristeides accordingly came forward and told them this, saying that -he had come from Egina and had with difficulty escaped without being -perceived by those who were blockading them; for the whole encampment of -the Hellenes was encompassed by the ships of Xerxes; and he counselled -them to get ready to defend themselves. He then having thus spoken -retired, and among them again there arose dispute, for the greater -number of the commanders did not believe that which was reported to -them: - -82. and while these were doubting, there came a trireme manned by -Tenians, deserting from the enemy, of which the commander was Panaitios -the son of Sosimenes, which brought them the whole truth. For this deed -the Tenians were inscribed at Delphi on the tripod among those who had -conquered the Barbarians. With the ship which deserted at Salamis and -the Lemnian ship which deserted before and came to Artemision, the naval -force of the Hellenes was completed to the number of three hundred and -eighty ships, for before this two ships were yet wanting to make up this -number. - -83. The Hellenes then, since they believed that which was said by the -Tenians, were preparing for a sea-fight: and as the dawn appeared, they -made an assembly of those who fought on board the ships 50 and addressed -them, Themistocles making a speech which was eloquent beyond the rest; -and the substance of it was to set forth all that is better as opposed -to that which is worse, of the several things which arise in the nature -and constitution of man; and having exhorted them to choose the better, -51 and thus having wound up his speech, he bade them embark in their -ships. These then proceeded to embark, and there came in meanwhile the -trireme from Egina which had gone away to bring the sons of Aiacos. - -84. Then the Hellenes put out all their ships, and while they were -putting out from shore, the Barbarians attacked them forthwith. Now -the other Hellenes began backing their ships and were about to run them -aground, but Ameinias of Pallene, an Athenian, put forth with his ship -and charged one of the enemy; and his ship being entangled in combat and -the men not being able to get away, the others joined in the fight to -assist Ameinias. The Athenians say that the beginning of the battle was -made thus, but the Eginetans say that the ship which went away to Egina -to bring the sons of Aiacos was that which began the fight. It is also -reported that an apparition of a woman was seen by them, and that having -appeared she encouraged them to the fight so that the whole of the army -of the Hellenes heard it, first having reproached them in these words: -"Madmen, 52 how far will ye yet back your ships?" - -85. Opposite the Athenians had been ranged the Phenicians, for these -occupied the wing towards Eleusis and the West, and opposite the -Lacedemonians were the Ionians, who occupied the wing which extended to -the East and to Piraeus. Of them however a few were purposely slack -in the fight according to the injunctions of Themistocles, 53 but -the greater number were not so. I might mention now the names of many -captains of ships who destroyed ships of the Hellenes, but I will make -no use of their names except in the case of Theomestor, the son of -Androdamas and Phylacos the son of Histiaios, of Samos both: and -for this reason I make mention of these and not of the rest, because -Theomestor on account of this deed became despot of Samos, appointed by -the Persians, and Phylacos was recorded as a benefactor of the king -and received much land as a reward. Now the benefactors of the king are -called in the Persian tongue orosangai. - -86. Thus it was with these; but the greater number of their ships were -disabled at Salamis, being destroyed some by the Athenians and others -by the Eginetans: for since the Hellenes fought in order and ranged in -their places, while the Barbarians were no longer ranged in order nor -did anything with design, it was likely that there would be some such -result as in fact followed. Yet on this day they surpassed themselves -much more than when they fought by Euboea, every one being eager -and fearing Xerxes, and each man thinking that the king was looking -especially at him. - -87. As regards the rest I cannot speak of them separately, or say -precisely how the Barbarians or the Hellenes individually contended in -the fight; but with regard to Artemisia that which happened was this, -whence she gained yet more esteem than before from the king.--When the -affairs of the king had come to great confusion, at this crisis a ship -of Artemisia was being pursued by an Athenian ship; and as she was not -able to escape, for in front of her were other ships of her own side, -while her ship, as it chanced, was furthest advanced towards the enemy, -she resolved what she would do, and it proved also much to her advantage -to have done so. While she was being pursued by the Athenian ship -she charged with full career against a ship of her own side manned by -Calyndians and in which the king of the Calyndians Damasithymos was -embarked. Now, even though it be true that she had had some strife with -him before, while they were still about the Hellespont, yet I am not -able to say whether she did this by intention, or whether the Calyndian -ship happened by chance to fall in her way. Having charged against it -however and sunk it, she enjoyed good fortune and got for herself good -in two ways; for first the captain of the Athenian ship, when he saw her -charge against a ship manned by Barbarians, turned away and went after -others, supposing that the ship of Artemisia was either a Hellenic ship -or was deserting from the Barbarians and fighting for the Hellenes, - -88,--first, I say, it was her fortune to have this, namely to escape and -not suffer destruction; and then secondly it happened that though she -had done mischief, she yet gained great reputation by this thing with -Xerxes. For it is said that the king looking on at the fight perceived -that her ship had charged the other; and one of those present said: -"Master, dost thou see Artemisia, how well she is fighting, and how she -sank even now a ship of the enemy?" He asked whether this was in truth -the deed of Artemisia, and they said that it was; for (they declared) -they knew very well the sign of her ship: and that which was destroyed -they thought surely was one of the enemy; for besides other things -which happened fortunately for her, as I have said, there was this also, -namely that not one of the crew of the Calyndian ship survived to become -her accuser. And Xerxes in answer to that which was said to him is -reported to have uttered these words: "My men have become women, and my -women men." Thus it is said that Xerxes spoke. - -89. And meanwhile in this struggle there was slain the commander -Ariabignes, son of Dareios and brother of Xerxes, and there were slain -too many others of note of the Persians and Medes and also of the -allies; and of the Hellenes on their part a few; for since they knew -how to swim, those whose ships were destroyed and who were not slain in -hand-to-hand conflict swam over to Salamis; but of the Barbarians the -greater number perished in the sea, not being able to swim. And when -the first ships turned to flight, then it was that the largest number -perished, for those who were stationed behind, while endeavouring to -pass with their ships to the front in order that they also might display -some deed of valour for the king to see, ran into the ships of their own -side as they fled. - -90. It happened also in the course of this confusion that some of the -Phenicians, whose ships had been destroyed, came to the king and accused -the Ionians, saying that by means of them their ships had been lost, and -that they had been traitors to the cause. Now it so came about that not -only the commanders of the Ionians did not lose their lives, but the -Phenicians who accused them received a reward such as I shall tell. -While these men were yet speaking thus, a Samothrakian ship charged -against an Athenian ship: and as the Athenian ship was being sunk by -it, an Eginetan ship came up against the Samothrakian vessel and ran it -down. Then the Samothrakians, being skilful javelin-throwers, by hurling -cleared off the fighting-men from the ship which had wrecked theirs and -then embarked upon it and took possession of it. This event saved the -Ionians from punishment; for when Xerxes saw that they had performed a -great exploit, he turned to the Phenicians (for he was exceedingly vexed -and disposed to find fault with all) and bade cut off their heads, in -order that they might not, after having been cowards themselves, accuse -others who were better men than they. For whensoever Xerxes (sitting -just under the mountain opposite Salamis, which is called Aigaleos) saw -any one of his own side display a deed of valour in the sea-fight, he -inquired about him who had done it, and the scribes recorded the name of -the ship's captain with that of his father and the city from whence he -came. Moreover also Ariaramnes, a Persian who was present, shared 54 the -fate of the Phenicians, being their friend. They 55 then proceeded to -deal with the Phenicians. - -91. In the meantime, as the Barbarians turned to flight and were sailing -out towards Phaleron, the Eginetans waited for them in the passage and -displayed memorable actions: for while the Athenians in the confused -tumult were disabling both those ships which resisted and those which -were fleeing, the Eginetans were destroying those which attempted to -sail away; and whenever any escaped the Athenians, they went in full -course and fell among the Eginetans. - -92. Then there met one another the ship of Themistocles, which was -pursuing a ship of the enemy, and that of Polycritos the son of Crios -the Eginetan. This last had charged against a ship of Sidon, the same -that had taken the Eginetan vessel which was keeping watch in advance at -Skiathos, 56 and in which sailed Pytheas the son of Ischenooes, whom -the Persians kept in their ship, all cut to pieces as he was, making a -marvel of his valour. The Sidonian ship then was captured bearing with -it this man as well as the Persians of whom I spoke, so that Pytheas -thus came safe to Egina. Now when Polycritos looked at the Athenian -vessel he recognised when he saw it the sign of the admiral's ship, and -shouting out he addressed Themistocles with mockery about the accusation -brought against the Eginetans of taking the side of the Medes, 57 and -reproached him. This taunt Polycritos threw out against Themistocles -after he had charged against the ship of Sidon. And meanwhile those -Barbarians whose ships had escaped destruction fled and came to Phaleron -to be under cover of the land-army. - -93. In this sea-fight the Eginetans were of all the Hellenes the best -reported of, and next to them the Athenians; and of the individual -men the Eginetan Polycritos and the Athenians Eumenes of Anagyrus and -Ameinias of Pallene, the man who had pursued after Artemisia. Now if -he had known that Artemisia was sailing in this ship, he would not have -ceased until either he had taken her or had been taken himself; for -orders had been given to the Athenian captains, and moreover a prize was -offered of ten thousand drachmas for the man who should take her alive; -since they thought it intolerable that a woman should make an expedition -against Athens. She then, as has been said before, had made her escape; -and the others also, whose ships had escaped destruction, were at -Phaleron. - -94. As regards Adeimantos the commander of the Corinthians, the -Athenians say that forthwith at the beginning when the ships were -engaging in the fight, being struck with panic and terror he put up his -sails and fled away; and the Corinthians, when they saw the admiral's -ship fleeing, departed likewise: and after this, as the story goes, when -they came in their flight opposite to the temple of Athene Skiras in -the land of Salamis, there fell in with them by divine guidance a -light vessel, 58 which no one was ever found to have sent, and which -approached the Corinthians at a time when they knew nothing of that -which was happening with the fleet. And by this it is conjectured 59 -that the matter was of the Deity; for when they came near to the ships, -the men in the light vessel said these words: "Adeimantos, thou hast -turned thy ships away and hast set forth to flee, deserting the cause of -the Hellenes, while they are in truth gaining a victory and getting -the better of their foes as much as they desired." When they said this, -since Adeimantos doubted of it, they spoke a second time and said that -they might be taken as hostages and slain, if the Hellenes should prove -not to be gaining the victory. Then he turned his ship back, he and the -others with him, and they reached the camp when the work was finished. -Such is the report spread by the Athenians against these: the -Corinthians however do not allow this to be so, but hold that they were -among the first in the sea-fight; and the rest of Hellas also bears -witness on their side. - -95. Aristeides moreover the son of Lysimachos, the Athenian, of whom -I made mention also shortly before this as a very good man, he in this -tumult which had arisen about Salamis did as follows:--taking with him -a number of the hoplites of Athenian race who had been ranged along the -shore of the land of Salamis, with them he disembarked on the island of -Psyttaleia; and these slew all the Persians who were in this islet. - -96. When the sea-fight had been broken off, the Hellenes towed in to -Salamis so many of the wrecks as chanced to be still about there, and -held themselves ready for another sea-fight, expecting that the king -would yet make use of the ships which remained unhurt; but many of the -wrecks were taken by the West Wind and borne to that strand in Attica -which is called Colias; so as to fulfil 60 not only all that other -oracle which was spoken about this sea-fight by Bakis and Musaios, but -also especially, with reference to the wrecks cast up here, that -which had been spoken in an oracle many years before these events by -Lysistratos, an Athenian who uttered oracles, and which had not been -observed by any of the Hellenes: - - - "Then shall the Colian women with firewood of oars roast barley." 61 - -This was destined to come to pass after the king had marched away. - -97. When Xerxes perceived the disaster which had come upon him, he -feared lest some one of the Ionians should suggest to the Hellenes, -or they should themselves form the idea, to sail to the Hellespont and -break up the bridges; and so he might be cut off in Europe and run the -risk of perishing utterly: therefore he began to consider about taking -flight. He desired however that his intention should not be perceived -either by the Hellenes or by those of his own side; therefore he -attempted to construct a mole going across to Salamis, and he bound -together Phenician merchant vessels in order that they might serve him -both for a bridge and a wall, and made preparations for fighting as if -he were going to have another battle by sea. Seeing him do so, all the -rest made sure that he had got himself ready in earnest and intended to -stay and fight; but Mardonios did not fail to perceive the true meaning -of all these things, being by experience very well versed in his way of -thinking. - -98. While Xerxes was doing thus, he sent a messenger to the Persians, -to announce the calamity which had come upon them. Now there is -nothing mortal which accomplishes a journey with more speed than these -messengers, so skilfully has this been invented by the Persians: for -they say that according to the number of days of which the entire -journey consists, so many horses and men are set at intervals, each man -and horse appointed for a day's journey. These neither snow nor rain nor -heat nor darkness of night prevents from accomplishing each one the task -proposed to him, with the very utmost speed. The first then rides and -delivers the message with which he is charged to the second, and the -second to the third; and after that it goes through them handed from -one to the other, 62 as in the torch-race among the Hellenes, which -they perform for Hephaistos. This kind of running of their horses the -Persians call angareion. - -99. The first message then which came to Susa, announcing that Xerxes -had Athens in his possession, so greatly rejoiced the Persians who had -been left behind, that they strewed all the ways with myrtle boughs and -offered incense perpetually, and themselves continued in sacrifices and -feasting. The second message however, which came to them after this, -so greatly disturbed them that they all tore their garments and gave -themselves up to crying and lamentation without stint, laying the blame -upon Mardonios: and this the Persians did not so much because they were -grieved about the ships, as because they feared for Xerxes himself. - -100. As regards the Persians this went on for all the time which -intervened, until the coming of Xerxes himself caused them to cease: -and Mardonios seeing that Xerxes was greatly troubled by reason of -the sea-fight, and suspecting that he was meaning to take flight from -Athens, considered with regard to himself that he would have to suffer -punishment for having persuaded the king to make an expedition against -Hellas, and that it was better for him to run the risk of either -subduing Hellas or ending his own life honourably, placing his safety in -suspense for a great end, 63 though his opinion was rather that he would -subdue Hellas;--he reckoned up these things, I say, and addressed his -speech to the king as follows: "Master, be not thou grieved, nor feel -great trouble on account of this thing which has come to pass; for it is -not upon a contest of timbers that all our fortunes depend, but of -men and of horses: and none of these who suppose now that all has been -achieved by them will attempt to disembark from the ships and stand -against thee, nor will any in this mainland do so; but those who did -stand against us paid the penalty. If therefore thou thinkest this good -to do, let us forthwith attempt the Peloponnese, or if thou thinkest -good to hold back, we may do that. Do not despond however, for there is -no way of escape for the Hellenes to avoid being thy slaves, after they -have first given an account of that which they did to thee both now -and at former times. Thus it were best to do; but if thou hast indeed -resolved to retire thyself and to withdraw thy army, I have another -counsel to offer for that case too. Do not thou, O king, let the -Persians be an object of laughter to the Hellenes; for none of thy -affairs have suffered by means of the Persians, nor wilt thou be able to -mention any place where we proved ourselves cowards: but if Phenicians -or Egyptians or Cyprians or Kilikians proved themselves cowards, the -calamity which followed does not belong to the Persians in any way. Now -therefore, since it is not the Persians who are guilty towards thee, -follow my counsel. If thou hast determined not to remain here, retire -thou to thine own abode, taking with thee the main body of the army, -and it must then be for me to deliver over to thee Hellas reduced to -subjection, choosing for this purpose thirty myriads 64 from the army." - -101. Hearing this Xerxes was rejoiced and delighted so far as he might -be after his misfortunes, 65 and to Mardonios he said that when he had -taken counsel he would reply and say which of these two things he would -do. So when he was taking counsel with those of the Persians who -were called to be his advisers, 66 it seemed good to him to send for -Artemisia also to give him counsel, because at the former time she alone -had showed herself to have perception of that which ought to be done. So -when Artemisia had come, Xerxes removed from him all the rest, both the -Persian councillors and also the spearmen of the guard and spoke to -her thus: "Mardonios bids me stay here and make an attempt on the -Peloponnese, saying that the Persians and the land-army are not guilty -of any share in my calamity, and that they would gladly give me proof of -this. He bids me therefore either do this or, if not, he desires himself -to choose thirty myriads from the army and to deliver over to me Hellas -reduced to subjection; and he bids me withdraw with the rest of the army -to my own abode. Do thou therefore, as thou didst well advise about the -sea-fight which was fought, urging that we should not bring it on, so -also now advise me which of these things I shall do, that I may succeed -in determining well." - -102. He thus consulted her, and she spoke these words: "O king, it is -hard for me to succeed in saying the best things when one asks me for -counsel; yet it seems good to me at the present that thou shouldest -retire back and leave Mardonios here, if he desires it and undertakes -to do this, together with those whom he desires to have: for on the one -hand if he subdue those whom he says that he desires to subdue, and if -those matters succeed well which he has in mind when he thus speaks, the -deed will after all be thine, master, seeing that thy slaves achieved -it: and on the other hand if the opposite shall come to pass of that -which Mardonios intends, it will be no great misfortune, seeing that -thou wilt thyself remain safe, and also the power in those parts 67 -which concerns thy house: 68 for if thou shalt remain safe with thy -house, many contests many times over repeated will the Hellenes have -to pass through for their own existence. 69 Of Mardonios however, if -he suffer any disaster, no account will be made; and if the Hellenes -conquer they gain a victory which is no victory, having destroyed one -who is but thy slave. Thou however wilt retire having done that for -which thou didst make thy march, that is to say, having delivered Athens -to the fire." - -103. With this advice Xerxes was greatly delighted, since she succeeded -in saying that very thing which he himself was meaning to do: for not -even if all the men and all the women in the world had been counselling -him to remain, would he have done so, as I think, so much had he been -struck with terror. He commended Artemisia therefore and sent her away -to conduct his sons to Ephesos, for there were certain bastard sons of -his which accompanied him. - -104. With these sons he sent Hermotimos to have charge of them, who was -by race of Pedasa and was in the estimation of the king second to none -of the eunuchs. [Now the Pedasians dwell above Halicarnassos, and at -this Pedasa a thing happens as follows:--whenever to the whole number of -those who dwell about this city some trouble is about to come within -a certain time, then the priestess of Athene in that place gets a long -beard; and this has happened to them twice before now. - -105. Of these Pedasians was Hermotimos.] 70 And this man of all persons -whom we know up to this time obtained the greatest revenge for a wrong -done to him. For he had been captured by enemies and was being sold, and -Panionios a man of Chios bought him, one who had set himself to gain his -livelihood by the most impious practices; for whenever he obtained -boys who possessed some beauty, he would make eunuchs of them, and then -taking them to Sardis or Ephesos sold them for large sums of money, -since with the Barbarians eunuchs are held to be of more value for all -matters of trust than those who are not eunuchs. Panionios then, I say, -made eunuchs of many others, since by this he got his livelihood, -and also of this man about whom I speak: and Hermotimos, being not in -everything unfortunate, was sent from Sardis to the king with other -gifts, and as time went on he came to be honoured more than all the -other eunuchs in the sight of Xerxes. - -106. And when the king, being at that time in Sardis, was setting the -Persian army in motion to march against Athens, then Hermotimos, having -gone down for some business to that part of Mysia which the Chians -occupy and which is called Atarneus, found there Panionios: and having -recognised him he spoke to him many friendly words, first recounting -to him all the good things which he had by his means, and next making -promises in return for this, and saying how many good things he would do -for him, if he would bring his household and dwell in that land; so that -Panionios gladly accepting his proposals brought his children and -his wife. Then, when he had caught him together with his whole house, -Hermotimos spoke as follows: "O thou, who of all men that ever lived up -to this time didst gain thy substance by the most impious deeds, what -evil did either I myself or any of my forefathers do either to thee -or to any of thine, that thou didst make me to be that which is nought -instead of a man? Didst thou suppose that thou wouldest escape the -notice of the gods for such things as then thou didst devise? They -however following the rule of justice delivered 71 thee into my hands, -since thou hadst done impious deeds; so that thou shalt not have reason -to find fault with the penalty which shall be inflicted upon thee by -me." When he had thus reproached him, the man's sons were brought into -his presence and Panionios was compelled to make eunuchs of his own -sons, who were four in number, and being compelled he did so; and then -when he had so done, the sons were compelled to do the same thing to -him. Thus vengeance by the hands of Hermotimos 72 overtook Panionios. - -107. When Xerxes had entrusted his sons to Artemisia to carry them back -to Ephesos, he called Mardonios and bade him choose of the army whom he -would, and make his deeds, if possible, correspond to his words. During -this day then things went so far; and in the night on the command of -the king the leaders of the fleet began to withdraw their ships from -Phaleron to the Hellespont, as quickly as they might each one, to guard -the bridges for the king to pass over. And when the Barbarians were -near Zoster as they sailed, then seeing the small points of rock which -stretch out to sea from this part of the mainland, they thought -that these were ships and fled for a good distance. In time however, -perceiving that they were not ships but points of rock, they assembled -together again and continued on their voyage. - -108. When day dawned, the Hellenes, seeing that the land-army was -staying still in its place, supposed that the ships also were about -Phaleron; and thinking that they would fight another sea-battle, they -made preparations to repel them. When however they were informed that -the ships had departed, forthwith upon this they thought it good to -pursue after them. They pursued therefore as far as Andros, but did not -get a sight of the fleet of Xerxes; and when they had come to Andros, -they deliberated what they should do. Themistocles then declared as -his opinion that they should take their course through the islands and -pursue after the ships, and afterwards sail straight to the Hellespont -to break up the bridges; but Eurybiades expressed the opposite opinion -to this, saying that if they should break up the floating-bridges, they -would therein do 73 the greatest possible evil to Hellas: for if the -Persian should be cut off and compelled to remain in Europe, he would -endeavour not to remain still, since if he remained still, neither -could any of his affairs go forward, nor would any way of returning -home appear; but his army would perish of hunger: whereas if he made the -attempt and persevered in it, all Europe might be brought over to -him, city by city and nation by nation, the inhabitants being either -conquered 74 or surrendering on terms before they were conquered: -moreover they would have for food the crops of the Hellenes which grew -year by year. He thought however that conquered in the sea-fight the -Persian would not stay in Europe, and therefore he might be allowed to -flee until in his flight he came to his own land. Then after that they -might begin the contest for the land which belonged to the Persian. To -this opinion the commanders of the other Peloponnesians adhered also. - -109. When Themistocles perceived that he would not be able to persuade -them, or at least the greater number of them, to sail to the Hellespont, -he changed his counsel 75 and turning to the Athenians (for these were -grieved most at the escape of the enemy and were anxious to sail to the -Hellespont even by themselves alone, 76 if the others were not willing) -to them he spoke as follows: "I myself also have been present before now -on many occasions, and have heard of many more, on which something -of this kind came to pass, namely that men who were forced into great -straits, after they had been defeated fought again and repaired their -former disaster: and as for us, since we have won as a prize from -fortune the existence of ourselves and of Hellas by repelling from our -land so great a cloud of men, let us not pursue enemies who flee from -us: for of these things not we were the doors, but the gods and heroes, -who grudged that one man should become king of both Asia and of Europe, -and he a man unholy and presumptuous, one who made no difference between -things sacred and things profane, 77 burning and casting down the images -of the gods, and who also scourged the Sea and let down into it fetters. -But as things are at present, it is well that we should now remain in -Hellas and look after ourselves and our households; and let each man -repair his house, and have a care for sowing his land, after he has -completely driven away the Barbarian: and then at the beginning of -the spring let us sail down towards the Hellespont and Ionia." Thus he -spoke, intending to lay up for himself a store of gratitude with the -Persian, in order that if after all any evil should come upon him at the -hands of the Athenians, he might have a place of refuge: and this was in -fact that which came to pass. - -110. Themistocles then speaking thus endeavoured to deceive them, and -the Athenians followed his advice: for he had had the reputation even in -former times of being a man of ability 78 and he had now proved himself -to be in truth both able and of good judgment; therefore they were ready -in every way to follow his advice when he spoke. So when these had been -persuaded by him, forthwith after this Themistocles sent men with a -vessel, whom he trusted to keep silence, to whatever test they might be -brought, of that which he himself charged them to tell the king; and of -them Sikinnos his servant again was one. When these came to Attica, the -rest stayed behind in the ship, while Sikinnos went up to Xerxes and -spoke these words: "Themistocles the son of Neocles sent me, who is -commander of the Athenians, and of all the allies the best and ablest -man, to tell thee that Themistocles the Athenian, desiring to be of -service to thee, held back the Hellenes when they were desirous to -pursue after thy ships and to destroy the bridges on the Hellespont. Now -therefore thou mayest make thy way home quite undisturbed." They having -signified this sailed away again. - -111. The Hellenes meanwhile, having resolved not to pursue after the -ships of the Barbarians further, nor to sail to the Hellespont to break -up the passage, were investing Andros intending to take it: for -the Andrians were the first of the islanders who, being asked by -Themistocles for money, refused to give it: and when Themistocles made -proposals to them and said that the Athenians had come having on their -side two great deities, Persuasion and Compulsion, and therefore they -must by all means give them money, they replied to this that not without -reason, as it now appeared, was Athens great and prosperous, since the -Athenians were well supplied with serviceable deities; but as for the -Andrians, they were poor, 79 having in this respect attained to the -greatest eminence, and there were two unprofitable deities which never -left their island but always remained attached to the place, Poverty, -namely, and Helplessness: and the Andrians being possessed of these -deities would not give money; for never could the power of the Athenians -get the better of their inability. 80 - -112. These, I say, having thus made answer and having refused to give -the money, were being besieged: and Themistocles not ceasing in his -desire for gain sent threatening messages to the other islands and asked -them for money by the same envoys, employing those whom he had before -sent to the king; 81 and he said that if they did not give that which -was demanded of them, he would bring the fleet of the Hellenes against -them to besiege and take them. Thus saying he collected great sums of -money from the Carystians and the Parians, who being informed how Andros -was being besieged, because it had taken the side of the Medes, and how -Themistocles was held in more regard than any of the other commanders, -sent money for fear of this. Whether any others of the islanders also -gave money I am not able to say, but I think that some others gave and -not these alone. Yet to the Carystians at least there was no respite -from the evil on this account, but the Parians escaped the attack, -because they propitiated Themistocles with money. Thus Themistocles with -Andros as his starting-point was acquiring sums of money for himself -from the men of the islands without the knowledge of the other -commanders. - -113. Xerxes meanwhile with his army stayed for a few days after the -sea-fight, and then they all began to march forth towards Boeotia by the -same way by which they had come: for Mardonios thought both that it was -well for him to escort the king on his way, and also that it was now -too late in the year to carry on the war; it was better, he thought, to -winter in Thessaly and then at the beginning of spring to attempt the -Peloponnese. When he came to Thessaly, then Mardonios chose out for -himself first all those Persians who are called "Immortals," except only -their commander Hydarnes (for Hydarnes said that he would not be left -behind by the king), and after them of the other Persians those who wore -cuirasses, and the body of a thousand horse: also the Medes, Sacans, -Bactrians and Indians, foot and horsemen both. 82 These nations he chose -in the mass, 83 but from the other allies he selected by few at a time, -choosing whose who had fine appearance of those of whom he knew that -they had done good service. From the Persians he chose more than from -any other single nation, and these wore collars of twisted metal and -bracelets; and after them came the Medes, who in fact were not inferior -in number to the Persians, but only in bodily strength. The result was -that there were thirty myriads in all, including cavalry. - -114. During this time, while Mardonios was selecting his army and -Xerxes was in Thessaly, there had come an oracle from Delphi to the -Lacedemonians, bidding them ask satisfaction from Xerxes for the murder -of Leonidas and accept that which should be given by him. The Spartans -therefore sent a herald as quickly as possible, who having found the -whole army still in Thessaly came into the presence of Xerxes and spoke -these words: "O king of the Medes, the Lacedemonians and the sons of -Heracles of Sparta demand of thee satisfaction for murder, because thou -didst kill their king, fighting in defence of Hellas." He laughed and -then kept silence some time, and after that pointing to Mardonios, who -happened to be standing by him, he said: "Then Mardonios here shall give -them satisfaction, such as is fitting for them to have." - -115. The herald accordingly accepted the utterance and departed; and -Xerxes leaving Mardonios in Thessaly went on himself in haste to -the Hellespont and arrived at the passage where the crossing was in -five-and-thirty days, bringing back next to nothing, as one may say, 84 -of his army: and whithersoever they came on the march and to whatever -nation, they seized the crops of that people and used them for -provisions; and if they found no crops, then they took the grass which -was growing up from the earth, and stripped off the bark from the trees -and plucked down the leaves and devoured them, alike of the cultivated -trees and of those growing wild; and they left nothing behind them: thus -they did by reason of famine. Then plague too seized upon the army and -dysentery, which destroyed them by the way, and some of them also who -were sick the king left behind, laying charge upon the cities where at -the time he chanced to be in his march, to take care of them and support -them: of these he left some in Thessaly, and some at Siris in Paionia, -and some in Macedonia. In these parts too he had left behind him the -sacred chariot of Zeus, when he was marching against Hellas; but on his -return he did not receive it back: for the Paionians had given it to the -Thracians, and when Xerxes asked for it again, they said that the mares -while at pasture had been carried off by the Thracians of the upper -country, who dwelt about the source of the Strymon. - -116. Here also a Thracian, the king of the Bisaltians and of the -Crestonian land, did a deed of surpassing horror; for he had said that -he would not himself be subject to Xerxes with his own will and had gone -away up to Mount Rhodope, and also he had forbidden his sons to go on -the march against Hellas. They however, either because they cared not -for his command, or else because a desire came upon them to see the war, -went on the march with the Persian: and when they returned all unhurt, -being six in number, their father plucked out their eyes for this cause. - -117. They then received this reward: and as to the Persians, when -passing on from Thrace they came to the passage, they crossed over the -Hellespont in haste to Abydos by means of the ships, for they did not -find the floating-bridges still stretched across but broken up by a -storm. While staying there for a time they had distributed to them an -allowance of food more abundant than they had had by the way, and from -satisfying their hunger without restraint and also from the changes of -water there died many of those in the army who had remained safe till -then. The rest arrived with Xerxes at Sardis. - -118. There is also another story reported as follows, namely that when -Xerxes on his march away from Athens came to Eion on the Strymon, from -that point he did not continue further to make marches by road, but -delivered his army to Hydarnes to lead back to the Hellespont, while he -himself embarked in a Phenician ship and set forth for Asia; and as he -sailed he was seized by a wind from the Strymon, 85 violent and raising -great waves; and since he was tossed by the storm more and more, the -ship being heavily laden (for there were upon the deck great numbers of -Persians, those namely who went with Xerxes), the king upon that falling -into fear shouted aloud and asked the pilot whether there were for them -any means of safety. He said: "Master, there are none, unless some way -be found of freeing ourselves of the excessive number of passengers." -Then it is said that Xerxes, when he heard this, spoke thus: "Persians, -now let each one of you show that he has care for the king; for my -safety, as it seems, depends upon you." He, they say, thus spoke, and -they made obeisance to him and leapt out into the sea; and so the ship -being lightened came safe to Asia. As soon as they had landed Xerxes, -they say, first presented the pilot with a wreath of gold, because he -had saved the life of the king, and then cut off his head, because he -had caused the death of many of the Persians. - -119. This other story, I say, is reported about the return of Xerxes, -but I for my part can by no means believe it, either in other respects -or as regards this which is said to have happened to the Persians; for -if this which I have related had in truth been said by the pilot to -Xerxes, not one person's opinion in ten thousand will differ from mine -that the king would have done some such thing as this, that is to say, -he would have caused those who were upon the deck to go down below into -the hold, seeing that they were Persians of the highest rank among the -Persians; and of the rowers, who were Phenicians, he would have thrown -out into the sea a number equal to the number of those. In fact however, -as I have said before, he made his return to Asia together with the rest -of the army by road. - -120. And this also which follows is a strong witness that it was so; for -Xerxes is known to have come to Abdera on his way back, and to have made -with them a guest-friendship and presented them with a Persian sword of -gold and a gold-spangled tiara: and as the men of Abdera themselves say -(though I for my part can by no means believe it), he loosed his girdle -for the first time during his flight back from Athens, considering -himself to be in security. Now Abdera is situated further towards the -Hellespont than the river Strymon and Eion, from which place the story -says that he embarked in the ship. - -121. The Hellenes meanwhile, when it proved that they were not able to -conquer Andros, turned towards Carystos, and having laid waste the land -of that people they departed and went to Salamis. First then for the -gods they chose out first-fruits of the spoil, and among them three -Persian triremes, one to be dedicated as an offering at the Isthmus, -which remained there still up to my time, another at Sunion, and the -third to Ajax in Salamis where they were. After this they divided the -spoil among themselves and sent the first-fruits 86 to Delphi, of which -was made a statue holding in its hand the beak of a ship and in height -measuring twelve cubits. This statue stood in the same place with the -golden statue of Alexander the Macedonian. - -122. Then when the Hellenes had sent first-fruits to Delphi, they asked -the god on behalf of all whether the first-fruits which he had received -were fully sufficient and acceptable to him. He said that from the -Hellenes he had received enough, but not from the Eginetans, and from -them he demanded the offering of their prize of valour for the sea-fight -at Salamis. Hearing this the Eginetans dedicated golden stars, three in -number, upon a ship's mast of bronze, which are placed in the corner 87 -close to the mixing-bowl of Croesus. - -123. After the division of the spoil the Hellenes sailed to the Isthmus, -to give the prize of valour to him who of all the Hellenes had proved -himself the most worthy during this war: and when they had come thither -and the commanders distributed 88 their votes at the altar of Poseidon, -selecting from the whole number the first and the second in merit, then -every one of them gave in his vote for himself, each man thinking that -he himself had been the best; but for the second place the greater -number of votes came out in agreement, assigning that to Themistocles. -They then were left alone in their votes, while Themistocles in regard -to the second place surpassed the rest by far: - -124, and although the Hellenes would not give decision of this by reason -of envy, but sailed away each to their own city without deciding, yet -Themistocles was loudly reported of and was esteemed throughout Hellas -to be the man who was the ablest 89 by far of the Hellenes: and since he -had not received honour from those who had fought at Salamis, although -he was the first in the voting, he went forthwith after this to -Lacedemon, desiring to receive honour there; and the Lacedemonians -received him well and gave him great honours. As a prize of valour they -gave to Eurybiades a wreath of olive; and for ability and skill they -gave to Themistocles also a wreath of olive, and presented him besides -with the chariot which was judged to be the best in Sparta. So having -much commended him, they escorted him on his departure with three -hundred picked men of the Spartans, the same who are called the -"horsemen," 90 as far as the boundaries of Tegea: and he is the only man -of all we know to whom the Spartans ever gave escort on his way. - -125. When however he had come to Athens from Lacedemon, Timodemos of -Aphidnai, one of the opponents of Themistocles, but in other respects -not among the men of distinction, maddened by envy attacked him, -bringing forward against him his going to Lacedemon, and saying that it -was on account of Athens that he had those marks of honour which he had -from the Lacedemonians, and not on his own account. Then, as Timodemos -continued ceaselessly to repeat this, Themistocles said: "I tell thee -thus it is:--if I had been a native of Belbina 91 I should never have -been thus honoured by the Spartans; but neither wouldest thou, my -friend, for all that thou art an Athenian." So far then went these -matters. - -126. Artabazos meanwhile the son of Pharnakes, a man who was held in -esteem among the Persians even before this and came to be so yet more -after the events about Plataia, was escorting the king as far as the -passage with six myriads 92 of that army which Mardonios had selected -for himself; and when the king was in Asia and Artabazos on his march -back came near to Pallene, finding that Mardonios was wintering in -Thessaly and Macedonia and was not at present urgent with him to come -and join the rest of the army, he thought it not good to pass by without -reducing the Potidaians to slavery, whom he had found in revolt: for the -men of Potidaia, when the king had marched by them and when the fleet of -the Persians had departed in flight from Salamis, had openly made revolt -from the Barbarians; and so also had the others done who occupy Pallene. - -127. So upon this Artabazos began to besiege Potidaia, and suspecting -that the men of Olynthos also were intending revolt from the king, he -began to besiege this city too, which was occupied by Bottiaians who had -been driven away from the Thermaian gulf by the Macedonians. So when he -had taken these men by siege, he brought them forth to a lake and slew -them 93 there; and the city he delivered to Critobulos of Torone to have -in charge, and to the natives of Chalkidike; and thus it was that the -Chalkidians got possession of Olynthos. - -128. Having taken this city Artabazos set himself to attack Potidaia -with vigour, and as he was setting himself earnestly to this work, -Timoxeinos the commander of the troops from Skione concerted with him -to give up the town by treachery. Now in what manner he did this at the -first, I for my part am not able to say, for this is not reported; at -last however it happened as follows. Whenever either Timoxeinos wrote a -paper wishing to send it to Artabazos, or Artabazos wishing to send one -to Timoxeinos, they wound it round by the finger-notches 94 of an arrow, -and then, putting feathers over the paper, they shot it to a place -agreed upon between them. It came however to be found out that -Timoxeinos was attempting by treachery to give up Potidaia; for -Artabazos, shooting an arrow at the place agreed upon, missed this spot -and struck a man of Potidaia in the shoulder; and when he was struck, -a crowd came about him, as is apt to happen when there is fighting, and -they forthwith took the arrow and having discovered the paper carried -it to the commanders. Now there was present an allied force of the other -men of Pallene also. Then when the commanders had read the paper and -discovered who was guilty of the treachery, they resolved not openly to -convict 95 Timoxeinos of treachery, for the sake of the city of Skione, -lest the men of Skione should be esteemed traitors for all time to come. - -129. He then in such a manner as this had been discovered; and when -three months had gone by while Artabazos was besieging the town, there -came to be a great ebb of the sea backwards, which lasted for a long -time; and the Barbarians, seeing that shallow water had been produced, -endeavoured to get by into the peninsula of Pallene, 96 but when they -had passed through two fifth-parts of the distance, and yet three-fifths -remained, which they must pass through before they were within Pallene, -then there came upon them a great flood-tide of the sea, higher than -ever before, as the natives of the place say, though high tides come -often. So those of them who could not swim perished, and those who could -were slain by the men of Potidaia who put out to them in boats. The -cause of the high tide and flood and of that which befell the Persians -was this, as the Potidaians say, namely that these same Persians who -perished by means of the sea had committed impiety towards the temple of -Poseidon and his image in the suburb of their town; and in saying that -this was the cause, in my opinion they say well. The survivors of his -army Artabazos led away to Thessaly to join Mardonios. Thus it fared -with these who escorted the king on his way. - -130. The fleet of Xerxes, so much of it as remained, when it had touched -Asia in its flight from Salamis, and had conveyed the king and his army -over from the Chersonese to Abydos, passed the winter at Kyme: and when -spring dawned upon it, it assembled early at Samos, where some of the -ships had even passed the winter; and most of the Persians and Medes -still served as fighting-men on board of them. 97 To be commanders of -them there came Mardontes the son of Bagaios, and Artayntes the son of -Artachaies, and with them also Ithamitres was in joint command, who was -brother's son to Artayntes and had been added by the choice of Artayntes -himself. They then, since they had suffered a heavy blow, did not -advance further up towards the West, nor did any one compel them to do -so; but they remained still in Samos and kept watch over Ionia, lest -it should revolt, having three hundred ships including those of the -Ionians; and they did not expect that the Hellenes on their part would -come to Ionia, but thought that it would satisfy them to guard their -own land, judging from the fact that they had not pursued after them -in their flight from Salamis but were well contented then to depart -homewards. As regards the sea then their spirit was broken, but on land -they thought that Mardonios would get much the advantage. So they being -at Samos were taking counsel to do some damage if they could to their -enemies, and at the same time they were listening for news how the -affairs of Mardonios would fall out. - -131. The Hellenes on their part were roused both by the coming on of -spring and by the presence of Mardonios in Thessaly. Their land-army had -not yet begun to assemble, when the fleet arrived at Egina, in -number one hundred and ten ships, and the commander and admiral was -Leotychides, who was the son of Menares, the son of Hegesilaos, the son -of Hippocratides, the son of Leotychides, the son of Anaxilaos, the son -of Archidemos, the son of Anaxandriddes, the son of Theopompos, the son -of Nicander, the son of Charilaos, 98 the son of Eunomos, the son of -Polydectes, the son of Prytanis, the son of Euryphon, 99 the son of -Procles, the son of Aristodemos, the son of Aristomachos, the son of -Cleodaios, the son of Hyllos, the son of Heracles, being of the other -royal house. 100 These all, except the two 101 enumerated first -after Leotychides, had been kings of Sparta. And of the Athenians the -commander was Xanthippos the son of Ariphon. - -132. When all the ships had arrived at Egina, there came Ionian envoys -to the camp of the Hellenes, who also came a short time before this to -Sparta and asked the Lacedemonians to set Ionia free; and of them -one was Herodotus the son of Basileides. These had banded themselves -together and had plotted to put to death Strattis the despot of Chios, -being originally seven in number; but when one of those who took part -with them gave information of it and they were discovered to be plotting -against him, then the remaining six escaped from Chios and came both to -Sparta and also at this time to Egina, asking the Hellenes to sail over -to Ionia: but they with difficulty brought them forward as far as Delos; -for the parts beyond this were all fearful to the Hellenes, since they -were without experience of those regions and everything seemed to them -to be filled with armed force, while their persuasion was that it was as -long a voyage to Samos as to the Pillars of Heracles. Thus at the same -time it so chanced that the Barbarians dared sail no further up towards -the West than Samos, being smitten with fear, and the Hellenes no -further down towards the East than Delos, when the Chians made request -of them. So fear was guard of the space which lay between them. - -133. The Hellenes, I say, sailed to Delos; and Mardonios meanwhile had -been wintering in Thessaly. From thence he sent round a man, a native of -Europos, whose name was Mys, to the various Oracles, charging him to -go everywhere to consult, 102 wherever they 103 were permitted to make -trial of the Oracles. What he desired to find out from the Oracles when -he gave this charge, I am not able to say, for that is not reported; but -I conceive for my part that he sent to consult about his present affairs -and not about other things. - -134. This Mys is known to have come to Lebadeia and to have persuaded -by payment of money one of the natives of the place to go down to -Trophonios, and also he came to the Oracle at Abai of the Phokians; -and moreover when he came for the first time to Thebes, he not only -consulted the Ismenian Apollo,--there one may consult just as at Olympia -with victims,--but also by payment he persuaded a stranger who was not -a Theban, and induced him to lie down to sleep in the temple of -Amphiaraos. In this temple no one of the Thebans is permitted to seek -divination, and that for the following reason:--Amphiaraos dealing by -oracles bade them choose which they would of these two things, either -to have him as a diviner or else as an ally in war, abstaining from the -other use; and they chose that he should be their ally in war: for this -reason it is not permitted to any of the Thebans to lie down to sleep in -that temple. - -135. After this a thing which to me is a very great marvel is said by -the Thebans to have come to pass:--it seems that this man Mys of Europos, -as he journeyed round to all the Oracles, came also to the sacred -enclosure of the Ptoan Apollo. This temple is called "Ptoon," and -belongs to the Thebans, and it lies above the lake Copais at the foot of -the mountains, close to the town of Acraiphia. When the man called Mys -came to this temple with three men chosen from the citizens 104 in his -company, who were sent by the public authority to write down that which -the god should utter in his divination, forthwith it is said the prophet -105 of the god began to give the oracle in a Barbarian tongue; and while -those of the Thebans who accompanied him were full of wonder, hearing a -Barbarian instead of the Hellenic tongue, and did not know what to make -of the matter before them, it is said that the man of Europos, Mys, -snatched from them the tablet which they bore and wrote upon it that -which was being spoken by the prophet; and he said that the prophet was -giving his answer in the Carian tongue: and then when he had written it, -he went away and departed to Thessaly. - -136. Mardonios having read that which the Oracles uttered, whatever that -was, after this sent as an envoy to Athens Alexander the son of Amyntas, -the Macedonian, both because the Persians were connected with him by -marriage, (for Gygaia the sister of Alexander and daughter of Amyntas -had been married to a Persian Bubares, 106 and from her had been born -to him that Amyntas who lived in Asia, having the name of his mother's -father, to whom the king gave Alabanda, 107 a great city of Phrygia, -to possess), and also Mardonios was sending him because he was -informed that Alexander was a public guest-friend and benefactor of the -Athenians; for by this means he thought that he would be most likely to -gain over the Athenians to his side, about whom he heard that they were -a numerous people and brave in war, and of whom he knew moreover that -these were they who more than any others had brought about the disasters -which had befallen the Persians by sea. Therefore if these should be -added to him, he thought that he should easily have command of the sea -(and this in fact would have been the case), while on land he supposed -himself to be already much superior in force. Thus he reckoned that his -power would be much greater than that of the Hellenes. Perhaps also the -Oracles told him this beforehand, counselling him to make the Athenian -his ally, and so he was sending in obedience to their advice. - -137. Now of this Alexander the seventh ancestor 108 was that Perdiccas -who first became despot of the Macedonians, and that in the manner which -here follows:--From Argos there fled to the Illyrians three brothers of -the descendents of Temenos, Gauanes, Aeropos, and Perdiccas; and passing -over from the Illyrians into the upper parts of Macedonia they came -to the city of Lebaia. There they became farm-servants for pay in the -household of the king, one pasturing horses, the second oxen, and the -youngest of them, namely Perdiccas, the smaller kinds of cattle; for 109 -in ancient times even those who were rulers over men 110 were poor in -money, and not the common people only; and the wife of the king cooked -for them their food herself. And whenever she baked, the loaf of the boy -their servant, namely Perdiccas, became double as large as by nature it -should be. When this happened constantly in the same manner, she told -it to her husband, and he when he heard it conceived forthwith that -this was a portent and tended to something great. He summoned the -farm-servants therefore, and gave notice to them to depart out of his -land; and they said that it was right that before they went forth they -should receive the wages which were due. Now it chanced that the sun -was shining into the house down through the opening which received the -smoke, and the king when he heard about the wages said, being infatuated -by a divine power: "I pay you then this for wages, and it is such as -ye deserve," pointing to the sunlight. So then Gauanes and Aeropos the -elder brothers stood struck with amazement when they heard this, but -the boy, who happened to have in his hand a knife, said these words: "We -accept, O king, that which thou dost give;" and he traced a line with -his knife round the sunlight on the floor of the house, and having -traced the line round he thrice drew of the sunlight into his bosom, and -after that he departed both himself and his fellows. - -138. They then were going away, and to the king one of those who sat -by him at table told what manner of thing the boy had done, and how the -youngest of them had taken that which was given with some design: and -he hearing this and being moved with anger, sent after them horsemen to -slay them. Now there is a river in this land to which the descendents of -these men from Argos sacrifice as a saviour. This river, so soon as the -sons of Temenos had passed over it, began to flow with such great volume -of water that the horsemen became unable to pass over. So the brothers, -having come to another region of Macedonia, took up their dwelling near -the so-called gardens of Midas the son of Gordias, where roses grow wild -which have each one sixty petals and excel all others in perfume. -In these gardens too Silenos was captured, as is reported by the -Macedonians: and above the gardens is situated a mountain called -Bermion, which is inaccessible by reason of the cold. Having taken -possession of that region, they made this their starting-point, and -proceeded to subdue also the rest of Macedonia. - -139. From this Perdiccas the descent of Alexander was as -follows:--Alexander was the son of Amyntas, Amyntas was the son of -Alketes, the father of Alketes was Aeropos, of him Philip, of Philip -Argaios, and of this last the father was Perdiccas, who first obtained -the kingdom. - -140. Thus then, I say, Alexander the son of Amyntas was descended; and -when he came to Athens sent from Mardonios, he spoke as follows: (a) -"Athenians, Mardonios speaks these words:--There has come to me a message -from the king which speaks in this manner:--To the Athenians I remit all -the offences which were committed against me: and now, Mardonios, -thus do,--first give them back their own land; then let them choose -for themselves another in addition to this, whichsoever they desire, -remaining independent; and set up for them again all their temples, -which I set on fire, provided that they consent to make a treaty with -me. This message having come to me, it is necessary for me to do so, -unless by your means I am prevented: and thus I speak to you now:--Why -are ye so mad as to raise up war against the king? since neither will ye -overcome him, nor are ye able to hold out against him for ever: for -ye saw the multitude of the host of Xerxes and their deeds, and ye are -informed also of the power which is with me at the present time; so that -even if ye overcome and conquer us (of which ye can have no hope if ye -are rightly minded), another power will come many times as large. Do -not ye then desire to match yourselves with the king, and so to be both -deprived of your land and for ever running a course for your own lives; -but make peace with him: and ye have a most honourable occasion to make -peace, since the king has himself set out upon this road: agree to a -league with us then without fraud or deceit, and remain free. (b) These -things Mardonios charged me to say to you, O Athenians; and as for me, -I will say nothing of the goodwill towards you on my part, for ye -would not learn that now for the first time; but I ask of you to do as -Mardonios says, since I perceive that ye will not be able to war with -Xerxes for ever,--if I perceived in you ability to do this, I should -never have come to you speaking these words,--for the power of the king -is above that of a man and his arm is very long. If therefore ye do not -make an agreement forthwith, when they offer you great things as the -terms on which they are willing to make a treaty, I have fear on your -behalf, seeing that ye dwell more upon the highway than any of your -allies, and are exposed ever to destruction alone, the land which ye -possess being parted off from the rest and lying between the armies -which are contending together. 111 Nay, but be persuaded, for this is -a matter of great consequence to you, that to you alone of the Hellenes -the great king remits the offences committed and desires to become a -friend." - -141. Thus spoke Alexander; and the Lacedemonians having been informed -that Alexander had come to Athens to bring the Athenians to make a -treaty with the Barbarians, and remembering the oracles, who it was -destined that they together with the other Dorians should be driven -forth out of the Peloponnese by the Medes and the Athenians combined, -had been very greatly afraid lest the Athenians should make a treaty -with the Persians; and forthwith they had resolved to send envoys. -It happened moreover that they were introduced at the same time with -Alexander; 112 for the Athenians had waited for them, protracting the -time, because they were well assured that the Lacedemonians would hear -that an envoy had come from the Barbarians to make a treaty, and that -having heard it they would themselves send envoys with all speed. They -acted therefore of set purpose, so as to let the Lacedemonians see their -inclination. - -142. So when Alexander had ceased speaking, the envoys from Sparta -followed him forthwith and said: "As for us, the Lacedemonians sent us -to ask of you not to make any change in that which concerns Hellas, nor -to accept proposals from the Barbarian; since this is not just in any -way nor honourable for any of the Hellenes to do, but least of all for -you, and that for many reasons. Ye were they who stirred up this war, -when we by no means willed it; and the contest came about for your -dominion, but now it extends even to the whole of Hellas. Besides this -it is by no means to be endured that ye Athenians, who are the authors -of all this, should prove to be the cause of slavery to the Hellenes, -seeing that ye ever from ancient time also have been known as the -liberators of many. We feel sympathy however with you for your -sufferings and because ye were deprived of your crops twice and have had -your substance ruined now for a long time. In compensation for this the -Lacedemonians and their allies make offer to support your wives and all -those of your households who are unfitted for war, so long as this war -shall last: but let not Alexander the Macedonian persuade you, making -smooth the speech of Mardonios; for these things are fitting for him to -do, since being himself a despot he is working in league with a despot: -for you however they are not fitting to do, if ye chance to be rightly -minded; for ye know that in Barbarians there is neither faith nor truth -at all." - -Thus spoke the envoys: - -143, and to Alexander the Athenians made answer thus: "Even of ourselves -we know so much, that the Mede has a power many times as numerous as -ours; so that there is no need for thee to cast this up against us. -Nevertheless because we long for liberty we shall defend ourselves as we -may be able: and do not thou endeavour to persuade us to make a treaty -with the Barbarian, for we on our part shall not be persuaded. And now -report to Mardonios that the Athenians say thus:--So long as the Sun goes -on the same course by which he goes now, we will never make an agreement -with Xerxes; but we will go forth to defend ourselves 113 against -him, trusting in the gods and the heroes as allies, for whom he had no -respect when he set fire to their houses and to their sacred images. -And in the future do not thou appear before the Athenians with any such -proposals as these, nor think that thou art rendering them good service -in advising them to do that which is not lawful; for we do not desire -that thou shouldest suffer anything unpleasant at the hands of the -Athenians, who art their public guest and friend." - -144. To Alexander they thus made answer, but to the envoys from Sparta -as follows: "That the Lacedemonians should be afraid lest we should make -a treaty with the Barbarian was natural no doubt; 114 but it seems to be -an unworthy fear for men who know so well the spirit of the Athenians, -namely that there is neither so great quantity of gold anywhere upon the -earth, nor any land so much excelling in beauty and goodness, that we -should be willing to accept it and enslave Hellas by taking the side of -the Medes. For many and great are the reasons which hinder us from doing -this, even though we should desire it; first and greatest the images -and houses of the gods set on fire or reduced to ruin, which we must -necessarily avenge to the very utmost rather than make an agreement with -him who did these deeds; then secondly there is the bond of Hellenic -race, by which we are of one blood and of one speech, the common temples -of the gods and the common sacrifices, the manners of life which are the -same for all; to these it would not be well that the Athenians should -become traitors. And be assured of this, if by any chance ye were not -assured of it before, that so long as one of the Athenians remains -alive, we will never make an agreement with Xerxes. We admire however -the forethought which ye had with regard to us, in that ye took thought -for us who have had our substance destroyed, and are willing to support -the members of our households; and so far as ye are concerned, the -kindness has been fully performed: but we shall continue to endure as -we may, and not be a trouble in any way to you. Now therefore, with full -conviction this is so, send out an army as speedily as ye may: for, as -we conjecture, the Barbarian will be here invading our land at no far -distant time but so soon as he shall be informed of the message sent, -namely that we shall do none of those things which he desired of us. -Therefore before he arrives here in Attica, it is fitting that ye come -to our rescue quickly in Boeotia." Thus the Athenians made answer, and -upon that the envoys went away back to Sparta. - - - - -NOTES TO BOOK VIII - -1 [ See v. 77.] - -2 [ i.e. triremes.] - -3 [ {os to plethos ekastoi ton neon pareikhonto}: some read by -conjecture {oson to plethos k.t.l.}] - -4 [ Perhaps "also" refers to the case of those who had come to -Thermopylai, cp. vii. 207: Others translate, "these Hellenes who had -come after all to Artemision," i.e. after all the doubt and delay.] - -5 [ {pantes}: some MSS. have {plegentes}, which is adopted by most -Editors, "smitten by bribes."] - -6 [ {dethen}, with ironical sense.] - -7 [ {mede purphoron}: the {purphoros} had charge of the fire brought for -sacrifices from the altar of Zeus Agetor at Sparta, and ordinarily his -person would be regarded as sacred; hence the proverb {oude purphoros -esothe}, used of an utter defeat.] - -8 [ {tou diekploou}.] - -9 [ {kata stoma}.] - -10 [ {sklerai brontai}: the adjective means "harsh-sounding."] - -11 [ {akhari}.] - -12 [ {ta Koila tes Euboies}.] - -13 [ "having been roughly handled."] - -14 [ {epi ten thalassan tauten}: some MSS. read {taute} for {tauten}, -which is to be taken with {sullexas}, "he assembled the generals -there."] - -15 [ {peripetea epoiesanto sphisi autoisi ta pregmata}.] - -16 [ {paleseie}, a word which does not occur elsewhere, and is explained -by Hesychius as equivalent to {diaphtharein}. Various emendations have -been proposed, and Valla seems to have had the reading {apelaseie}, for -he says discessisset. Stein explains {paleseie} (as from {pale}) "should -contend."] - -17 [ Some suppose the number "four thousand" is interpolated by -misunderstanding of the inscription in vii. 228; and it seems hardly -possible that the dead were so many as four thousand, unless at least -half were Helots.] - -18 [ Some MSS. have "Tritantaichmes," which is adopted by many Editors.] - -19 [ {neou}.] - -20 [ {os anarpasomenoi tous Phokeas}: cp. ix. 60.] - -21 [ {podeon steinos}, like the neck of a wineskin; cp. ii. 121, note -[Footnote 102.] - -22 [ {tou propheten}, the interpreter of the utterances of the -{promantis}.] - -23 [ {neou}.] - -24 [ {megarou}.] - -25 [ i.e. of Athene Polias, the Erechtheion; so throughout this -account.] - -26 [ {sunerree}, "kept flowing together."] - -2601 [ Or, "Hermione."] - -27 [ See i. 56.] - -28 [ See ch. 31.] - -29 [ {pros pantas tous allous}, "in comparison with all the rest," cp. -iii. 94.] - -30 [ {stratarkheo}: a vague expression, because being introduced after -Kecrops he could not have the title of king.] - -31 [ The number obtained by adding up the separate contingents is -366. Many Editors suppose that the ships with which the Eginetans -were guarding their own coast (ch. 46) are counted here, and quote the -authority of Pausanias for the statement that the Eginetans supplied -more ships than any others except the Athenians. Stein suggests the -insertion of the number twelve in ch. 46.] - -3101 [ Or, "Thespeia."] - -32 [ i.e. "Areopagus."] - -33 [ i.e. the North side.] - -34 [ {megaron}.] - -35 [ {neos}.] - -36 [ {pollos en en tois logois}: cp. ix. 91.] - -37 [ See vii. 141-143.] - -38 [ {autothen ik Salaminos}.] - -39 [ {te Metri kai te Koure}, Demeter and Persephone.] - -40 [ {te anakrisi}: cp. {anakrinomenous}, ix. 56: Some Editors, -following inferior MSS., read {te krisi}, "at the judgment expressed."] - -41 [ {muriadon}, "ten thousands."] - -42 [ Or, "Hermione."] - -43 [ {oi perioikoi}: some Editors omit the article and translate "and -these are the so-called Orneates or dwellers round (Argos)," Orneates -being a name for the {perioikoi} of Argos, derived from the conquered -city of Orneai.] - -44 [ {elpidi mainomene}, "with a mad hope."] - -45 [ {krateron Koron Ubrios uion}.] - -46 [ {dokeunt ana panta tithesthai}: the MSS. have also {pithesthai}. -Possibly {tithesthai} might stand, though {anatithesthai} is not found -elsewhere in this sense. Stein adopts in his last edition the conjecture -{piesthai}, "swallow up."] - -47 [ {Kronides}.] - -48 [ {potnia Nike}.] - -49 [ i.e. about rivalry.] - -50 [ {ton epibateon}.] - -51 [ Many Editors reading {osa de} and {parainesas de}, make the stop -after {antitithemena}: "and in all that is produced in the nature and -constitution of man he exhorted them to choose the better."] - -52 [ {o daimonioi}, "strange men."] - -53 [ See ch. 22.] - -54 [ {pros de eti kai proselabeto}: the MSS. have {prosebaleto}. Most -Editors translate, "Moreover Ariamnes... contributed to the fate of the -Phenicians, being a friend (of the Ionians);" but this does not seem -possible unless we read {philos eon Iosi} (or {Ionon}). Valla translates -nearly as I have done. (It does not appear that {prosballesthai} is -found elsewhere in the sense of {sumballesthai}.)] - -55 [ i.e. they who were commanded to execute them.] - -56 [ See vii. 179, 181.] - -57 [ See vi. 49, etc., and 73.] - -58 [ {keleta}.] - -59 [ {sumballontai}: the Athenians apparently are spoken of, for they -alone believed the story.] - -60 [ {apoplesai}: this is the reading of the MSS.; but many Editors -adopt corrections ({apoplesthai} or {apoplesthenai}). The subject to -{apoplesai} is to be found in the preceding sentence and the connexion -with {ton te allon panta k.t.l.} is a loose one. This in fact is added -as an afterthought, the idea being originally to call attention simply -to the fulfilment of the oracle of Lysistratos.] - -61 [ {phruxousi}: a conjectural emendation, adopted by most Editors, of -{phrixousi}, "will shudder (at the sight of oars)."] - -62 [ {kat allon kai allon}: the MSS. have {kat allon}, but Valla's -rendering is "alium atque alium."] - -63 [ {uper megalon aiorethenta}.] - -64 [ i.e. 300,000.] - -65 [ {os ek kakon}: some translate, "thinking that he had escaped from -his troubles."] - -66 [ {toisi epikletoisi}, cp. vii. 8 and ix. 42.] - -67 [ i.e. Asia, as opposed to "these parts."] - -68 [ Stein would take {peri oikon ton son} with {oudemia sumphore}, but -the order of words is against this.] - -69 [ {pollous pollakis agonas drameontai peri spheon auton}.] - -70 [ See i. 175: The manner of the repetition and some points in the -diction raise suspicion that the passage is interpolated here; and so -it is held to be by most Editors. In i. 175 we find {tris} instead of -{dis}.] - -71 [ {upegagon}, cp. vi. 72, with the idea of bringing before a court -for punishment, not "by underhand means," as it is understood by Larcher -and Baehr.] - -72 [ "vengeance and Hermotimos."] - -73 [ {spheis... ergasaiato}: the MSS. read {sphi} (one {spheas}) and -{ergasaito}, and this is retained by some Editors.] - -74 [ "taken."] - -75 [ {metabalon}: others translate, "he turned from them to the -Athenians"; but cp. vii. 52: The words {pros tous Athenaious} are -resumed by {sphi} with {elege}.] - -76 [ {kai epi spheon auton balomenoi}, "even at their own venture," cp. -iii. 71.] - -77 [ {ta idia}, "things belonging to private persons."] - -78 [ {sophos}.] - -79 [ {geopeinas}, "poor in land."] - -80 [ It seems necessary to insert {an} with {einai}. For the sentiment -cp. vii. 172.] - -81 [ {khreomenos toisi kai pros basilea ekhresato}. This is the reading -of the best MSS.: the rest have {khreomenos logoisi toisi kai pros -Andrious ekhresato}, "using the same language as he had before used to -the Andrians."] - -82 [ {kai ten allen ippon}: some MSS. omit {allen}.] - -83 [ {ola}, i.e. not the whole number of them, but great masses without -individual selection.] - -84 [ {ouden meros os eipein}.] - -85 [ {anemon Strumonien}, "the wind called Strymonias."] - -86 [ {ta akrothinia}, i.e. the tithe.] - -87 [ i.e. the corner of the entrance-hall, {epi tou proneiou tes -gonies}, i. 51.] - -88 [ {dienemon}: some understand this to mean "distributed the -voting tablets," and some MSS. read {dienemonto}, "distributed among -themselves," which is adopted by many Editors.] - -89 [ {sophotatos}.] - -90 [ See i. 67.] - -91 [ A small island near Attica, taken here as the type of -insignificance. To suppose that Timodemos was connected with it is quite -unnecessary. The story in Plutarch about the Seriphian is different.] - -92 [ i.e. 60,000.] - -93 [ {katesphaxe}, "cut their throats."] - -94 [ {para tas gluphidas}: some Editors read {peri tas gluphidas} on the -authority of AEneas Tacticus. The {gluphides} are probably notches which -give a hold for the fingers as they draw back the string.] - -95 [ {kataplexai}, "strike down" by the charge.] - -96 [ The way was shut against them ordinarily by the town of Potidaia, -which occupied the isthmus.] - -97 [ i.e. most of those who before served as {epibatai} (vii. 96) -continued to serve still. The sentence is usually translated, "of those -who served as fighting-men in them the greater number were Persians or -Medes," and this may be right.] - -98 [ The MSS. have "Charilos" or "Charillos."] - -99 [ Some Editors read "Eurypon," which is the form found elsewhere.] - -100 [ Cp. vii. 204.] - -101 [ {duon}. It seems certain that the number required here is seven -and not two, and the emendation {epta} for {duon} ({z} for {b}) is -approved by several Editors.] - -102 [ {khresomenon}: the best MSS. read {khresamenon}, which is -retained by Stein, with the meaning "charging him to consult the Oracles -everywhere... and then return."] - -103 [ i.e. Mardonios and the Persians.] - -104 [ i.e. Theban citizens.] - -105 [ {promantin}: he is afterwards called {prophetes}.] - -106 [ Cp. v. 21.] - -107 [ Some Editors would read "Alabastra." Alabanda was a Carian town.] - -108 [ Counting Alexander himself as one.] - -109 [ {esan gar}: this is the reading of the best MSS.: others have -{esan de}. Stein (reading {esan gar}) places this clause after the next, -"The wife of the king herself baked their bread, for in ancient times, -etc." This transposition is unnecessary; for it would be easy to -understand it as a comment on the statement that three members of the -royal house of Argos became farm-servants.] - -110 [ {ai turannides ton anthropon}.] - -111 [ {exaireton metaikhmion te ten gun ektemenon}: there are variations -of reading and punctuation in the MSS.] - -112 [ {sunepipte oste omou spheon ginesthai ten katastasin}, i.e. their -introduction before the assembly, cp. iii. 46.] - -113 [ {epeximen amunomenoi}, which possibly might be translated, "we -will continue to defend ourselves."] - -114 [ {karta anthropeion}.] - - - - - -BOOK IX. THE NINTH BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED CALLIOPE - -1. Mardonios, when Alexander had returned back and had signified to him -that which was said by the Athenians, set forth from Thessaly and began -to lead his army with all diligence towards Athens: and to whatever land -he came, he took up with him the people of that land. The leaders -of Thessaly meanwhile did not repent of all that which had been done -already, but on the contrary they urged on the Persian yet much more; -and Thorax of Larissa had joined in escorting Xerxes in his flight and -at this time he openly offered Mardonios passage to invade Hellas.. - -2. Then when the army in its march came to Boeotia, the Thebans -endeavoured to detain Mardonios, and counselled him saying that there -was no region more convenient for him to have his encampment than that; -and they urged him not to advance further, but to sit down there and -endeavour to subdue to himself the whole of Hellas without fighting: for -to overcome the Hellenes by open force when they were united, as at the -former time they were of one accord together, 1 was a difficult task -even for the whole world combined, "but," they proceeded, "if thou wilt -do that which we advise, with little labour thou wilt have in thy power -all their plans of resistance. 2 Send money to the men who have power in -their cities, and thus sending thou wilt divide Hellas into two parties: -after that thou wilt with ease subdue by the help of thy party those who -are not inclined to thy side.". - -3. Thus they advised, but he did not follow their counsel; for there had -instilled itself into him a great desire to take Athens for the second -time, partly from obstinacy 3 and partly because he meant to signify to -the king in Sardis that he was in possession of Athens by beacon-fires -through the islands. However he did not even at this time find the -Athenians there when he came to Attica; but he was informed that the -greater number were either in Salamis or in the ships, and he captured -the city finding it deserted. Now the capture of the city by the king -had taken place ten months before the later expedition of Mardonios -against it. - -4. When Mardonios had come to Athens, he sent to Salamis Morychides -a man of the Hellespont, bearing the same proposals as Alexander the -Macedonian had brought over to the Athenians. These he sent for the -second time, being aware beforehand that the dispositions of the -Athenians were not friendly, but hoping that they would give way and -leave their obstinacy, since the Attic land had been captured by the -enemy and was in his power.. - -5. For this reason he sent Morychides to Salamis; and he came before -the Council 4 and reported the words of Mardonios. Then one of the -Councillors, Lykidas, expressed the opinion that it was better to -receive the proposal which Morychides brought before them and refer -it to the assembly of the people. 5 He, I say, uttered this opinion, -whether because he had received money from Mardonios, or because this -was his own inclination: however the Athenians forthwith, both those -of the Council and those outside, when they heard of it, were very -indignant, and they came about Lykidas and stoned him to death; but -the Hellespontian Morychides they dismissed unhurt. Then when there had -arisen much uproar in Salamis about Lykidas, the women of the Athenians -heard of that which was being done, and one woman passing the word to -another and one taking another with her, they went of their own accord -to the house of Lykidas and stoned his wife and his children to death. - -6. The Athenians had passed over to Salamis as follows:--So long as they -were looking that an army should come from the Peloponnese to help them, -they remained in Attica; but as those in Peloponnesus acted very -slowly and with much delay, while the invader was said to be already -in Boeotia, they accordingly removed everything out of danger, and -themselves passed over to Salamis; and at the same time they sent envoys -to Lacedemon to reproach the Lacedemonians for having permitted the -Barbarian to invade Attica and for not having gone to Boeotia to meet -him in company with them, and also to remind them how many things -the Persian had promised to give the Athenians if they changed sides; -bidding the envoys warn them that if they did not help the Athenians, -the Athenians would find some shelter 6 for themselves.. - -7. For the Lacedemonians in fact were keeping a feast during this -time, and celebrating the Hyakinthia; and they held it of the greatest -consequence to provide for the things which concerned the god, while at -the same time their wall which they had been building at the Isthmus -was just at this moment being completed with battlements. And when the -envoys from the Athenians came to Lacedemon, bringing with them also -envoys from Megara and Plataia, they came in before the Ephors and said -as follows: "The Athenians sent us saying that the king of the Medes not -only offers to give us back our land, but also desires to make us his -allies on fair and equal terms without deceit or treachery, 7 and -is desirous moreover to give us another land in addition to our own, -whichsoever we shall ourselves choose. We however, having respect for -Zeus of the Hellenes and disdaining to be traitors to Hellas, did not -agree but refused, although we were unjustly dealt with by the other -Hellenes and left to destruction, and although we knew that it was more -profitable to make a treaty with the Persian than to carry on war: nor -shall we make a treaty at any future time, if we have our own will. Thus -sincerely is our duty done towards the Hellenes: 8 but as for you, after -having come then to great dread lest we should make a treaty with the -Persian, so soon as ye learnt certainly what our spirit was, namely that -we should never betray Hellas, and because your wall across the Isthmus -is all but finished, now ye make no account of the Athenians, but having -agreed with us to come to Boeotia to oppose the Persian, ye have now -deserted us, and ye permitted the Barbarian moreover to make invasion of -Attica. For the present then the Athenians have anger against you, for -ye did not do as was fitting to be done: and now they bid 9 you with all -speed send out an army together with us, in order that we may receive -the Barbarian in the land of Attica; for since we failed of Boeotia, the -most suitable place to fight in our land is the Thriasian plain.". - -8. When the Ephors heard this they deferred their reply to the next day, -and then on the next day to the succeeding one; and this they did even -for ten days, deferring the matter from day to day, while during this -time the whole body of the Peloponnesians were building the wall over -the Isthmus with great diligence and were just about to complete it. -Now I am not able to say why, when Alexander the Macedonian had come -to Athens, they were so very anxious lest the Athenians should take the -side of the Medes, whereas now they had no care about it, except indeed -that their wall over the Isthmus had now been built, and they thought -they had no need of the Athenians any more; whereas when Alexander came -to Attica the wall had not yet been completed, but they were working at -it in great dread of the Persians.. - -9. At last however the answer was given and the going forth of the -Spartans took place in the following manner:--on the day before that -which was appointed for the last hearing of the envoys, Chileos a man of -Tegea, who of all strangers had most influence in Lacedemon, heard from -the Ephors all that which the Athenians were saying; and he, it seems, -said to them these words: "Thus the matter stands, Ephors:--if the -Athenians are not friendly with us but are allies of the Barbarian, then -though a strong wall may have been built across the Isthmus, yet a wide -door has been opened for the Persian into Peloponnesus. Listen to their -request, however, before the Athenians resolve upon something else -tending to the fall of Hellas.". - -10. Thus he counselled them, and they forthwith took his words to heart; -and saying nothing to the envoys who had come from the cities, while -yet it was night they sent out five thousand Spartans, with no less than -seven of the Helots set to attend upon each man of them, 901 appointing -Pausanias the son of Cleombrotos to lead them forth. Now the leadership -belonged to Pleistarchos the son of Leonidas; but he was yet a boy, and -the other was his guardian and cousin: for Cleombrotos, the father of -Pausanias and son of Anaxandrides, was no longer alive, but when he had -led home from the Isthmus the army which had built the wall, no long -time after this he died. Now the reason why Cleombrotos led home -the army from the Isthmus was this:--as he was offering sacrifice for -fighting against the Persian, the sun was darkened in the heaven. And -Pausanias chose as commander in addition to himself Euryanax the son of -Dorieos, a man of the same house.. - -11. So Pausanias with his army had gone forth out of Sparta; and the -envoys, when day had come, not knowing anything of this going forth, -came in before the Ephors meaning to depart also, each to his own State: -and when they had come in before them they said these words: "Ye, O -Lacedemonians, are remaining here and celebrating this Hyakinthia and -disporting yourselves, having left your allies to destruction; and the -Athenians being wronged by you and for want of allies will make peace -with the Persians on such terms as they can: and having made peace, -evidently we become allies of the king, and therefore we shall join with -him in expeditions against any land to which the Persians may lead us; -and ye will learn then what shall be the issue for you of this matter." -When the envoys spoke these words, the Ephors said and confirmed it with -an oath, that they supposed by this time the men were at Orestheion on -their way against the strangers: for they used to call the Barbarians -"strangers." 10 So they, not knowing of the matter, asked the meaning -of these words, and asking they learnt all the truth; so that they were -struck with amazement and set forth as quickly as possible in pursuit; -and together with them five thousand chosen hoplites of the Lacedemonian -"dwellers in the country round" 11 did the same thing also. - -12. They then, I say, were hastening towards the Isthmus; and the -Argives so soon as they heard that Pausanias with his army had gone -forth from Sparta, sent as a herald to Attica the best whom they could -find of the long-distance runners, 12 because they had before of their -own motion engaged for Mardonios that they would stop the Spartans from -going forth: and the herald when he came to Athens spoke as follows: -"Mardonios, the Argives sent me to tell thee that the young men have -gone forth from Lacedemon, and that the Argives are not able to stop -them from going forth: with regard to this therefore may it be thy -fortune to take measures well." 13. - -13. He having spoken thus departed and went back; and Mardonios was -by no means anxious any more to remain in Attica when he heard this -message. Before he was informed of this he had been waiting, because he -desired to know the news from the Athenians as to what they were about -to do; and he had not been injuring or laying waste the land of Attica, -because he hoped always that they would make a treaty with him; but as -he did not persuade them, being now informed of everything he began to -retire out of the country before the force of Pausanias arrived at the -Isthmus, having first set fire to Athens and cast down and destroyed -whatever was left standing of the walls, houses or temples. Now he -marched away for this cause, namely first because Attica was not a -land where horsemen could act freely, and also because, if he should be -defeated in a battle in Attica, there was no way of retreat except by a -narrow pass, so that a few men could stop them. He intended therefore -to retreat to Thebes, and engage battle near to a friendly city and to a -country where horsemen could act freely. - -14. Mardonios then was retiring out of the way, and when he was already -upon a road a message came to him saying that another body of troops -in advance of the rest 14 had come to Megara, consisting of a thousand -Lacedemonians. Being thus informed he took counsel with himself, -desiring if possible first to capture these. Therefore he turned back -and proceeded to lead his army towards Megara, and the cavalry going in -advance of the rest overran the Megaran land: this was the furthest land -in Europe towards the sun-setting to which this Persian army came.. - -15. After this a message came to Mardonios that the Hellenes were -assembled at the Isthmus; therefore he marched back by Dekeleia, for the -chiefs of Boeotia 15 had sent for those of the Asopians who dwelt -near the line of march, and these were his guides along the road to -Sphendaleis and thence to Tanagra. So having encamped for the night at -Tanagra and on the next day having directed his march to Scolos, he was -within the land of the Thebans. Then he proceeded to cut down the trees -in the lands of the Thebans, although they were on the side of the -Medes, moved not at all by enmity to them, but pressed by urgent -necessity both to make a defence for his camp, and also he was making it -for a refuge, in case that when he engaged battle things should not turn -out for him as he desired. Now the encampment of his army extended -from Erythrai along by Hysiai and reached the river Asopos: he was not -however making the wall to extend so far as this, but with each face -measuring somewhere about ten furlongs. 16 - -16. While the Barbarians were engaged upon this work, Attaginos the son -of Phyrnon, a Theban, having made magnificent preparations invited to -an entertainment Mardonios himself and fifty of the Persians who were of -most account; and these being invited came; and the dinner was given at -Thebes. Now this which follows I heard from Thersander, an Orchomenian -and a man of very high repute in Orchomenos. This Thersander said that -he too was invited by Attaginos to this dinner, and there were invited -also fifty men of the Thebans, and their host did not place them to -recline 17 separately each nation by themselves, but a Persian and -a Theban upon every couch. Then when dinner was over, as they were -drinking pledges to one another, 18 the Persian who shared a couch with -him speaking in the Hellenic tongue asked him of what place he was, and -he answered that he was of Orchomenos. The other said: "Since now thou -hast become my table-companion and the sharer of my libation, I desire -to leave behind with thee a memorial of my opinion, in order that thou -thyself also mayest know beforehand and be able to take such counsels -for thyself as may be profitable. Dost thou see these Persians who -are feasting here, and the army which we left behind encamped upon the -river? Of all these, when a little time has gone by, thou shalt see but -very few surviving." While the Persian said these words he shed many -tears, as Thersander reported; and he marvelling at his speech said -to him: "Surely then it is right to tell Mardonios and to those of the -Persians who after him are held in regard." He upon this said: "Friend, -that which is destined to come from God, it is impossible for a man to -avert; for no man is willing to follow counsel, even when one speaks -that which is reasonable. And these things which I say many of us -Persians know well; yet we go with the rest being bound in the bonds of -necessity: and the most hateful grief of all human griefs is this, -to have knowledge of the truth but no power over the event." 19 These -things I heard from Thersander of Orchomenos, and in addition to them -this also, namely that he told them to various persons forthwith, before -the battle took place at Plataia. - -17. Mardonios then being encamped in Boeotia, the rest of the Hellenes -who lived in these parts and took the side of the Medes were all -supplying troops and had joined in the invasion of Attica, but the -Phokians alone had not joined in the invasion,--the Phokians, I say, -for these too were now actively 20 taking the side of the Medes, not of -their own will however, but by compulsion. Not many days however after -the arrival of Mardonios at Thebes, there came of them a thousand -hoplites, and their leader was Harmokydes, the man who was of most -repute among their citizens. When these too came to Thebes, Mardonios -sent horsemen and bade the Phokians take up their position by themselves -in the plain. After they had so done, forthwith the whole cavalry -appeared; and upon this there went a rumour 21 through the army of -Hellenes which was with the Medes that the cavalry was about to shoot -them down with javelins, and this same report went through the Phokians -themselves also. Then their commander Harmokydes exhorted them, speaking -as follows: "Phokians, it is manifest that these men are meaning to -deliver us to a death which we may plainly foresee, 22 because we have -been falsely accused by the Thessalians, as I conjecture: now therefore -it is right that every one of you prove himself a good man; for it is -better to bring our lives to an end doing deeds of valour and defending -ourselves, than to be destroyed by a dishonourable death offering -ourselves for the slaughter. Let each man of them learn that they -are Barbarians and that we, against whom they contrived murder, are -Hellenes.". - -18. While he was thus exhorting them, the horsemen having encompassed -them round were riding towards them as if to destroy them; and they were -already aiming their missiles as if about to discharge them, nay some -perhaps did discharge them: and meanwhile the Phokians stood facing them -gathered together and with their ranks closed as much as possible every -way. Then the horsemen turned and rode away back. Now I am not able to -say for certain whether they came to destroy the Phokians at the request -of the Thessalians, and then when they saw them turn to defence they -feared lest they also might suffer some loss, and therefore rode away -back, for so Mardonios had commanded them; or whether on the other hand -he desired to make trial of them and to see if they had in them any -warlike spirit. Then, when the horsemen had ridden away back, Mardonios -sent a herald and spoke to them as follows: "Be of good courage, -Phokians, for ye proved yourselves good men, and not as I was informed. -Now therefore carry on this way with zeal, for ye will not surpass in -benefits either myself or the king." Thus far it happened as regards the -Phokians. - -19. When the Lacedemonians came to the Isthmus they encamped upon it, -and hearing this the rest of the Peloponnesians who favoured the better -cause, and some also because they saw the Spartans going out, did not -think it right to be behind the Lacedemonians in their going forth. -So from the Isthmus, when the sacrifices had proved favourable, -they marched all together and came to Eleusis; and having performed -sacrifices there also, when the signs were favourable they marched -onwards, and the Athenians together with them, who had passed over -from Salamis and had joined them at Eleusis. And then they had come to -Erythrai in Boeotia, then they learnt that the Barbarians were encamping -on the Asopos, and having perceived this they ranged themselves over -against them on the lower slopes of Kithairon.. - -20. Then Mardonios, as the Hellenes did not descend into the plain, sent -towards them all his cavalry, of which the commander was Masistios (by -the Hellenes called Makistios), a man of reputation among the Persians, -who had a Nesaian horse with a bridle of gold and in other respects -finely caparisoned. So when the horsemen had ridden up to the Hellenes -they attacked them by squadrons, and attacking 23 they did them much -mischief, and moreover in contempt they called them women.. - -21. Now it happened by chance that the Megarians were posted in the -place which was the most assailable of the whole position and to which -the cavalry could best approach: so as the cavalry were making -their attacks, the Megarians being hard pressed sent a herald to the -commanders of the Hellenes, and the herald having come spoke these -words: "The Megarians say:--we, O allies, are not able by ourselves to -sustain the attacks of the Persian cavalry, keeping this position where -we took post at the first; nay, even hitherto by endurance and valour -alone have we held out against them, hard pressed as we are: and now -unless ye shall send some others to take up our position in succession -to us, know that we shall leave the position in which we now are." The -herald brought report to them thus; and upon this Pausanias made trial -of the Hellenes, whether any others would voluntarily offer to go to -this place and post themselves there in succession to the Megarians: and -when the rest were not desirous to go, the Athenians undertook the task, -and of the Athenians those three hundred picked men of whom Olympidoros -the son of Lampon was captain. - -22. These they were who undertook the task and were posted at Erythrai -in advance of the other Hellenes who ere there present, having chosen -to go with them the bow-men also. For some time then they fought, and at -last an end was set to the fighting in the following manner:--while the -cavalry was attacking by squadrons, the horse of Masistios, going in -advance of the rest, was struck in the side by an arrow, and feeling -pain he reared upright and threw Masistios off; and when he had fallen, -the Athenians forthwith pressed upon him; and his horse they took and -himself, as he made resistance, they slew, though at first they could -not, for his equipment was of this kind,--he wore a cuirass of gold -scales underneath, and over the cuirass he had put on a crimson tunic. -So as they struck upon the cuirass they could effect nothing, until some -one, perceiving what the matter was, thrust into his eye. Then at length -he fell and died; and by some means the other men of the cavalry had not -observed this take place, for they neither saw him when he had fallen -from his horse nor when he was being slain, and while the retreat -and the turn 24 were being made, they did not perceive that which was -happening; but when they had stopped their horses, then at once they -missed him, since there was no one to command them; and when they -perceived what had happened, they passed the word to one another and all -rode together, that they might if possible recover the body.. - -23. The Athenians upon that, seeing that the cavalry were riding to -attack them no longer by squadrons but all together, shouted to the rest -of the army to help them. Then while the whole number of those on foot -were coming to their help, there arose a sharp fight for the body; and -so long as the three hundred were alone they had much the worse and were -about to abandon the body, but when the mass of the army came to their -help, then the horsemen no longer sustained the fight, nor did they -succeed in recovering the body; and besides him they lost others of -their number also. Then they drew off about two furlongs away and -deliberated what they should do; and it seemed good to them, as they had -no commander, to ride back to Mardonios.. - -24. When the cavalry arrived at the camp, the whole army and also -Mardonios made great mourning for Masistios, cutting off their own -hair and that of their horses and baggage-animals and giving way to -lamentation without stint; for all Boeotia was filled with the sound of -it, because one had perished who after Mardonios was of the most account -with the Persians and with the king.. - -25. The Barbarians then were paying honours in their own manner to -Masistios slain: but the Hellenes, when they had sustained the attack of -the cavalry and having sustained it had driven them back, were much more -encouraged; and first they put the dead body in a cart and conveyed it -along their ranks; and the body was a sight worth seeing for its size -and beauty, wherefore also the men left their places in the ranks and -went one after the other 25 to gaze upon Masistios. After this they -resolved to come down further towards Plataia; for the region of Plataia -was seen to be much more convenient for them to encamp in than that of -Erythrai, both for other reasons and because it is better watered. To -this region then and to the spring Gargaphia, which is in this region, -they resolved that they must come, and encamp in their several posts. So -they took up their arms and went by the lower slopes of Kithairon -past Hysiai to the Plataian land; and having there arrived they posted -themselves according to their several nations near the spring Gargaphia -and the sacred enclosure of Androcrates the hero, over low hills or -level ground. - -26. Then in the arranging of the several posts there arose a contention -of much argument 2501 between the Tegeans and the Athenians; for -they each claimed to occupy the other wing of the army 26 themselves, -alleging deeds both new and old. The Tegeans on the one hand said as -follows: "We have been always judged worthy of this post by the whole -body of allies in all the common expeditions which the Peloponnesians -have made before this, whether in old times or but lately, ever since -that time when the sons of Heracles endeavoured after the death of -Eurystheus to return to the Peloponnese. This honour we gained at that -time by reason of the following event:--When with the Achaians and the -Ionians who were then in Peloponnesus we had come out to the Isthmus to -give assistance and were encamped opposite those who desired to return, -then it is said that Hyllos made a speech saying that it was not right -that the one army should risk its safety by engaging battle with the -other, and urging that that man of the army of the Peloponnesians whom -they should judge to be the best of them should fight in single combat -with himself on terms concerted between them. The Peloponnesians then -resolved that this should be done; and they made oath with one another -on this condition,--that if Hyllos should conquer the leader of the -Peloponnesians, then the sons of Heracles should return to their -father's heritage; but he should be conquered, then on the other hand -the sons of Heracles should depart and lead away their army, and not -within a hundred years attempt to return to the Peloponnese. There was -selected then of all the allies, he himself making a voluntary offer, -Echemos the son of Aeropos, the son of Phegeus, 27 who was our commander -and king: and he fought a single combat and slew Hyllos. By reason of -this deed we obtained among the Peloponnesians of that time, besides -many other great privileges which we still possess, this also of always -leading the other wing of the army, when a common expedition is made. -To you, Lacedemonians, we make no opposition, but we give you freedom -of choice, and allow you to command whichever wing ye desire; but of the -other we say that it belongs to us to be the leaders as in former time: -and apart from this deed which has been related, we are more worthy than -the Athenians to have this post; for in many glorious contests have -we contended against you, O Spartans, and in many also against others. -Therefore it is just that we have the other wing rather than the -Athenians; for they have not achieved deeds such as ours, either new or -old.". - -27. Thus they spoke, and the Athenians replied as follows: "Though we -know that this gathering was assembled for battle with the Barbarian -and not for speech, yet since the Tegean has proposed to us as a task -to speak of things both old and new, the deeds of merit namely which by -each of our two nations have been achieved in all time, it is necessary -for us to point out to you whence it comes that to us, who have been -brave men always, it belongs as a heritage rather than to the Arcadians -to have the chief place. First as to the sons of Heracles, whose leader -they say that they slew at the Isthmus, these in the former time, when -they were driven away by all the Hellenes to whom they came flying from -slavery under those of Mykene, we alone received; and joining with them -we subdued the insolence of Eurystheus, having conquered in fight -those who then dwelt in Peloponnesus. Again when the Argives who -with Polyneikes marched against Thebes, had been slain and were lying -unburied, we declare that we marched an army against the Cadmeians -and recovered the dead bodies and gave them burial in our own land at -Eleusis. We have moreover another glorious deed performed against -the Amazons who invaded once the Attic land, coming from the river -Thermodon: and in the toils of Troy we were not inferior to any. But it -is of no profit to make mention of these things; for on the one hand, -though we were brave men in those times, we might now have become -worthless, and on the other hand even though we were then worthless, yet -now we might be better. Let it suffice therefore about ancient deeds; -but if by us no other deed has been displayed (as many there have been -and glorious, not less than by any other people of the Hellenes), yet -even by reason of the deed wrought at Marathon alone we are worthy to -have this privilege and others besides this, seeing that we alone of -all the Hellenes fought in single combat with the Persian, and having -undertaken so great a deed we overcame and conquered six-and-forty -nations. 28 Are we not worthy then to have this post by reason of that -deed alone? However, since at such a time as this it is not fitting to -contend for post, we are ready to follow your saying, O Lacedemonians, -as to where ye think it most convenient that we should stand and -opposite to whom; for wheresoever we are posted, we shall endeavour to -be brave men. Prescribe to us therefore and we shall obey." They made -answer thus; and the whole body of the Lacedemonians shouted aloud that -the Athenians were more worthy to occupy the wing than the Arcadians. -Thus the Athenians obtained the wing, and overcame the Tegeans. - -28. After this the Hellenes were ranged as follows, both those of them -who came in continually afterwards 29 and those who had come at the -first. The right wing was held by ten thousand Lacedemonians; and of -these the five thousand who were Spartans were attended by thirty-five -thousand Helots serving as light-armed troops, seven of them appointed -for each man. 30 To stand next to themselves the Spartans chose the -Tegeans, both to do them honour and also because of their valour; and -of these there were one thousand five hundred hoplites. After these were -stationed five thousand Corinthians, and they had obtained permission -from Pausanias that the three hundred who were present of the men of -Potidaia in Pallene should stand by their side. Next to these were -stationed six hundred Arcadians of Orchomenos; and to these three -thousand Sikyonians. Next after these were eight hundred Epidaurians: -by the side of these were ranged a thousand Troizenians: next to the -Troizenians two hundred Lepreates: next to these four hundred of the -men of Mikene and Tiryns; and then a thousand Phliasians. By the side of -these stood three hundred Hermionians; and next to the Hermionians were -stationed six hundred Eretrians and Styrians; next to these four hundred -Chalkidians; and to these five hundred men of Amprakia. After these -stood eight hundred Leucadians and Anactorians; and next to them two -hundred from Pale in Kephallenia. After these were ranged five hundred -Eginetans; by their side three thousand Megarians; and next to these -six hundred Plataians. Last, or if you will first, were ranged the -Athenians, occupying the left wing, eight thousand in number, and the -commander of them was Aristeides the son of Lysimachos.. - -29. These all, excepting those who were appointed to attend the -Spartans, seven for each man, were hoplites, being in number altogether -three myriads eight thousand and seven hundred. 31 This was the whole -number of hoplites who were assembled against the Barbarian; and the -number of the light-armed was as follows:--of the Spartan division -thirty-five thousand men, reckoning at the rate of seven for each man, -and of these every one was equipped for fighting; and the light-armed -troops of the rest of the Lacedemonians and of the other Hellenes, being -about one for each man, amounted to thirty-four thousand five hundred.. - -30. Of the light-armed fighting men the whole number then was six -myriads nine thousand and five hundred; 32 and of the whole Hellenic -force which assembled at Plataia the number (including both the hoplites -and the light-armed fighting men) was eleven myriads 33 all but one -thousand eight hundred men; and with the Thespians who were present the -number of eleven myriads was fully made up; for there were present also -in the army those of the Thespians who survived, being in number about -one thousand eight hundred, and these too were without heavy arms. -34 These then having been ranged in order were encamped on the river -Asopos. - -31. Meanwhile the Barbarians with Mardonios, when they had sufficiently -mourned for Masistios, being informed that the Hellenes were at Plataia -came themselves also to that part of the Asopos which flows there; and -having arrived there, they were ranged against the enemy by Mardonios -thus:--against the Lacedemonians he stationed the Persians; and since -the Persians were much superior in numbers, they were arrayed in deeper -ranks than those, and notwithstanding this they extended in front of the -Tegeans also: and he ranged them in this manner,--all the strongest part -of that body he selected from the rest and stationed it opposite to the -Lacedemonians, but the weaker part he ranged by their side opposite -to the Tegeans. This he did on the information and suggestion of the -Thebans. Then next to the Persians he ranged the Medes; and these -extended in front of the Corinthians, Potidaians, Orchomenians and -Sikyonians. Next to the Medes he ranged the Bactrians; and these -extended in front of the Epidaurians, Troizenians, Lepreates, -Tirynthians, Mykenians and Phliasians. After the Bactrians he stationed -the Indians; and these extended in front of the Hermionians, Eretrians, -Styrians and Chalkidians. Next to the Indians he ranged the Sacans, who -extended in front of the men of Amprakia, the Anactorians, Leucadians, -Palians and Eginetans. Next to the Sacans and opposite to the Athenians, -Plataians and Megarians, he ranged the Boeotians, Locrians, Malians, -Thessalians, and the thousand men of the Phokians: for not all the -Phokians had taken the side of the Medes, but some of them were even -supporting the cause of the Hellenes, being shut up in Parnassos; and -setting out from thence they plundered from the army of Mardonios and -from those of the Hellenes who were with him. He ranged the Macedonians -also and those who dwell about the borders of Thessaly opposite to the -Athenians.. - -32. These which have been named were the greatest of the nations who -were arrayed in order by Mardonios, those, I mean, which were the most -renowned and of greatest consideration: but there were in his army -also men of several other nations mingled together, of the Phrygians, -Thracians, Mysians, Paionians, and the rest; and among them also -some Ethiopians, and of the Egyptians those called Hermotybians and -Calasirians, 35 carrying knives, 36 who of all the Egyptians are the -only warriors. These men, while he was yet at Phaleron, he had caused to -disembark from the ships in which they served as fighting-men; for the -Egyptians had not been appointed to serve in the land-army which came -with Xerxes to Athens. Of the Barbarians then there were thirty myriads, -37 as has been declared before; but of the Hellenes who were allies of -Mardonios no man knows what the number was, for they were not numbered; -but by conjecture I judge that these were assembled to the number of -five myriads. These who were placed in array side by side were on foot; -and the cavalry was ranged apart from them in a separate body. - -33. When all had been drawn up by nations and by divisions, then on -the next day they offered sacrifice on both sides. For the Hellenes -Tisamenos the son of Antiochos was he who offered sacrifice, for he it -was who accompanied this army as diviner. This man the Lacedemonians had -made to be one of their own people, being an Eleian and of the race -of the Iamidai: 38 for when Tisamenos was seeking divination at Delphi -concerning issue, the Pythian prophetess made answer to him that he -should win five of the greatest contests. He accordingly, missing the -meaning of the oracle, began to attend to athletic games, supposing -that he should win contests of athletics; and he practised for the -"five contests" 39 and came within one fall of winning a victory at the -Olympic games, 40 being set to contend with Hieronymos of Andros. The -Lacedemonians however perceived that the oracle given to Tisamenos had -reference not to athletic but to martial contests, and they endeavoured -to persuade Tisamenos by payment of money, and to make him a leader in -their wars together with the kings of the race of Heracles. He then, -seeing that the Spartans set much store on gaining him over as a friend, -having perceived this, I say, he raised his price and signified to them -that he would do as they desired, if they would make him a citizen of -their State and give him full rights, but for no other payment. The -Spartans at first when they heard this displayed indignation and -altogether gave up their request, but at last, when great terror -was hanging over them of this Persian armament, they gave way 41 and -consented. He then perceiving that they had changed their minds, said -that he could not now be satisfied even so, nor with these terms alone; -but it was necessary that his brother Hegias also should be made a -Spartan citizen on the same terms as he himself became one.. - -34. By saying this he followed the example of Melampus in his request, -42 if one may compare royal power with mere citizenship; for Melampus -on his part, when the women in Argos had been seized by madness, and the -Argives endeavoured to hire him to come from Pylos and to cause their -women to cease from the malady, proposed as payment for himself the half -of the royal power; and the Argives did not suffer this, but departed: -and afterwards, when more of their women became mad, at length they -accepted that which Melampus had proposed, and went to offer him this: -but he then seeing that they had changed their minds, increased his -demand, and said that he would not do that which they desired unless -they gave to his brother Bias also the third share in the royal power. -43 And the Argives, being driven into straits, consented to this also. -35. Just so the Spartans also, being very much in need of Tisamenos, -agreed with him on any terms which he desired: and when the Spartans had -agreed to this demand also, then Tisamenos the Eleian, having become a -Spartan, had part with them in winning five of the greatest contests -as their diviner: and these were the only men who ever were made -fellow-citizens of the Spartans. Now the five contests were these: one -and the first of them was this at Plataia; and after this the contest at -Tegea, which took place with the Tegeans and the Argives; then that at -Dipaieis against all the Arcadians except the Mantineians; after that -the contest with the Messenians at Ithome; 44 and last of all that which -took place at Tanagra against the Athenians and Argives. This, I say, -was accomplished last of the five contests. - -36. This Tisamenos was acting now as diviner for the Hellenes in the -Plataian land, being brought by the Spartans. Now to the Hellenes the -sacrifices were of good omen if they defended themselves only, but not -if they crossed the Asopos and began a battle;. - -37, and Mardonios too, who was eager to begin a battle, found the -sacrifices not favourable to this design, but they were of good omen -to him also if he defended himself only; for he too used the Hellenic -manner of sacrifice, having as diviner Hegesistratos an Eleian and the -most famous of the Telliadai, whom before these events the Spartans had -taken and bound, in order to put him to death, because they had suffered -much mischief from him. He then being in this evil case, seeing that he -was running a course for his life and was likely moreover to suffer -much torment before his death, had done a deed such as may hardly be -believed. Being made fast on a block bound with iron, he obtained -an iron tool, which in some way had been brought in, and contrived -forthwith a deed the most courageous of any that we know: for having -first calculated how the remaining portion of his foot might be got out -of the block, he cut away the flat of his own foot, 45 and after that, -since he was guarded still by warders, he broke through the wall and -so ran away to Tegea, travelling during the nights and in the daytime -entering a wood and resting there; so that, though the Lacedemonians -searched for him in full force, he arrived at Tegea on the third -night; and the Lacedemonians were possessed by great wonder both at -his courage, when they saw the piece of the foot that was cut off lying -there, and also because they were not able to find him. So he at that -time having thus escaped them took refuge at Tegea, which then was not -friendly with the Lacedemonians; and when he was healed and had procured -for himself a wooden foot, he became an open enemy of the Lacedemonians. -However in the end the enmity into which he had fallen with the -Lacedemonians was not to his advantage; for he was caught by them while -practising divination in Zakynthos, and was put to death. - -38. However the death of Hegesistratos took place later than the -events at Plataia, and he was now at the Asopos, having been hired by -Mardonions for no mean sum, sacrificing and displaying zeal for his -cause both on account of his enmity with the Lacedemonians and on -account of the gain which he got: but as the sacrifices were not -favourable for a battle either for the Persians themselves or for -those Hellenes who were with them (for these also had a diviner for -themselves, Hippomachos a Leucadian), and as the Hellenes had men -constantly flowing in and were becoming more in number, Timagenides the -son of Herpys, a Theban, counselled Mardonios to set a guard on the pass -of Kithairon, saying that the Hellenes were constantly flowing in every -day and that he would thus cut off large numbers.. - -39. Eight days had now passed while they had been sitting opposite to -one another, when he gave this counsel to Mardonios; and Mardonios, -perceiving that the advice was good, sent the cavalry when night came -on to the pass of Kithairon leading towards Plataia, which the Boeotians -call the "Three Heads" 46 and the Athenians the "Oak Heads." 47 Having -been thus sent, the cavalry did not come without effect, for they caught -five hundred baggage-animals coming out into the plain, which were -bearing provisions from Peloponnesus to the army, and also the men -who accompanied the carts: and having taken this prize the Persians -proceeded to slaughter them without sparing either beast or man; and -when they were satiated with killing they surrounded the rest and drove -them into the camp to Mardonios. - -40. After this deed they spent two days more, neither side wishing to -begin a battle; for the Barbarians advanced as far as the Asopos to make -trial of the Hellenes, but neither side would cross the river. However -the cavalry of Mardonios made attacks continually and did damage to the -Hellenes; for the Thebans, being very strong on the side of the Medes, -carried on the war with vigour, and always directed them up to the -moment of fighting; and after this the Persians and Medes took up the -work and were they who displayed valour in their turn. - -41. For ten days then nothing more was done than this; but when the -eleventh day had come, while they still sat opposite to one another at -Plataia, the Hellenes having by this time grown much more numerous and -Mardonios being greatly vexed at the delay of action, then Mardonios the -son of Gobryas and Artabazos the son of Pharnakes, who was esteemed -by Xerxes as few of the Persians were besides, came to speech with -one another; and as they conferred, the opinions they expressed were -these,--that of Artabazos, that they must put the whole army in motion -as soon as possible and go to the walls of the Thebans, whither great -stores of corn had been brought in for them and fodder for their beasts; -and that they should settle there quietly and get their business done -as follows:--they had, he said, great quantities of gold, both coined and -uncoined, and also of silver and of drinking-cups; and these he advised -they should send about to the Hellenes without stint, more especially -to those of the Hellenes who were leaders in their several cities; and -these, he said, would speedily deliver up their freedom: and he advised -that they should not run the risk of a battle. His opinion then was the -same as that of the Thebans, 48 for he as well as they had some true -foresight: but the opinion of Mardonios was more vehement and more -obstinate, and he was by no means disposed to yield; for he said that he -thought their army far superior to that of the Hellenes, and he gave as -his opinion that they should engage battle as quickly as possible and -not allow them to assemble in still greater numbers than were already -assembled; and as for the sacrifices of Hegesistratos, they should leave -them alone and not endeavour to force a good sign, but follow the custom -of the Persians and engage battle.. - -42. When he so expressed his judgment, none opposed him, and thus his -opinion prevailed; for he and not Artabazos had the command of the -army given him by the king. He summoned therefore the commanders of -the divisions and the generals of those Hellenes who were with him, and -asked whether they knew of any oracle regarding the Persians, which -said that they should be destroyed in Hellas; and when those summoned to -council 49 were silent, some not knowing the oracles and others knowing -them but not esteeming it safe to speak, Mardonios himself said: "Since -then ye either know nothing or do not venture to speak, I will tell you, -since I know very well. There is an oracle saying that the Persians are -destined when they come to Hellas to plunder the temple at Delphi, and -having plundered it to perish every one of them. We therefore, just -because we know this, will not go to that temple nor will we attempt -to plunder it; and for this cause we shall not perish. So many of you -therefore as chance to wish well to the Persians, have joy so far -as regards this matter, and be assured that we shall overcome the -Hellenes." Having spoken to them thus, he next commanded to prepare -everything and to set all in order, since at dawn of the next day a -battle would be fought. - -43. Now this oracle, which Mardonios said referred to the Persians, I -know for my part was composed with reference with the Illyrians and the -army of the Enchelians, and not with reference to the Persians at all. -However, the oracle which was composed by Bakis with reference to this -battle, - - - "The gathering of Hellenes together and cry of Barbarian voices, - Where the Thermodon flows, by the banks of grassy Asopos; - Here very many shall fall ere destiny gave them to perish, - Medes bow-bearing in fight, when the fatal day shall approach them,"-- - -these sayings, and others like them composed by Musaios, I know had -reference to the Persians. Now the river Thermodon flows between Tanagra -and Glisas. - -44. After the inquiry about the oracles and the exhortation given by -Mardonios night came on and the guards were set: and when night was far -advanced, and it seemed that there was quiet everywhere in the camps, -and that the men were in their deepest sleep, then Alexander the son of -Amyntas, commander and king of the Macedonians, rode his horse up to -the guard-posts of the Athenians and requested that he might have speech -with their generals. So while the greater number of the guards stayed at -their posts, some ran to the generals, and when they reached them they -said that a man had come riding on a horse out of the camp of the Medes, -who discovered nothing further, but only named the generals and said -that he desired to have speech with them.. - -45. Having heard this, forthwith they accompanied the men to the -guard-posts, and when they had arrived there, Alexander thus spoke -to them: "Athenians, I lay up these words of mine as a trust to you, -charging you to keep them secret and tell them to no one except only to -Pausanias, lest ye bring me to ruin: for I should not utter them if I -did not care greatly for the general safety of Hellas, seeing that I am -a Hellene myself by original descent and I should not wish to see Hellas -enslaved instead of free. I say then that Mardonios and his army cannot -get the offerings to be according to their mind, 50 for otherwise ye -would long ago have fought. Now however he has resolved to let the -offerings alone and to bring on a battle at dawn of day; for, as -I conjecture, he fears lest ye should assemble in greater numbers. -Therefore prepare yourselves; and if after all Mardonios should put -off the battle and not bring it on, stay where ye are and hold out -patiently; for they have provisions only for a few days remaining. And -if this way shall have its issue according to your mind, then each one -of you ought to remember me also concerning liberation, 51 since I have -done for the sake of the Hellenes so hazardous a deed by reason of my -zeal for you, desiring to show you the design of Mardonios, in order -that the Barbarians may not fall upon you when ye are not as yet -expecting them: and I am Alexander the Macedonian." Thus having spoken -he rode away back to the camp and to his own position. - -46. Then the generals of the Athenians came to the right wing and told -Pausanias that which they had heard from Alexander. Upon this saying he -being struck with fear of the Persians spoke as follows: "Since then at -dawn the battle comes on, it is right that ye, Athenians, should take -your stand opposite to the Persians, and we opposite to the Boeotians -and those Hellenes who are now posted against you; and for this reason, -namely because ye are acquainted with the Medes and with their manner -of fighting, having fought with them at Marathon, whereas we have had no -experience of these men and are without knowledge of them; for not -one of the Spartans has made trial of the Medes in fight, but of the -Boeotians and Thessalians we have had experience. It is right therefore -that ye should take up your arms and come to this wing of the army, and -that we should go to the left wing." In answer to this the Athenians -spoke as follows: "To ourselves also long ago at the very first, when we -saw that the Persians were being ranged opposite to you, it occurred to -us to say these very things, which ye now bring forward before we have -uttered them; but we feared lest these words might not be pleasing to -you. Since however ye yourselves have made mention of this, know that -your words have caused us pleasure, and that we are ready to do this -which ye say.". - -47. Both then were content to do this, and as dawn appeared they began -to change their positions with one another: and the Boeotians perceiving -that which was being done reported it to Mardonios, who, when he heard -it, forthwith himself also endeavoured to change positions, bringing the -Persians along so as to be against the Lacedemonians: and when -Pausanias learnt that this was being done, he perceived that he was not -unobserved, and he led the Spartans back again to the right wing; and -just so also did Mardonios upon his left. - -48. When they had been thus brought to their former positions, Mardonios -sent a herald to the Spartans and said as follows: "Lacedemonians, ye -are said forsooth by those who are here to be very good men, and they -have admiration for you because ye do not flee in war nor leave -your post, but stay there and either destroy your enemies or perish -yourselves. In this however, as it now appears, there is no truth; for -before we engaged battle and came to hand-to-hand conflict we saw you -already flee and leave your station, desiring to make the trial with -the Athenians first, while ye ranged yourselves opposite to our slaves. -These are not at all the deeds of good men in war, but we were deceived -in you very greatly; for we expected by reason of your renown that ye -would send a herald to us, challenging us and desiring to fight with the -Persians alone; but though we on our part were ready to do this, we did -not find that ye said anything of this kind, but rather that ye cowered -with fear. Now therefore since ye were not the first to say this, we -are the first. Why do we not forthwith fight, 52 ye on behalf of the -Hellenes, since ye have the reputation of being the best, and we on -behalf of the Barbarians, with equal numbers on both sides? and if we -think it good that the others should fight also, then let them fight -afterwards; and if on the other hand we should not think it good, but -think it sufficient that we alone should fight, then let us fight it -out to the end, and whichsoever of us shall be the victors, let these be -counted as victorious with their whole army.". - -49. The herald having thus spoken waited for some time, and then, as no -one made him any answer, he departed and went back; and having returned -he signified to Mardonios that which had happened to him. Mardonios -then being greatly rejoiced and elated by his empty 53 victory, sent -the cavalry to attack the Hellenes: and when the horsemen had ridden -to attack them, they did damage to the whole army of the Hellenes by -hurling javelins against them and shooting with bows, being mounted -archers and hard therefore to fight against: and they disturbed and -choked up the spring Gargaphia, from which the whole army of the -Hellenes was drawing its water. Now the Lacedemonians alone were posted -near this spring, and it was at some distance from the rest of the -Hellenes, according as they chanced to be posted, while the Asopos was -near at hand; but when they were kept away from the Asopos, then they -used to go backwards and forwards to this spring; for they were not -permitted by the horsemen and archers to fetch water from the river.. - -50. Such then being the condition of things, the generals of the -Hellenes, since the army had been cut off from its water and was being -harassed by the cavalry, assembled to consult about these and other -things, coming to Pausanias upon the right wing: for other things too -troubled them yet more than these of which we have spoken, since they -no longer had provisions, and their attendants who had been sent to -Peloponnese for the purpose of getting them had been cut off by the -cavalry and were not able to reach the camp.. - -51. It was resolved then by the generals in council with one another, -that if the Persians put off the battle for that day, they would go -to the Island. This is distant ten furlongs 54 from the Asopos and the -spring Gargaphia, where they were then encamped, and is in front of the -city of the Plataians: and if it be asked how there can be an island on -the mainland, thus it is 55:--the river parts in two above, as it flows -from Kithairon down to the plain, keeping a distance of about three -furlongs between its streams, and after that it joins again in one -stream; and the name of it is Oeroe, said by the natives of the country -to be the daughter of Asopos. To this place of which I speak they -determined to remove, in order that they might be able to get an -abundant supply of water and that the cavalry might not do them damage, -as now when they were right opposite. And they proposed to remove when -the second watch of the night should have come, so that the Persians -might not see them set forth and harass them with the cavalry pursuing. -They proposed also, after they had arrived at this place, round which, -as I say, Oeroe the daughter of Asopos flows, parting into two streams -56 as she runs from Kithairon, to send half the army to Kithairon during -this same night, in order to take up their attendants who had gone to -get the supplies of provisions; for these were cut off from them in -Kithairon. - -52. Having thus resolved, during the whole of that day they had trouble -unceasingly, while the cavalry pressed upon them; but when the day drew -to a close and the attacks of the cavalry had ceased, then as it was -becoming night and the time had arrived at which it had been agreed -that they should retire from their place, the greater number of them set -forth and began to retire, not however keeping it in mind to go to the -place which had been agreed upon; but on the contrary, when they had -begun to move, they readily took occasion to flee 57 from the cavalry -towards the city of the Plataians, and in their flight they came as -far as the temple of Hera, which temple is in front of the city of the -Plataians at a distance of twenty furlongs from the spring Gargaphia; -and when they had there arrived they halted in front of the temple. - -53. These then were encamping about the temple of Hera; and Pausanias, -seeing that they were retiring from the camp, gave the word to the -Lacedemonians also to take up their arms and go after the others who -were preceding them, supposing that these were going to the place to -which they had agreed to go. Then, when all the other commanders were -ready to obey Pausanias, Amompharetos the son of Poliades, the commander -of the Pitanate division, 58 said that he would not flee from the -strangers, nor with his own will would he disgrace Sparta; and he -expressed wonder at seeing that which was being done, not having been -present at the former discussion. And Pausanias and Euryanax were -greatly disturbed that he did not obey them and still more that they -should be compelled to leave the Pitanate division behind, since he thus -refused; 59 for they feared that if they should leave it in order to do -that which they had agreed with the other Hellenes, both Amompharetos -himself would perish being left behind and also the men with him. With -this thought they kept the Lacedemonian force from moving, and meanwhile -they endeavoured to persuade him that it was not right for him to do -so.. - -54. They then were exhorting Amompharetos, who had been left behind -alone of the Lacedemonians and Tegeans; and meanwhile the Athenians -were keeping themselves quiet in the place where they had been posted, -knowing the spirit of the Lacedemonians, that they were apt to say -otherwise than they really meant; 60 and when the army began to move, -they sent a horseman from their own body to see whether the Spartans -were attempting to set forth, or whether they had in truth no design at -all to retire; and they bade him ask Pausanias what they ought to do. -55. So when the herald came to the Lacedemonians, he saw that they were -still in their place and that the chiefs of them had come to strife with -one another: for when Euryanax and Pausanias both exhorted Amompharetos -not to run the risk of remaining behind with his men, alone of all the -Lacedemonians, they did not at all persuade him, and at last they had -come to downright strife; and meanwhile the herald of the Athenians had -arrived and was standing by them. And Amompharetos in his contention -took a piece of rock in both his hands and placed it at the feet of -Pausanias, saying that with this pebble he gave his vote not to fly from -the strangers, meaning the Barbarians. 61 Pausanias then, calling him a -madman and one who was not in his right senses, bade tell the state of -their affairs to the Athenian herald, 62 who was asking that which he -had been charged to ask; and at the same time he requested the Athenians -to come towards the Lacedemonians and to do in regard to the retreat the -same as they did.. - -56. He then went away back to the Athenians; and as the dawn of day -found them yet disputing with one another, Pausanias, who had remained -still throughout all this time, gave the signal, and led away all the -rest over the low hills, supposing that Amonpharetos would not stay -behind when the other Lacedemonians departed (in which he was in fact -right); and with them also went the Tegeans. Meanwhile the Athenians, -following the commands which were given them, were going in the -direction opposite to that of the Lacedemonians; for these were clinging -to the hills and the lower slope of Kithairon from fear of the cavalry, -while the Athenians were marching below in the direction of the plain.. - -57. As for Amonpharetos, he did not at first believe that Pausanias -would ever venture to leave him and his men behind, and he stuck to it -that they should stay there and not leave their post; but when Pausanias -and his troops were well in front, then he perceived that they had -actually left him behind, and he made his division take up their arms -and led them slowly towards the main body. This, when it had got away -about ten furlongs, stayed for the division of Amompharetos, halting -at the river Moloeis and the place called Argiopion, where also there -stands a temple of the Eleusinian Demeter: and it stayed there for this -reason, namely in order that of Amonpharetos and his division should not -leave the place where they had been posted, but should remain there, it -might be able to come back to their assistance. So Amompharetos and his -men were coming up to join them, and the cavalry also of the Barbarians -was at the same time beginning to attack them in full force: for the -horsemen did on this day as they had been wont to do every day; and -seeing the place vacant in which the Hellenes had been posted on the -former days, they rode their horses on continually further, and as soon -as they came up with them they began to attack them. - -58. Then Mardonios, when he was informed that the Hellenes had departed -during the night, and when he saw their place deserted, called Thorax of -Larissa and his brothers Eurypylos and Thrasydeios, and said: "Sons -of Aleuas, will ye yet say anything, 63 now that ye see these places -deserted? For ye who dwell near them were wont to say that the -Lacedemonians did not fly from a battle, but were men unsurpassed in -war; and these men ye not only saw before this changing from their post, -but now we all of us see that they have run away during the past night; -and by this they showed clearly, when the time came for them to contend -in battle with those who were in truth the best of all men, that after -all they were men of no worth, who had been making a display of valour -among Hellenes, a worthless race. As for you, since ye had had no -experience of the Persians, I for my part was very ready to excuse you -when ye praised these, of whom after all ye knew something good; but -much more I marvelled at Artabazos that he should have been afraid of -the Lacedemonians, and that having been afraid he should have uttered -that most cowardly opinion, namely that we ought to move our army away -and go to the city of the Thebans to be besieged there,--an opinion about -which the king shall yet be informed by me. Of these things we will -speak in another place; now however we must not allow them to act thus, -but we must pursue them until they are caught and pay the penalty to us -for all that they did to the Persians in time past.". - -59. Thus having spoken he led on the Persians at a run, after they had -crossed the Asopos, on the track of the Hellenes, supposing that -these were running away from him; and he directed his attack upon the -Lacedemonians and Tegeans only, for the Athenians, whose march was -towards the plain, he did not see by reason of the hills. Then the rest -of the commanders of the Barbarian divisions, seeing that the Persians -had started to pursue the Hellenes, forthwith all raised the signals for -battle and began to pursue, each as fast as they could, not arranged in -any order or succession of post.. - -60. These then were coming on with shouting and confused numbers, -thinking to make short work of 64 the Hellenes; and Pausanias, when the -cavalry began to attack, sent to the Athenians a horseman and said thus: -"Athenians, now that the greatest contest is set before us, namely that -which has for its issue the freedom or the slavery of Hellas, we have -been deserted by our allies, we Lacedemonians and ye Athenians, seeing -that they have run away during the night that is past. Now therefore -it is determined what we must do upon this, namely that we must defend -ourselves and protect one another as best we may. If then the cavalry -had set forth to attack you at the first, we and the Tegeans, who with -us refuse to betray the cause of Hellas, should have been bound to go to -your help; but as it is, since the whole body has come against us, it is -right that ye should come to that portion of the army which is hardest -pressed, to give aid. If however anything has happened to you which -makes it impossible for you to come to our help, then do us a kindness -by sending to us the archers; and we know that ye have been in the -course of this present war by far the most zealous of all, so that ye -will listen to our request in this matter also.". - -61. When the Athenians heard this they were desirous to come to their -help and to assist them as much as possible; and as they were already -going, they were attacked by those of the Hellenes on the side of the -king who had been ranged opposite to them, so that they were no longer -able to come to the help of the Lacedemonians, for the force that -was attacking them gave them much trouble. Thus the Lacedemonians and -Tegeans were left alone, being in number, together with light-armed men, -the former fifty thousand and the Tegeans three thousand; for these -were not parted at all from the Lacedemonians: and they began to offer -sacrifice, meaning to engage battle with Mardonios and the force -which had come against them. Then since their offerings did not prove -favourable, and many of them were being slain during this time and many -more wounded,--for the Persians had made a palisade of their wicker-work -shields 65 and were discharging their arrows in great multitude and -without sparing,--Pausanias, seeing that the Spartans were hard pressed -and that the offerings did not prove favourable, fixed his gaze upon -the temple of Hera of the Plataians and called upon the goddess to help, -praying that they might by no means be cheated of their hope:. - -62, and while he was yet calling upon her thus, the Tegeans started -forward before them and advanced against the Barbarians, and forthwith -after the prayer of Pausanias the offerings proved favourable for the -Lacedemonians as they sacrificed. So when this at length came to pass, -then they also advanced against the Persians; and the Persians put away -their bows and came against them. Then first there was fighting about -the wicker-work shields, and when these had been overturned, after that -the fighting was fierce by the side of the temple of Demeter, and so -continued for a long time, until at last they came to justling; for -the Barbarians would take hold of the spears and break them off. Now in -courage and in strength the Persians were not inferior to the others, -but they were without defensive armour, 66 and moreover they were -unversed in war and unequal to their opponents in skill; and they would -dart out one at a time or in groups of about ten together, some more and -some less, and fall upon the Spartans and perish.. - -63. In the place where Mardonios himself was, riding on a white horse -and having about him the thousand best men of the Persians chosen out -from the rest, here, I say, they pressed upon their opponents most of -all: and so long as Mardonios survived, they held out against them, and -defending themselves they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when -Mardonios was slain and the men who were ranged about his person, which -was the strongest portion of the whole army, had fallen, then the others -too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians; for their manner of -dress, without defensive armour, was a very great cause of destruction -to them, since in truth they were contending light-armed against -hoplites.. - -64. Then the satisfaction for the murder of Leonidas was paid by -Mardonios according to the oracle given to the Spartans, 67 and the most -famous victory of all those about which we have knowledge was gained -by Pausanias the son of Cleombrotos, the son of Anaxandrides; of his -ancestors above this the names have been given for Leonidas, 68 since, -as it happens, they are the same for both. Now Mardonios was slain by -Arimnestos, 69 a man of consideration in Sparta, who afterwards, when -the Median wars were over, with three hundred men fought a battle -against the whole army of the Messenians, then at war with the -Lacedemonians, at Stenycleros, and both he was slain and also the three -hundred.. - -65. When the Persians were turned to flight at Plataia by the -Lacedemonians, they fled in disorder to their own camp and to the -palisade which they had made in the Theban territory: 70 and it is a -marvel to me that, whereas they fought by the side of the sacred grove -of Demeter, not one of the Persians was found to have entered the -enclosure or to have been slain within it, but round about the temple in -the unconsecrated ground fell the greater number of the slain. I suppose -(if one ought to suppose anything about divine things) that the goddess -herself refused to receive them, because they had set fire to the -temple, that is to say the "palace" 71 at Eleusis. - -66. Thus far then had this battle proceeded: but Artabazos the son -of Pharnakes had been displeased at the very first because Mardonios -remained behind after the king was gone; and afterwards he had been -bringing forward objections continually and doing nothing, but had urged -them always not to fight a battle: and for himself he acted as -follows, not being pleased with the things which were being done by -Mardonios.--The men of whom Artabazos was commander (and he had with him -no small force but one which was in number as much as four myriads 72 of -men), these, when the fighting began, being well aware what the issue of -the battle would be, he led carefully, 73 having first given orders that -all should go by the way which he should lead them and at the same pace -at which they should see him go. Having given these orders he led his -troops on pretence of taking them into battle; and when he was well on -his way, he saw the Persians already taking flight. Then he no longer -led his men in the same order as before, but set off at a run, taking -flight by the quickest way not to the palisade nor yet to the wall of -the Thebans, but towards Phokis, desiring as quickly as possible to -reach the Hellespont.. - -67. These, I say, were thus directing their march: and in the meantime, -while the other Hellenes who were on the side of the king were purposely -slack in the fight, 74 the Boeotians fought with the Athenians for a -long space; for those of the Thebans who took the side of the Medes had -no small zeal for the cause, and they fought and were not slack, so -that three hundred of them, the first and best of all, fell there by the -hands of the Athenians: and when these also turned to flight, they fled -to Thebes, not to the same place as the Persians: and the main body of -the other allies fled without having fought constantly with any one or -displayed any deeds of valour.. - -68. And this is an additional proof to me that all the fortunes of the -Barbarians depended upon the Persians, namely that at that time these -men fled before they had even engaged with the enemy, because they saw -the Persians doing so. Thus all were in flight except only the cavalry, -including also that of the Boeotians; and this rendered service to the -fugitives by constantly keeping close to the enemy and separating the -fugitives of their own side from the Hellenes.. - -69. The victors then were coming after the troops of Xerxes, both -pursuing them and slaughtering them; and during the time when this -panic arose, the report was brought to the other Hellenes who had posted -themselves about the temple of Hera and had been absent from the battle, -that a battle had taken place and that the troops of Pausanias were -gaining the victory. When they heard this, then without ranging -themselves in any order the Corinthians and those near them turned to go -by the skirts of the mountain and by the low hills along the way which -led straight up to the temple of Demeter, while the Megarians and -Phliasians and those near them went by the plain along the smoothest -way. When however the Megarians and Phliasians came near to the enemy, -the cavalry of the Thebans caught sight of them from a distance hurrying -along without any order, and rode up to attack them, the commander of -the cavalry being Asopodoros the son of Timander; and having fallen upon -them they slew six hundred of them, and the rest they pursued and drove -to Kithairon. - -70. These then perished thus ingloriously; 75 and meanwhile the Persians -and the rest of the throng, having fled for refuge to the palisade, -succeeded in getting up to the towers before the Lacedemonians came; and -having got up they strengthened the wall of defence as best they could. -Then when the Lacedemonians 76 came up to attack it, there began between -them a vigorous 77 fight for the wall: for so long as the Athenians -were away, they defended themselves and had much the advantage over -the Lacedemonians, since these did not understand the art of fighting -against walls; but when the Athenians came up to help them, then there -was a fierce fight for the wall, lasting for a long time, and at length -by valour and endurance the Athenians mounted up on the wall and made a -breach in it, through which the Hellenes poured in. Now the Tegeans were -the first who entered the wall, and these were they who plundered the -tent of Mardonios, taking, besides the other things which were in it, -also the manger of his horse, which was all of bronze and a sight worth -seeing. This manger of Mardonios was dedicated by the Tegeans as an -offering in the temple of Athene Alea, 78 but all the other things -which they took, they brought to the common stock of the Hellenes. The -Barbarians however, after the wall had been captured, no longer formed -themselves into any close body, nor did any of them think of making -resistance, but they were utterly at a loss, 79 as you might expect from -men who were in a panic with many myriads of them shut up together in a -small space: and the Hellenes were able to slaughter them so that out -of an army of thirty myriads, 80 if those four be subtracted which -Artabazos took with him in his flight, of the remainder not three -thousand men survived. Of the Lacedemonians from Sparta there were slain -in the battle ninety-one in all, of the Tegeans sixteen, and of the -Athenians two-and-fifty. - -71. Among the Barbarians those who proved themselves the best men were, -of those on foot the Persians, and of the cavalry the Sacans, and for -a single man Mardonios it is said was the best. Of the Hellenes, though -both the Tegeans and the Athenians proved themselves good men, yet the -Lacedemonians surpassed them in valour. Of this I have no other proof -(for all these were victorious over their opposites), but only this, -that they fought against the strongest part of the enemy's force and -overcame it. And the man who proved himself in my opinion by much the -best was that Aristodemos who, having come back safe from Thermopylai -alone of the three hundred, had reproach and dishonour attached to him. -After him the best were Poseidonios and Philokyon and Amompharetos the -Spartan. 81 However, when there came to be conversation as to which of -them had proved himself the best, the Spartans who were present gave it -as their opinion that Aristodemos had evidently wished to be slain in -consequence of the charge which lay against him, and so, being as it -were in a frenzy and leaving his place in the ranks, he had displayed -great deeds, whereas Poseidonios had proved himself a good man although -he did not desire to be slain; and so far he was the better man of the -two. This however they perhaps said from ill-will; and all these whose -names I mentioned among the men who were killed in this battle, were -specially honoured, except Aristodemos; but Aristodemos, since he -desired to be slain on account of the before-mentioned charge, was not -honoured. - -72. These obtained the most renown of those who fought at Plataia, for -as for Callicrates, the most beautiful who came to the camp, not of the -Lacedemonians alone, but also of all the Hellenes of his time, he -was not killed in the battle itself; but when Pausanias was offering -sacrifice, he was wounded by an arrow in the side, as he was sitting -down in his place in the ranks; and while the others were fighting, he -having been carried out of the ranks was dying a lingering death: and he -said to Arimnestos 82 a Plataian that it did not grieve him to die for -Hellas, but it grieved him only that he had not proved his strength of -hand, and that no deed of valour had been displayed by him worthy of the -spirit which he had in him to perform great deeds. 83 - -73. Of the Athenians the man who gained most glory is said to have been -Sophanes the son of Eutychides of the deme of Dekeleia,--a deme of which -the inhabitants formerly did a deed that was of service to them for all -time, as the Athenians themselves report. For when of old the sons of -Tyndareus invaded the Attic land with a great host, in order to bring -home Helen, and were laying waste the demes, not knowing to what -place of hiding Helen had been removed, then they say that the men -of Dekeleia, or as some say Dekelos himself, being aggrieved by the -insolence of Theseus and fearing for all the land of the Athenians, told -them the whole matter and led them to Aphidnai, which Titakos who was -sprung from the soil delivered up by treachery to the sons of Tyndareus. -In consequence of this deed the Dekeleians have had continually freedom -from dues in Sparta and front seats at the games, 84 privileges which -exist still to this day; insomuch that even in the war which many years -after these events arose between the Athenians and the Peloponnesians, -when the Lacedemonians laid waste all the rest of Attica, they abstained -from injury to Dekeleia.. - -74. To this deme belonged Sophanes, who showed himself the best of all -the Athenians in this battle; and of him there are two different stories -told: one that he carried an anchor of iron bound by chains of bronze -to the belt of his corslet; and this he threw whensoever he came up with -the enemy, in order, they say, that the enemy when they came forth out -of their ranks might not be able to move him from his place; and when a -flight of his opponents took place, his plan was to take up the anchor -first and then pursue after them. This story is reported thus; but the -other of the stories, disputing the truth of that which has been told -above, is reported as follows, namely that upon his shield, which was -ever moving about and never remaining still, he bore an anchor as a -device, and not one of iron bound to his corslet. - -75. There was another illustrious deed done too by Sophanes; for when -the Athenians besieged Egina he challenged to a fight and slew Eurybates -the Argive, 85 one who had been victor in the five contests 86 at the -games. To Sophanes himself it happened after these events that when he -was general of the Athenians together with Leagros the son of Glaucon, -he was slain after proving himself a good man by the Edonians at Daton, -fighting for the gold mines. - -76. When the Barbarians had been laid low by the Hellenes at Plataia, -there approached to these a woman, the concubine of Pharandates the son -of Teaspis a Persian, coming over of her own free will from the enemy, -who when she perceived that the Persians had been destroyed and that the -Hellenes were the victors, descended from her carriage and came up to -the Lacedemonians while they were yet engaged in the slaughter. -This woman had adorned herself with many ornaments of gold, and her -attendants likewise, and she had put on the fairest robe of those which -she had; and when she saw that Pausanias was directing everything there, -being well acquainted before with his name and with his lineage, because -she had heard it often, she recognised Pausanias and taking hold of his -knees she said these words: "O king of Sparta, deliver me thy suppliant -from the slavery of the captive: for thou hast also done me service -hitherto in destroying these, who have regard neither for demigods nor -yet for gods. 87 I am by race of Cos, the daughter of Hegetorides the -son of Antagoras; and the Persian took me by force in Cos and kept me -a prisoner." He made answer in these words: "Woman, be of good courage, -both because thou art a suppliant, and also if in addition to this -it chances that thou art speaking the truth and art the daughter of -Hegetorides the Coan, who is bound to me as a guest-friend more than any -other of the men who dwell in those parts." Having thus spoken, for -that time her gave her in charge to those Ephors who were present, and -afterwards he sent her away to Egina, whither she herself desired to go. - -77. After the arrival of the woman, forthwith upon this arrived the -Mantineians, when all was over; and having learnt that they had come -too late for the battle, they were greatly grieved, and said that -they deserved to be punished: and being informed that the Medes with -Artabazos were in flight, they pursued after them as far as Thessaly, -though the Lacedemonians endeavoured to prevent them from pursuing after -fugitives. 88 Then returning back to their own country they sent the -leaders of their army into exile from the land. After the Mantineians -came the Eleians; and they, like the Mantineians, were greatly grieved -by it and so departed home; and these also when they had returned sent -their leaders into exile. So much of the Mantineians and Eleians. - -78. At Plataia among the troops of the Eginetans was Lampon the son of -Pytheas, one of the leading men of the Eginetans, who was moved to go to -Pausanias with a most impious proposal, and when he had come with haste, -he said as follows: "Son of Cleombrotos, a deed has been done by -thee which is of marvellous greatness and glory, and to thee God has -permitted by rescuing Hellas to lay up for thyself the greatest renown -of all the Hellenes about whom we have any knowledge. Do thou then -perform also that which remains to do after these things, in order that -yet greater reputation may attach to thee, and also that in future every -one of the Barbarians may beware of being the beginner of presumptuous -deeds towards the Hellenes. For when Leonidas was slain at Thermopylai, -Mardonios and Xerxes cut off his head and crucified him: to him -therefore do thou repay like with like, and thou shalt have praise first -from all the Spartans and then secondly from the other Hellenes also; -for if thou impale the body of Mardonios, thou wilt then have taken -vengeance for Leonidas thy father's brother.". - -79. He said this thinking to give pleasure; but the other made him -answer in these words: "Stranger of Egina, I admire thy friendly spirit -and thy forethought for me, but thou hast failed of a good opinion -nevertheless: for having exalted me on high and my family and my deed, -thou didst then cast me down to nought by advising me to do outrage to -a dead body, and by saying that if I do this I shall be better reported -of. These things it is more fitting for Barbarians to do than for -Hellenes; and even with them we find fault for doing so. However that -may be, I do not desire in any such manner as this to please either -Eginetans or others who like such things; but it is enough for me that -I should keep from unholy deeds, yea and from unholy speech also, and -so please the Spartans. As for Leonidas, whom thou biddest me avenge, I -declare that he has been greatly avenged already, and by the unnumbered -lives which have been taken of these men he has been honoured, and -not he only but also the rest who brought their lives to an end at -Thermopylai. As for thee however, come not again to me with such a -proposal, nor give me such advice; and be thankful moreover that thou -hast no punishment for it now." - -80. He having heard this went his way; and Pausanias made a proclamation -that none should lay hands upon the spoil, and he ordered the Helots to -collect the things together. They accordingly dispersed themselves -about the camp and found tents furnished with gold and silver, and beds -overlaid with gold and overlaid with silver, and mixing-bowls of gold, -and cups and other drinking vessels. They found also sacks laid upon -waggons, in which there proved to be caldrons both of gold and of -silver; and from the dead bodies which lay there they stripped bracelets -and collars, and also their swords 89 if they were of gold, for as to -embroidered raiment, there was no account made of it. Then the Helots -stole many of the things and sold them to the Eginetans, but many things -also they delivered up, as many of them as they could not conceal; so -that the great wealth of the Eginetans first came from this, that they -bought the gold from the Helots making pretence that it was brass.. - -81. Then having brought the things together, and having set apart a -tithe for the god of Delphi, with which the offering was dedicated of -the golden tripod which rests upon the three-headed serpent of bronze -and stands close by the altar, and also 90 for the god at Olympia, with -which they dedicated the offering of a bronze statue of Zeus ten cubits -high, and finally for the god at the Isthmus, with which was made a -bronze statue of Poseidon seven cubits high,--having set apart these -things, they divided the rest, and each took that which they ought to -have, including the concubines of the Persians and the gold and the -silver and the other things, and also the beasts of burden. How much was -set apart and given to those of them who had proved themselves the best -men at Plataia is not reported by any, though for my part I suppose that -gifts were made to these also; Pausanias however had ten of each thing -set apart and given to him, that is women, horses, talents, camels, and -so also of the other things. - -82. It is said moreover that this was done which here follows, namely -that Xerxes in his flight from Hellas had left to Mardonios the -furniture of his own tent, and Pausanias accordingly seeing the -furniture of Mardonios furnished 91 with gold and silver and hangings of -different colours ordered the bakers and the cooks to prepare a meal as -they were used to do for Mardonios. Then when they did this as they had -been commanded, it is said that Pausanias seeing the couches of gold and -of silver with luxurious coverings, and the tables of gold and silver, -and the magnificent apparatus of the feast, was astonished at the good -things set before him, and for sport he ordered his own servants to -prepare a Laconian meal; and as, when the banquet was served, the -difference between the two was great, Pausanias laughed and sent for the -commanders of the Hellenes; and when these had come together, Pausanias -said, pointing to the preparation of the two meals severally: "Hellenes, -for this reason I assembled you together, because I desired to show you -the senselessness of this leader of the Medes, who having such fare as -this, came to us who have such sorry fare as ye see here, in order -to take it away from us." Thus it is said that Pausanias spoke to the -commanders of the Hellenes. - -83. However, 92 in later time after these events many of the Plataians -also found chests of gold and of silver and of other treasures; and -moreover afterwards this which follows was seen in the case of the dead -bodies here, after the flesh had been stripped off from the bones; for -the Plataians brought together the bones all to one place:--there was -found, I say, a skull with no suture but all of one bone, and there was -seen also a jaw-bone, that is to say the upper part of the jaw, which -had teeth joined together and all of one bone, both the teeth that bite -and those that grind; and the bones were seen also of a man five cubits -high.. - -84. The body of Mardonios however had disappeared 93 on the day after -the battle, taken by whom I am not able with certainty to say, but I -have heard the names of many men of various cities who are said to have -buried Mardonios, and I know that many received gifts from Artontes the -son of Mardonios for having done this: who he was however who took up -and buried the body of Mardonios I am not able for certain to discover, -but Dionysophanes an Ephesian is reported with some show of reason to -have been he who buried Mardonios.. - -85. He then was buried in some such manner as this: and the Hellenes -when they had divided the spoil at Plataia proceeded to bury their dead, -each nation apart by themselves. The Spartans made for themselves three -several burial-places, one in which they buried the younger Spartans, -94 of whom also were Poseidonios, Amompharetos, Philokyon and -Callicrates,--in one of the graves, I say, were laid the younger men, in -the second the rest of the Spartans, and in the third the Helots. These -then thus buried their dead; but the Tegeans buried theirs all together -in a place apart from these, and the Athenians theirs together; and the -Megarians and Phliasians those who had been slain by the cavalry. Of -all these the burial-places had bodies laid in them, but as to the -burial-places of other States which are to be seen at Plataia, these, as -I am informed, are all mere mounds of earth without any bodies in them, -raised by the several peoples on account of posterity, because they were -ashamed of their absence from the fight; for among others there is one -there called the burial-place of the Eginetans, which I hear was raised -at the request of the Eginetans by Cleades the son of Autodicos, a man -of Plataia who was their public guest-friend, 95 no less than ten years -after these events. - -86. When the Hellenes had buried their dead at Plataia, forthwith they -determined in common council to march upon Thebes and to ask the Thebans -to surrender those who had taken the side of the Medes, and among the -first of them Timagenides and Attaginos, who were leaders equal to the -first; and if the Thebans did not give them up, they determined not to -retire from the city until they had taken it. Having thus resolved, -they came accordingly on the eleventh day after the battle and began to -besiege the Thebans, bidding them give the men up: and as the Thebans -refused to give them up, they began to lay waste their land and also to -attack their wall.. - -87. So then, as they did not cease their ravages, on the twentieth day -Timagenides spoke as follows to the Thebans: "Thebans, since it has been -resolved by the Hellenes not to retire from the siege until either they -have taken Thebes or ye have delivered us up to them, now therefore let -not the land of Boeotia suffer 96 any more for our sakes, but if they -desire to have money and are demanding our surrender as a colour for -this, let us give them money taken out of the treasury of the State; -for we took the side of the Medes together with the State and not by -ourselves alone: but if they are making the siege truly in order to get -us into their hands, then we will give ourselves up for trial." 97 In -this it was thought that he spoke very well and seasonably, and the -Thebans forthwith sent a herald to Pausanias offering to deliver up the -men.. - -88. After they had made an agreement on these terms, Attaginos escaped -out of the city; and when his sons were delivered up to Pausanias, he -released them from the charge, saying that the sons had no share in -the guilt of taking the side of the Medes. As to the other men whom the -Thebans delivered up, they supposed that they would get a trial, 98 -and they trusted moreover to be able to repel the danger by payment of -money; but Pausanias, when he had received them, suspecting this very -thing, first dismissed the whole army of allies, and then took the men -to Corinth and put them to death there. These were the things which -happened at Plataia and at Thebes. - -89. Artabazos meanwhile, the son of Pharnakes, in his flight -from Plataia was by this time getting forward on his way: and the -Thessalians, when he came to them, offered him hospitality and inquired -concerning the rest of the army, not knowing anything of that which had -happened at Plataia; and Artabazos knowing that if he should tell them -the whole truth about the fighting, he would run the risk of being -destroyed, both himself and the whole army which was with him, (for he -thought that they would all set upon him if they were informed of that -which had happened),--reflecting, I say, upon this he had told nothing of -it to the Phokians, and now to the Thessalians he spoke as follows: -"I, as you see, Thessalians, am earnest to march by the shortest way to -Thracia; and I am in great haste, having been sent with these men for a -certain business from the army; moreover Mardonios himself and his army -are shortly to be looked for here, marching close after me. To him give -entertainment and show yourselves serviceable, for ye will not in the -end repent of so doing." Having thus said he continued to march his army -with haste through Thessaly and Macedonia straight for Thracia, being -in truth earnest to proceed and going through the land by the shortest -possible way: 99 and so he came to Byzantion, having left behind him -great numbers of his army, who had either been cut down by the Thracians -on the way or had been overcome by hunger and fatigue; 100 and from -Byzantion he passed over in ships. He himself 101 then thus made his -return back to Asia. - -90. Now on the same day on which the defeat took place at Plataia, -another took place also, as fortune would have it, at Mycale in Ionia. -For when the Hellenes who had come in the ships with Leotychides the -Lacedemonian, were lying at Delos, there came to them as envoys -from Samos Lampon the son of Thrasycles and Athenagoras the son of -Archestratides and Hegesistratos the son of Aristagoras, who had been -sent by the people of Samos without the knowledge either of the Persians -or of the despot Theomestor the son of Androdamas, whom the Persians had -set up to be despot of Samos. When these had been introduced before the -commanders, Hegesistratos spoke at great length using arguments of all -kinds, and saying that so soon as the Ionians should see them they would -at once revolt from the Persians, and that the Barbarians would not wait -for their attack; and if after all they did so, then the Hellenes -would take a prize such as they would never take again hereafter; and -appealing to the gods worshipped in common he endeavoured to persuade -them to rescue from slavery men who were Hellenes and to drive away the -Barbarian: and this he said was easy for them to do, for the ships of -the enemy sailed badly and were no match for them in fight. Moreover if -the Hellenes suspected that they were endeavouring to bring them on by -fraud, they were ready to be taken as hostages in their ships.. - -91. Then as the stranger of Samos was urgent in his prayer, Leotychides -inquired thus, either desiring to hear for the sake of the omen or -perhaps by a chance which Providence brought about: "Stranger of Samos, -what is thy name?" He said "Hegesistratos." 102 The other cut short the -rest of the speech, stopping all that Hegesistratos had intended to say -further, and said: "I accept the augury given in Hegesistratos, stranger -of Samos. Do thou on thy part see that thou give us assurance, thou and -the men who are with thee, that the Samians will without fail be our -zealous allies, and after that sail away home.". - -92. Thus he spoke and to the words he added the deed; for forthwith the -Samians gave assurance and made oaths of alliance with the Hellenes, and -having so done the others sailed away home, but Hegesistratos he bade -sail with the Hellenes, considering the name to be an augury of good -success. Then the Hellenes after staying still that day made sacrifices -for success on the next day, their diviner being Deiphonos the son of -Euenios an Apolloniate, of that Apollonia which lies in the Ionian gulf. -10201. - -93. To this man's father Euenios it happened as follows:--There are at -this place Apollonia sheep sacred to the Sun, which during the day feed -by a river 103 running from Mount Lacmon through the land of Apollonia -to the sea by the haven of Oricos; and by night they are watched by -men chosen for this purpose, who are the most highly considered of the -citizens for wealth and noble birth, each man having charge of them for -a year; for the people of Apollonia set great store on these sheep by -reason of an oracle: and they are folded in a cave at some distance from -the city. Here at the time of which I speak this man Euenios was keeping -watch over them, having been chosen for that purpose; and it happened -one night that he fell asleep during his watch, and wolves came by into -the cave and killed about sixty of the sheep. When he perceived this, -he kept it secret and told no one, meaning to buy others and substitute -them in the place of those that were killed. It was discovered however -by the people of Apollonia that this had happened; and when they were -informed of it, they brought him up before a court and condemned him to -be deprived of his eyesight for having fallen asleep during his watch. -But when they had blinded Euenios, forthwith after this their flocks -ceased to bring forth young and their land to bear crops as before. Then -prophesyings were uttered to them both at Dodona and also at Delphi, -when they asked the prophets the cause of the evil which they were -suffering, and they told them 104 that they had done unjustly in -depriving of his sight Euenios the watcher of the sacred sheep; for the -gods of whom they inquired had themselves sent the wolves to attack the -sheep; and they would not cease to take vengeance for him till the men -of Apollonia should have paid to Euenios such satisfaction as he himself -should choose and deem sufficient; and this being fulfilled, the gods -would give to Euenios a gift of such a kind that many men would think -him happy in that he possessed it.. - -94. These oracles then were uttered to them, and the people of -Apollonia, making a secret of it, proposed to certain men of the -citizens to manage the affair; and they managed it for them thus:--when -Euenios was sitting on a seat in public, they came and sat by him, and -conversed about other matters, and at last they came to sympathising -with him in his misfortune; and thus leading him on they asked what -satisfaction he should choose, if the people of Apollonia should -undertake to give him satisfaction for that which they had done. He -then, not having heard the oracle, made choice and said that if there -should be given him the lands belonging to certain citizens, naming -those whom he knew to possess the two best lots of land in Apollonia, -and a dwelling-house also with these, which he knew to be the best house -in the city,--if he became the possessor of these, he said, he would have -no anger against them for the future, and this satisfaction would be -sufficient for him if it should be given. Then as he was thus -speaking, the men who sat by him said interrupting him: "Euenios, this -satisfaction the Apolloniates pay to thee for thy blinding in accordance -with the oracles which have been given to them." Upon this he was angry, -being thus informed of the whole matter and considering that he had been -deceived; and they bought the property from those who possessed it and -gave him that which he had chosen. And forthwith after this he had a -natural gift of divination, 105 so that he became very famous.. - -95. Of this Euenios, I say, Deiphonos was the son, and he was acting -as diviner for the army, being brought by the Corinthians. I have heard -however also that Deiphonos wrongly made use of the name of Euenios, and -undertook work of this kind about Hellas, not being really the son of -Euenios. - -96. Now when the sacrifices were favourable to the Hellenes, they put -their ships to sea from Delos to go to Samos; and having arrived off -Calamisa 106 in Samos, they moored their ships there opposite the temple -of Hera which is at this place, and made preparations for a sea-fight; -but the Persians, being informed that they were sailing thither, put out -to sea also and went over to the mainland with their remaining ships, -(those of the Phenicians having been already sent away to sail home): -for deliberating of the matter they thought it good not to fight a -battle by sea, since they did not think that they were a match for the -enemy. And they sailed away to the mainland in order that they might -be under the protection of their land-army which was in Mycale, a body -which had stayed behind the rest of the army by command of Xerxes and -was keeping watch over Ionia: of this the number was six myriads 107 and -the commander of it was Tigranes, who in beauty and stature excelled the -other Persians. The commanders of the fleet then had determined to take -refuge under the protection of this army, and to draw up their ships -on shore and put an enclosure round as a protection for the ships and a -refuge for themselves.. - -97. Having thus determined they began to put out to sea; and they came -along by the temple of the "Revered goddesses" 10701 to the Gaison -and to Scolopoeis in Mycale, where there is a temple of the Eleusinian -Demeter, which Philistos the son of Pasicles erected when he had -accompanied Neileus the son of Codros for the founding of Miletos; and -there they drew up their ships on shore and put an enclosure round them -of stones and timber, cutting down fruit-trees for this purpose, and -they fixed stakes round the enclosure and made their preparations -either for being besieged or for gaining a victory, for in making their -preparations they reckoned for both chances. - -98. The Hellenes however, when they were informed that the Barbarians -had gone away to the mainland, were vexed because they thought that they -had escaped; and they were in a difficulty what they should do, whether -they should go back home, or sail down towards the Hellespont. At last -they resolved to do neither of these two things, but to sail on to -the mainland. Therefore when they had prepared as for a sea-fight both -boarding-bridges and all other things that were required, they sailed -towards Mycale; and when they came near to the camp and no one was seen -to put out against them, but they perceived ships drawn up within -the wall and a large land-army ranged along the shore, then first -Leotychides, sailing along in his ship and coming as near to the shore -as he could, made proclamation by a herald to the Ionians, saying: -"Ionians, those of you who chance to be within hearing of me, attend to -this which I say: for the Persians will not understand anything at all -of that which I enjoin to you. When we join battle, each one of you must -remember first the freedom of all, and then the watchword 'Hebe'; and -this let him also who has not heard know from him who has heard." The -design in this act was the same as that of Themistocles at Artemision; -for it was meant that either the words uttered should escape the -knowledge of the Barbarians and persuade the Ionians, or that they -should be reported to the Barbarians and make them distrustful of the -Hellenes. 108 - -99. After Leotychides had thus suggested, then next the Hellenes -proceeded to bring their ships up to land, and they disembarked upon the -shore. These then were ranging themselves for fight; and the Persians, -when they saw the Hellenes preparing for battle and also that they -had given exhortation to the Ionians, in the first place deprived the -Samians of their arms, suspecting that they were inclined to the side of -the Hellenes; for when the Athenian prisoners, the men whom the army -of Xerxes had found left behind in Attica, had come in the ships of the -Barbarians, the Samians had ransomed these and sent them back to -Athens, supplying them with means for their journey; and for this reason -especially they were suspected, since they had ransomed five hundred -persons of the enemies of Xerxes. Then secondly the Persians appointed -the Milesians to guard the passes which lead to the summits of Mycale, -on the pretext that they knew the country best, but their true reason -for doing this was that they might be out of the camp. Against these of -the Ionians, who, as they suspected, would make some hostile move 109 if -they found the occasion, the Persians sought to secure themselves in -the manner mentioned; and they themselves then brought together their -wicker-work shields to serve them as a fence. - -100. Then when the Hellenes had made all their preparations, they -proceeded to the attack of the Barbarians; and as they went, a rumour -came suddenly 110 to their whole army, and at the same time a herald's -staff was found lying upon the beach; and the rumour went through their -army to this effect, namely that the Hellenes were fighting in Boeotia -and conquering the army of Mardonios. Now by many signs is the divine -power seen in earthly things, and by this among others, namely that now, -when the day of the defeat at Plataia and of that which was about to -take place at Mycale happened to be the same, a rumour came to the -Hellenes here, so that the army was encouraged much more and was more -eagerly desirous to face the danger.. - -101. Moreover this other thing by coincidence happened besides, namely -that there was a sacred enclosure of the Eleusinian Demeter close by the -side of both the battle-fields; for not only in the Plataian land did -the fight take place close by the side of the temple of Demeter, as -I have before said, but also in Mycale it was to be so likewise. And -whereas the rumour which came to them said that a victory had been -already gained by the Hellenes with Pausanias, this proved to be a true -report; for that which was done at Plataia came about while it was yet -early morning, but the fighting at Mycale took place in the afternoon; -and that it happened on the same day of the same month as the other -became evident to them not long afterwards, when they inquired into -the matter. Now they had been afraid before the rumour arrived, not for -themselves so much as for the Hellenes generally, lest Hellas should -stumble and fall over Mardonios; but when this report had come suddenly -to them, they advanced on the enemy much more vigorously and swiftly -than before. The Hellenes then and the Barbarians were going with -eagerness into the battle, since both the islands and the Hellespont -were placed before them as prizes of the contest. - -102. Now for the Athenians and those who were ranged next to them, -to the number perhaps of half the whole army, the road lay along the -sea-beach and over level ground, while the Lacedemonians and those -ranged in order by these were compelled to go by a ravine and along the -mountain side: so while the Lacedemonians were yet going round, those -upon the other wing were already beginning the fight; and as long as -the wicker-work shields of the Persians still remained upright, they -continued to defend themselves and had rather the advantage in the -fight; but when the troops of the Athenians and of those ranged next to -them, desiring that the achievement should belong to them and not to -the Lacedemonians, with exhortations to one another set themselves more -vigorously to the work, then from that time forth the fortune of the -fight was changed; for these pushed aside the wicker-work shields and -fell upon the Persians with a rush all in one body, and the Persians -sustained their first attack and continued to defend themselves for -a long time, but at last they fled to the wall; and the Athenians, -Corinthians, Sikyonians and Troizenians, for that was the order in which -they were ranged, followed close after them and rushed in together -with them to the space within the wall: and when the wall too had been -captured, then the Barbarians no longer betook themselves to resistance, -but began at once to take flight, excepting only the Persians, who -formed into small groups and continued to fight with the Hellenes as -they rushed in within the wall. Of the commanders of the Persians -two made their escape and two were slain; Artayntes and Ithamitres -commanders of the fleet escaped, while Mardontes and the commander of -the land-army, Tigranes, were slain.. - -103. Now while the Persians were still fighting, the Lacedemonians and -those with them arrived, and joined in carrying through the rest of the -work; and of the Hellenes themselves many fell there and especially many -of the Sikyonians, together with their commander Perilaos. And those of -the Samians who were serving in the army, being in the camp of the Medes -and having been deprived of their arms, when they saw that from the very -first the battle began to be doubtful, 111 did as much as they could, -endeavouring to give assistance to the Hellenes; and the other Ionians -seeing that the Samians had set the example, themselves also upon that -made revolt from the Persians and attacked the Barbarians.. - -104. The Milesians too had been appointed to watch the passes of the -Persians 112 in order to secure their safety, so that if that should -after all come upon them which actually came, they might have guides -and so get safe away to the summits of Mycale,--the Milesians, I say, had -been appointed to do this, not only for that end but also for fear that, -if they were present in the camp, they might make some hostile move: 113 -but they did in fact the opposite of that which they were appointed -to do; for they not only directed them in the flight by other than the -right paths, by paths indeed which led towards the enemy, but also at -last they themselves became their worst foes and began to slay them. -Thus then for the second time Ionia revolted from the Persians. - -105. In this battle, of the Hellenes the Athenians were the best men, -and of the Athenians Hermolycos the son of Euthoinos, a man who had -trained for the pancration. This Hermolycos after these events, when -there was war between the Athenians and the Carystians, was killed in -battle at Kyrnos in the Carystian land near Geraistos, and there was -buried. After the Athenians the Corinthians, Troizenians and Sikyonians -were the best. - -106. When the Hellenes had slain the greater number of the Barbarians, -some in the battle and others in their flight, they set fire to the -ships and to the whole of the wall, having first brought out the spoil -to the sea-shore; and among the rest they found some stores of money. So -having set fire to the wall and to the ships they sailed away; and -when they came to Samos, the Hellenes deliberated about removing the -inhabitants of Ionia, and considered where they ought to settle them in -those parts of Hellas of which they had command, leaving Ionia to the -Barbarians: for it was evident to them that it was impossible on the one -hand for them to be always stationed as guards to protect the Ionians, -and on the other hand, if they were not stationed to protect them, -they had no hope that the Ionians would escape with impunity from the -Persians. Therefore it seemed good to those of the Peloponnesians that -were in authority that they should remove the inhabitants of the trading -ports which belonged to those peoples of Hellas who had taken the side -of the Medes, and give that land to the Ionians to dwell in; but the -Athenians did not think it good that the inhabitants of Ionia should -be removed at all, nor that the Peloponnesians should consult about -Athenian colonies; and as these vehemently resisted the proposal, the -Peloponnesians gave way. So the end was that they joined as allies to -their league the Samians, Chians, Lesbians, and the other islanders who -chanced to be serving with the Hellenes, binding them by assurance and -by oaths to remain faithful and not withdraw from the league: and having -bound these by oaths they sailed to break up the bridges, for they -supposed they would find them still stretched over the straits. - -These then were sailing towards the Hellespont;. - -107, and meanwhile those Barbarians who had escaped and had been driven -to the heights of Mycale, being not many in number, were making their -way to Sardis: and as they went by the way, Masistes the son of Dareios, -who had been present at the disaster which had befallen them, was saying -many evil things of the commander Artayntes, and among other things he -said that in respect of the generalship which he had shown he was worse -than a woman, and that he deserved every kind of evil for having brought -evil on the house of the king. Now with the Persians to be called worse -than a woman is the greatest possible reproach. So he, after he had been -much reviled, at length became angry and drew his sword upon Masistes, -meaning to kill him; and as he was running upon him, Xeinagoras the son -of Prexilaos, a man of Halicarnassos, perceived it, who was standing -just behind Artayntes; and this man seized him by the middle and -lifting him up dashed him upon the ground; and meanwhile the spearmen of -Masistes came in front to protect him. Thus did Xeinagoras, and thus he -laid up thanks for himself both with Masistes and also with Xerxes for -saving the life of his brother; and for this deed Xeinagoras became -ruler of all Kilikia by the gift of the king. Nothing further happened -than this as they went on their way, but they arrived at Sardis. - -Now at Sardis, as it chanced, king Xerxes had been staying ever since -that time when he came thither in flight from Athens, after suffering -defeat in the sea-fight.. - -108. At that time, while he was in Sardis, he had a passionate desire, -as it seems, for the wife of Masistes, who was also there: and as she -could not be bent to his will by his messages to her, and he did not -wish to employ force because he had regard for his brother Masistes and -the same consideration withheld the woman also, for she well knew that -force would not be used towards her, then Xerxes abstained from all -else, and endeavoured to bring about the marriage of his own son Dareios -with the daughter of this woman and of Masistes, supposing that if -he should do so he would obtain her more easily. Then having made the -betrothal and done all the customary rites, he went away to Susa; and -when he had arrived there and had brought the woman into his own house -for Dareios, then he ceased from attempting the wife of Masistes and -changing his inclination he conceived a desire for the wife of Dareios, -who was daughter of Masistes, and obtained her: now the name of this -woman was Artaynte.. - -109. However as time went on, this became known in the following -manner:--Amestris the wife of Xerxes had woven a mantle, large and of -various work and a sight worthy to be seen, and this she gave to Xerxes. -He then being greatly pleased put it on and went to Artaynte; and being -greatly pleased with her too, he bade her ask what she would to be given -to her in return for the favours which she had granted to him, for she -should obtain, he said, whatsoever she asked: and she, since it was -destined that she should perish miserably with her whole house, said to -Xerxes upon this: "Wilt thou give me whatsoever I ask thee for?" and he, -supposing that she would ask anything rather than that which she did, -promised this and swore to it. Then when he had sworn, she boldly asked -for the mantle; and Xerxes tried every means of persuasion, not being -willing to give it to her, and that for no other reason but only because -he feared Amestris, lest by her, who even before this had some inkling -of the truth, he should thus be discovered in the act; and he offered -her cities and gold in any quantity, and an army which no one else -should command except herself. Now this of an army is a thoroughly -Persian gift. Since however he did not persuade her, he gave her the -mantle; and she being overjoyed by the gift wore it and prided herself -upon it.. - -110. And Amestris was informed that she had it; and having learnt that -which was being done, she was not angry with the woman, but supposing -that her mother was the cause and that she was bringing this about, she -planned destruction for the wife of Masistes. She waited then until her -husband Xerxes had a royal feast set before him:--this feast is served up -once in the year on the day on which the king was born, and the name -of this feast is in Persian tycta, which in the tongue of the Hellenes -means "complete"; also on this occasion alone the king washes his head, -114 and he makes gifts then to the Persians:--Amestris, I say, waited -for this day and then asked of Xerxes that the wife of Masistes might -be given to her. And he considered it a strange and untoward thing -to deliver over to her his brother's wife, especially since she was -innocent of this matter; for he understood why she was making the -request.. - -111. At last however as she continued to entreat urgently and he was -compelled by the rule, namely that it is impossible among them that he -who makes request when a royal feast is laid before the king should -fail to obtain it, at last very much against his will consented; and in -delivering her up he bade Amestris do as she desired, and meanwhile he -sent for his brother and said these words: "Masistes, thou art the son -of Dareios and my brother, and moreover in addition to this thou art -a man of worth. I say to thee, live no longer with this wife with whom -thou now livest, but I give thee instead of her my daughter; with her -live as thy wife, but the wife whom thou now hast, do not keep; for it -does not seem good to me that thou shouldest keep her." Masistes then, -marvelling at that which was spoken, said these words: "Master, how -unprofitable a speech is this which thou utterest to me, in that thou -biddest me send away a wife by whom I have sons who are grown up to be -young men, and daughters one of whom even thou thyself didst take as -a wife for thy son, and who is herself, as it chances, very much to my -mind,--that thou biddest me, I say, send away her and take to wife thy -daughter! I, O king, think it a very great matter that I am judged -worthy of thy daughter, but nevertheless I will do neither of these -things: and do not thou urge me by force to do such a thing as this: but -for thy daughter another husband will be found not in any wise inferior -to me, and let me, I pray thee, live still with my own wife." He -returned answer in some such words as these; and Xerxes being stirred -with anger said as follows: "This then, Masistes, is thy case,--I will -not give thee my daughter for thy wife, nor yet shalt thou live any -longer with that one, in order that thou mayest learn to accept that -which is offered thee." He then when he heard this went out, having -first said these words: "Master, thou hast not surely brought ruin upon -me?" 115. - -112. During this interval of time, while Xerxes was conversing with his -brother, Amestris had sent the spearmen of Xerxes to bring the wife of -Masistes, and she was doing to her shameful outrage; for she cut away -her breasts and threw them to dogs, and she cut off her nose and ears -and lips and tongue, and sent her back home thus outraged. - -113. Then Masistes, not yet having heard any of these things, but -supposing that some evil had fallen upon him, came running to his house; -and seeing his wife thus mutilated, forthwith upon this he took counsel -with his sons and set forth to go to Bactria together with his sons -and doubtless some others also, meaning to make the province of Bactria -revolt and to do the greatest possible injury to the king: and this in -fact would have come to pass, as I imagine, if he had got up to the land -of the Bactrians and Sacans before he was overtaken, for they were much -attached to him, and also he was the governor of the Bactrians: but -Xerxes being informed that he was doing this, sent after him an army as -he was on his way, and slew both him and his sons and his army. So far -of that which happened about the passion of Xerxes and the death of -Masistes. - -114. Now the Hellenes who had set forth from Mycale to the Hellespont -first moored their ships about Lecton, being stopped from their voyage -by winds; and thence they came to Abydos and found that the bridges had -been broken up, which they thought to find still stretched across, and -on account of which especially they had come to the Hellespont. So the -Peloponnesians which Leotychides resolved to sail back to Hellas, while -the Athenians and Xanthippos their commander determined to stay behind -there and to make an attempt upon the Chersonese. Those then sailed -away, and the Athenians passed over from Abydos to the Chersonese and -began to besiege Sestos.. - -115. To this town of Sestos, since it was the greatest stronghold of -those in that region, men had come together from the cities which -lay round it, when they heard that the Hellenes had arrived at the -Hellespont, and especially there had come from the city of Cardia -Oiobazos a Persian, who had brought to Sestos the ropes of the bridges. -The inhabitants of the city were Aiolians, natives of the country, but -there were living with them a great number of Persians and also of their -allies.. - -116. And of the province Artayctes was despot, as governor under Xerxes, -a Persian, but a man of desperate and reckless character, who also had -practised deception upon the king on his march against Athens, in -taking away from Elaius the things belonging to Protesilaos the son -of Iphiclos. For at Elaius in the Chersonese there is the tomb of -Protesilaos with a sacred enclosure about it, where there were many -treasures, with gold and silver cups and bronze and raiment and other -offerings, which things Artayctes carried off as plunder, the king -having granted them to him. And he deceived Xerxes by saying to him -some such words as these: "Master, there is here the house of a man, -a Hellene, who made an expedition against thy land and met with his -deserts and was slain: this man's house I ask thee to give to me, that -every one may learn not to make expeditions against thy land." By saying -this it was likely that he would easily enough persuade Xerxes to give -him a man's house, not suspecting what was in his mind: and when he said -that Protesilaos had made expedition against the land of the king, it -must be understood that the Persians consider all Asia to be theirs and -to belong to their reigning king. So when the things had been given him, -he brought them from Elaius to Sestos, and he sowed the sacred enclosure -for crops and occupied it as his own; and he himself, whenever he came -to Elaius, had commerce with women in the inner cell of the temple. 116 -And now he was being besieged by the Athenians, when he had not made any -preparation for a siege nor had been expecting that the Hellenes would -come; for they fell upon him, as one may say, inevitably. 117. - -117. When however autumn came and the siege still went on, the Athenians -began to be vexed at being absent from their own land and at the -same time not able to conquer the fortress, and they requested their -commanders to lead them away home; but these said that they would not do -so, until either they had taken the town or the public authority of the -Athenians sent for them home: and so they endured their present state. - -118. Those however who were within the walls had now come to the -greatest misery, so that they boiled down the girths of their beds and -used them for food; and when they no longer had even these, then the -Persians and with them Artayctes and Oiobazos ran away and departed in -the night, climbing down by the back part of the wall, where the place -was left most unguarded by the enemy; and when day came, the men of the -Chersonese signified to the Athenians from the towers concerning that -which had happened, and opened the gates to them. So the greater number -of them went in pursuit, and the rest occupied the city.. - -119. Now Oiobazos, as he was escaping 119 into Thrace, was caught by the -Apsinthian Thracians and sacrificed to their native god Pleistoros with -their rites, and the rest who were with him they slaughtered in another -manner: but Artayctes with his companions, who started on their flight -later and were overtaken at a little distance above Aigospotamoi, -defended themselves for a considerable time and were some of them -killed and others taken alive: and the Hellenes had bound these and were -bringing them to Sestos, and among them Artayctes also in bonds together -with his son.. - -120. Then, it is said by the men of the Chersonese, as one of those who -guarded them was frying dried fish, a portent occurred as follows,--the -dried fish when laid upon the fire began to leap and struggle just as -if they were fish newly caught: and the others gathered round and were -marvelling at the portent, but Artayctes seeing it called to the man who -was frying the fish and said: "Stranger of Athens, be not at all afraid -of this portent, seeing that it has not appeared for thee but for me. -Protesilaos who dwells at Elaius signifies thereby that though he is -dead and his body is dried like those fish, 120 yet he has power given -him by the gods to exact vengeance from the man who does him wrong. Now -therefore I desire to impose this penalty for him, 121--that in place -of the things which I took from the temple I should pay down a hundred -talents to the god, and moreover as ransom for myself and my son I will -pay two hundred talents to the Athenians, if my life be spared." Thus he -engaged to do, but he did not prevail upon the commander Xanthippos; for -the people of Elaius desiring to take vengeance for Protesilaos asked -that he might be put to death, and the inclination of the commander -himself tended to the same conclusion. They brought him therefore to -that headland to which Xerxes made the passage across, or as some say to -the hill which is over the town of Madytos, and there they nailed him to -boards 122 and hung him up; and they stoned his son to death before the -eyes of Artayctes himself.. - -121. Having so done, they sailed away to Hellas, taking with them, -besides other things, the ropes also of the bridges, in order to -dedicate them as offerings in the temples: and for that year nothing -happened further than this. - -122. Now a forefather of this Artayctes who was hung up, was that -Artembares who set forth to the Persians a proposal which they took up -and brought before Cyrus, being to this effect: "Seeing that Zeus -grants to the Persians leadership, and of all men to thee, O Cyrus, by -destroying Astyages, come, since the land we possess is small and also -rugged, let us change from it and inhabit another which is better: and -there are many near at hand, and many also at a greater distance, of -which if we take one, we shall have greater reverence and from more men. -It is reasonable too that men who are rulers should do such things; for -when will there ever be a fairer occasion than now, when we are rulers -of many nations and of the whole of Asia?" Cyrus, hearing this and not -being surprised at the proposal, 123 bade them do so if they would; -but he exhorted them and bade them prepare in that case to be no longer -rulers but subjects; "For," said he, "from lands which are not rugged -men who are not rugged are apt to come forth, since it does not belong -to the same land to bring forth fruits of the earth which are admirable -and also men who are good in war." So the Persians acknowledged that he -was right and departed from his presence, having their opinion defeated -by that of Cyrus; and they chose rather to dwell on poor land and be -rulers, than to sow crops in a level plain and be slaves to others. - - - - -NOTES TO BOOK IX - -1 [ "the same who at the former time also were of one accord -together."] - -2 [ {ta ekeinon iskhura bouleumata}: some good MSS. omit -{iskhura}, and so many Editors.] - -3 [ {up agnomosunes}.] - -4 [ {boulen}.] - -5 [ {exeneikai es ton dumon}.] - -6 [ {aleoren}.] - -7 [ Cp. viii. 140 (a).] - -8 [ {to men ap emeon outo akibdelon nemetai epi tous Ellenas}, -"that which we owe to the Hellenes is thus paid in no counterfeit -coin."] - -9 [ {ekeleusan}, i.e. "their bidding was" when they sent us.] - -901 [ This clause, "with no less--each man of them," is omitted -in some MSS. and considered spurious by several Editors.] - -10 [ Cp. ch. 55.] - -11 [ {perioikon}.] - -12 [ {ton emerodromon}, cp. vi. 105.] - -13 [ {tugkhane eu bouleoumenos}: perhaps, "endeavour to take -measures well."] - -14 [ {prodromon}, a conjectural emendation of {prodromos}.] - -15 [ {boiotarkhai}, i.e. the heads of the Boeotian -confederacy.] - -16 [ {os epi deka stadious malista ke}.] - -17 [ {klinai}: several Editors have altered this, reading -{klithenai} or {klinenai}, "they were made to recline."] - -18 [ {diapinonton}, cp. v. 18.] - -19 [ {polla phroneonta medenos krateein}.] - -20 [ {sphodra}: not quite satisfactory with {emedizon}, but it -can hardly go with {ouk ekontes}, as Krueger suggests.] - -21 [ {pheme}, as in ch. 100.] - -22 [ {proopto thanato}.] - -23 [ {prosballontes}: most of the MSS. have {prosbalontes}, and -so also in ch. 21 and 22 they have {prosbalouses}.] - -24 [ i.e. the retreat with which each charge ended and the turn -from retreat in preparation for a fresh charge. So much would be done -without word of command, before reining in their horses.] - -25 [ {ephoiteon}.] - -2501 [ Or, according to some MSS., "much contention in -argument."] - -26 [ i.e. the left wing.] - -27 [ The name apparently should be Kepheus, but there is no -authority for changing the text.] - -28 [ This is the number of nations mentioned in vii. 61-80 as -composing the land-army of Xerxes.] - -29 [ {oi epiphoiteontes}.] - -30 [ {peri andra ekaston}.] - -31 [ i.e. 38,700.] - -32 [ i.e. 69,500.] - -33 [ i.e. 110,000.] - -34 [ {opla de oud outoi eikhon}: i.e. these too must be -reckoned with the light-armed.] - -35 [ Cp. ii. 164.] - -36 [ {makhairophoroi}: cp. vii. 89.] - -37 [ i.e. 300,000: see viii. 113.] - -38 [ {geneos tou Iamideon}: the MSS. have {Klutiaden} after -{Iamideon}, but the Clytiadai seem to have been a distinct family of -soothsayers.] - -39 [ {pentaethlon}.] - -40 [ {para en palaisma edrame nikan Olumpiada}. The meaning is -not clear, because the conditions of the {pentaethlon} are not known: -however the wrestling {pale} seems to have been the last of the five -contests, and the meaning may be that both Tisamenos and Hieronymos had -beaten all the other competitors and were equal so far, when Tisamenos -failed to win two out of three falls in the wrestling.] - -41 [ {metientes}: some MSS. have {metiontes}, "they went to -fetch him."] - -42 [ {aiteomenos}: this is the reading of the MSS., but the -conjecture {aiteomenous} (or {aiteomenon}) seems probable enough: "if -one may compare the man who asked for royal power with him who asked -only for citizenship."] - -43 [ i.e. instead of half for himself, he asks for two-thirds -to be divided between himself and his brother.] - -44 [ {o pros Ithome}: a conjectural emendation of {o pros -Isthmo}.] - -45 [ {ton tarson eoutou}.] - -46 [ {Treis Kephalas}.] - -47 [ {Druos Kephalas}.] - -48 [ See ch. 2.] - -49 [ {ton epikleton}: cp. vii. 8.] - -50 [ {Mardonio te kai te stratie ta sphagia ou dunatai -katathumia genesthai}.] - -51 [ He asks for their help to free his country also from the -Persian yoke.] - -52 [ {emakhesametha}.] - -53 [ {psukhre}, cp. vi. 108.] - -54 [ {deka stadious}.] - -55 [ {nesos de outo an eie en epeiro}.] - -56 [ {periskhizetai}.] - -57 [ {epheugon asmenoi}.] - -58 [ {tou Pitaneteon lokhou}, called below {ton lokhon ton -Pitaneten}. Evidently {lokhos} here is a division of considerable size.] - -59 [ {anainomenou}: some MSS. and many Editors read -{nenomenou}, "since he was thus minded."] - -60 [ {os alla phroneonton kai alla legonton}.] - -61 [ Cp. ch. 11.] - -62 [ The structure of the sentence is rather confused, and -perhaps some emendation is required.] - -63 [ {eti ti lexete}. The MSS. and most Editors read {ti}, -"what will ye say after this?" The order of the words is against this.] - -64 [ {anarpasomenoi}: cp. viii. 28.] - -65 [ {phraxantes ta gerra}: cp. ch. 99.] - -66 [ {anoploi}, by which evidently more is meant than the -absence of shields; cp. the end of ch. 63, where the equipment of the -Persians is compared to that of light-armed troops.] - -67 [ See viii. 114.] - -68 [ {es Leoniden}: this is ordinarily translated "as far as -Leonidas;" but to say "his ancestors above Anaxandrides have been given -as far as Leonidas" (the son of Anaxandrides), is hardly intelligible. -The reference is to vii. 204.] - -69 [ Most of the MSS. call him Aeimnestos (with some variation -of spelling), but Plutarch has Arimnestos.] - -70 [ See ch. 15: There is no sharp distinction here between -camp and palisade, the latter being merely the fortified part of the -encampment.] - -71 [ {anaktoron}, a usual name for the temple of Demeter and -Persephone at Eleusis.] - -72 [ i.e. 40,000.] - -73 [ {ege katertemenos}: the better MSS. have {eie} for {ege}, -which is retained by some Editors ({toutous} being then taken with {inai -pantas}): for {katertemenos} we find as variations {katertemenos} and -{katertismenos}. Many Editors read {katertismenos} ("well prepared"), -following the Aldine tradition.] - -74 [ {ephelokakeonton}.] - -75 [ {en oudeni logo apolonto}.] - -76 [ Stein proposes to substitute "Athenians" for -"Lacedemonians" here, making the comparative {erremenestere} anticipate -the account given in the next few clauses.] - -77 [ {erromenestere}.] - -78 [ Cp. i. 66.] - -79 [ {aluktazon}, a word of doubtful meaning which is not found -elsewhere.] - -80 [ i.e. 300,000.] - -81 [ {o Spartietes}: it has been proposed to read {Spartietai}, -for it can hardly be supposed that the other two were not Spartans -also.] - -82 [ One MS. at least calls him Aeimenstos, cp. ch. 64: -Thucydides (iii. [Footnote 52) mentions Aeimnestos as the name of a -Plataian citizen, the father of Lacon. Stein observes that in any case -this cannot be that Arimnestos who is mentioned by Plutarch as commander -of the Plataian contingent.] - -83 [ {eoutou axion prophumeumenou apodexasthai}.] - -84 [ {atelein te kai proedrin}.] - -85 [ vi. 92.] - -86 [ {andra pentaethlon}.] - -87 [ {oute daimonon oute theon}: heroes and in general -divinities of the second order are included under the term {daimonon}.] - -88 [ Most of the commentators (and following them the -historians) understand the imperfect {ediokon} to express the mere -purpose to attempt, and suppose that this purpose was actually hindered -by the Lacedemonians, but for a mere half-formed purpose the expression -{mekhri Thessalies} seems to definite, and Diodorus states that -Artabazos was pursued. I think therefore that Krueger is right in -understanding {eon} of an attempt to dissuade which was not successful. -The alternative version would be "they were for pursuing them as far -as Thessaly, but the Lacedemonians prevented them from pursuing -fugitives."] - -89 [ {akinakas}.] - -90 [ Whether three tithes were taken or only one is left -uncertain.] - -91 [ "furniture furnished" is hardly tolerable; perhaps -Herodotus wrote {skenen} for {kataskeuen} here.] - -92 [ The connexion here is not satisfactory, and the chapter is -in part a continuation of chapter 81: It is possible that ch. 82 may -be a later addition by the author, thrown in without much regard to the -context.] - -93 [ "Whereas however the body of Mardonios had disappeared on -the day after the battle (taken by whom I am not able to say....), it is -reported with some show of reason that Dionysophanes, an Ephesian, was -he who buried it." The construction however is irregular and broken by -parentheses: possibly there is some corruption of text.] - -94 [ {tous irenas}. Spartans between twenty and thirty years -old were so called. The MSS. have {ireas}.] - -95 [ {proxeinon}.] - -96 [ "fill up more calamities," cp. v. 4.] - -97 [ {es antilogien}.] - -98 [ {antilogies kuresein}.] - -99 [ {ten mesogaian tamnon tes odou}, cp. vii. 124: The -expression seems almost equivalent to {tamnon ten mesen odon}, apart -from any question of inland or coast roads.] - -100 [ {limo sustantas kai kamato}, "having struggled with -hunger and fatigue."] - -101 [ {autos}: some MSS. read {outos}. If the text is right, it -means Artabazos as distinguished from his troops.] - -102 [ i.e. "leader of the army."] - -10201 [ {en to Ionio kolpo}.] - -103 [ Stein reads {para Khona potamon}, "by the river Chon," a -conjecture derived from Theognostus.] - -104 [ It is thought by some Editors that "the prophets" just -above, and these words, "and they told them," are interpolated.] - -105 [ {emphuton mantiken}, as opposed to the {entekhnos -mantike} possessed for example by Melampus, cp. ii. 49.] - -106 [ Or possibly "Calamoi."] - -107 [ i.e. 60,000.] - -10701 [ {ton Potneion}, i.e. either the Eumenides or Demeter -and Persephone.] - -108 [ {apistous toisi Ellesi}. Perhaps the last two words -are to be rejected, and {apistous} to be taken in its usual sense, -"distrusted"; cp. viii. 22.] - -109 [ {neokhmon an ti poieein}.] - -110 [ {pheme eseptato}.] - -111 [ {eteralkea}, cp. viii. 11.] - -112 [ {ton Perseon}: perhaps we should read {ek ton Perseon}, -"appointed by the Persians to guard the passes."] - -113 [ {ti neokhmon poieoien}.] - -114 [ {ten kephalen smatai}: the meaning is uncertain.] - -115 [ {Pou de kou me apolesas}: some Editors read {ko} for -{kou} (by conjecture), and print the clause as a statement instead of a -question, "not yet hast thou caused by ruin."] - -116 [ {en to aduto}.] - -117 [ {aphuktos}: many Editors adopt the reading {aphulakto} -from inferior MSS., "they fell upon him when he was, as one may say, off -his guard."] - -118 [ {estergon ta pareonta}.] - -119 [ {ekpheugonta}: many Editors have {ekphugonta}, "after he -had escaped."] - -120 [ {tarikhos eon}. The word {tarikhos} suggests the idea of -human bodies embalmed, as well as of dried or salted meat.] - -121 [ {oi}: some Editors approve the conjecture {moi}, "impose -upon myself this penalty."] - -122 [ {sanidas}: some read by conjecture {sanidi}, or {pros -sanida}: cp. vii. 33.] - -123 [ Or, "when he had heard this, although he did not admire -the proposal, yet bade them do so if they would."] - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History Of Herodotus, by Herodotus - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS *** - -***** This file should be named 2456.txt or 2456.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/5/2456/ - -Produced by John Bickers, Dagny, and David Widger - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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