the Greeks believed that it was owing to divine favor that they had
conquered their enemies. The brazen arms and shields which they had
taken from the ten thousand Persians killed were therefore melted, and
formed into an immense statue of Athene, which was placed on the
Acropolis, on a pedestal so high that the glittering lance which the
goddess held could be seen far out at sea when the sunbeams struck its
point.
The Athenians vented their triumph and delight in song and dance, in
plays and works of art of all kinds; for they wished to commemorate the
glorious victory which had cost them only a hundred and ninety men,
while the enemy had lost ten thousand.
One of their choicest art treasures was made by Phidias, the greatest
sculptor the world has ever known, out of a beautiful block of marble
which Darius had brought from Persia. The Great King had intended to set
it up in Athens as a monument of his victory over the Greeks. It was
used instead to record his defeat; and when finished, the statue
represented Nem'e-sis, the goddess of retribution, whose place it was to
punish the proud and insolent, and to make them repent of their sins.
Miltiades was, as we have seen, the idol of the Athenian people after
his victory at Marathon. Unfortunately, however, they were inclined to
be fickle; and when they saw that Miltiades occupied such a high rank,
many began to envy him.
Themistocles was particularly jealous of the great honors that his
friend had won. His friends soon noticed his gloomy, discontented looks;
and when they inquired what caused them, Themistocles said it was
because the thought of the trophies of Miltiades would not let him
sleep. Some time after, when he saw that Miltiades was beginning to
misuse his power, he openly showed his dislike.
Not very far from Athens, out in the AEgean Sea, was the Island of
Pa'ros. The people living there were enemies of Miltiades; and he, being
sole head of the fleet, led it thither to avenge his personal wrongs.
The expedition failed, however; and Miltiades came back to Athens,
where Themistocles and the indignant citizens accused him of betraying
his trust, tried him, and convicted him of treason.
Had they not remembered the service that he had rendered his country in
defeating the Persians at Marathon, they would surely have condemned him
to death. As it was, the jury merely sentenced him to pay a heavy fine,
saying that he should remain in prison until it was paid.
Miltiades was not rich enough to raise this large sum of money, so he
died in prison. His son Ci'mon went to claim his body, so that he might
bury it properly; but the hard-hearted judges refused to let him have it
until he had paid his father's debt.
Thus forced to turn away without his father's corpse, Cimon visited his
friends, who lent him the necessary money. Miltiades, who had been the
idol of the people, was now buried hurriedly and in secret, because the
ungrateful Athenians had forgotten all the good he had done them, and
remembered only his faults.
XLVI. ARISTIDES THE JUST.
The Athenians were very happy, because they thought, that, having once
defeated the Persians, they need fear them no more. They were greatly
mistaken, however. The Great King had twice seen his preparations come
to naught and his plans ruined, but he was not yet ready to give up the
hope of conquering Greece.
On the contrary, he solemnly swore that he would return with a greater
army than ever, and make himself master of the proud city which had
defied him. These plans were suspected by Themistocles, who therefore
urged the Athenians to strengthen their navy, so that they might be
ready for war when it came.
Aristides, the other general, was of the opinion that it was useless to
build any more ships, but that the Athenians should increase their land
forces. As each general had a large party, many quarrels soon arose. It
became clear before long, that, unless one of the two leaders left the
town, there would be an outbreak of civil war.
All the Athenians, therefore, gathered together in the market place,
where they were to vote for or against the banishment of one of the
leaders. Of course, on this great occasion, all the workmen left their
labors, and even the farmers came in from the fields.
Aristides was walking about among the voters, when a farmer stopped him.
The man did not know who he was, but begged him to write his vote down
on the shell, for he had never even learned to read.
"What name shall I write?" questioned Aristides.
"Oh, put down 'Aristides,'" answered the farmer.
"Why do you want him sent away? Has he ever done you any harm?" asked
Aristides.
"No," said the man, "but I'm tired of hearing him called the Just."
Without saying another word, Aristides calmly wrote his own name on the
shell. When the votes were counted, they found six thousand against him:
so Aristides the Just was forced to leave his native city, and go away
into exile.
This was a second example of Athenian ingratitude; for Aristides had
never done anything wrong, but had, on the contrary, done all he could
to help his country. His enemies, however, were the men who were neither
honest nor just, and who felt that his virtues were a constant rebuke to
them; and this was the very reason why they were so anxious to get him
out of the city.
XLVII. TWO NOBLE SPARTAN YOUTHS.
Darius was in the midst of his preparations for a third expedition to
Greece, when all his plans were cut short by death. His son and
successor, Xerx'es I., now became King of Persia in his stead.
The new monarch was not inclined to renew the struggle with the Greeks;
but his courtiers and the exiled Greeks who dwelt in his palace so
persistently urged him to do it, that he finally consented. Orders were
then sent throughout the kingdom to get ready for war, and Xerxes said
that he would lead the army himself.
During eight years the constant drilling of troops, manufacture of arms,
collecting of provisions, and construction of roads, were kept up all
through Asia. A mighty fleet lay at anchor, and the king was almost
ready to start. Rumors of these great preparations had, of course, come
to the ears of the Greeks. All hearts were filled with trouble and fear;
for the coming army was far larger than the one the Athenians had
defeated at Marathon, and they could not expect to be so fortunate
again.
When the Spartans saw the terror of the people, they regretted having
angered the king by killing the Persian messengers, and wondered what
they could do to disarm his wrath. Two young men, Bu'lis and
Sper'thi-as, then nobly resolved to offer their lives in exchange for
those that had been taken.
They therefore set out for Persia, and, having obtained permission to
enter the palace, appeared before the king. Here the courtiers bade them
fall down before the monarch, and do homage to him, as they saw the
others do. But the proud young men refused to do so, saying that such
honor could be shown only to their gods, and that it was not the custom
of their country to humble themselves thus. Xerxes, to the surprise of
his courtiers did not at all resent their refusal to fall down before
him, but kindly bade them make their errand known.
Thus invited to speak, one of them replied, "King of Persia, some years
ago our people killed two of your father's messengers. It was wrong to
touch an ambassador, we know. You are about to visit our country to seek
revenge for this crime. Desist, O king! for we have come hither, my
friend and I, to offer our lives in exchange for those our people have
taken. Here we are! Do with us as you will."
Xerxes was filled with admiration when he heard this speech, and saw the
handsome youths standing quietly before him, ready to die to atone for
their country's wrong. Instead of accepting their offer, he loaded them
with rich gifts, and sent them home unharmed, telling them he would not
injure the innocent, for he was more just than the Lac-e-dae-mo'ni-ans.
But a few months later, when his preparations were complete, Xerxes set
out with an army which is said to have numbered more than two million
fighting men. As they were attended by slaves and servants of all kinds,
some of the old historians say that ten millions of human beings were
included in this mighty host.
XLVIII. THE GREAT ARMY.
Xerxes' army marched in various sections across Asia Minor, and all the
forces came together at the Hellespont. Here the king had ordered the
building of two great bridges,--one for the troops, and the other for
the immense train of baggage which followed him.
These bridges were no sooner finished than a rising storm entirely
destroyed them. When Xerxes heard of the disaster, he not only condemned
the unlucky engineers to death, but also had the waves flogged with
whips, and ordered chains flung across the strait, to show that he
considered the sea an unruly slave, who should be taught to obey his
master.
Then, undaunted by his misfortune, the King of Persia gave orders for
the building of new bridges; and when they were finished, he reviewed
his army from the top of a neighboring mountain.
The sight must have been grand indeed, and the courtiers standing around
were greatly surprised when they saw their master suddenly burst into
tears. When asked the cause of his sorrow, Xerxes answered, "See that
mighty host spread out as far as eye can reach! I weep at the thought
that a hundred years hence there will be nothing left of it except,
perhaps, a handful of dust and a few moldering bones!"
The king was soon comforted, however, and crossed the bridge first,
attended by his bodyguard of picked soldiers, who were called the
Immortals because they had never suffered defeat. All the army followed
him, and during seven days and nights the bridge resounded with the
steady tramp of the armed host; but, even when the rear guard had passed
over the Hellespont, there were still so many slaves and baggage wagons,
that it took them a whole month to file past.
That was a procession such as has never again been seen. You can imagine
what a sight it was for all the boys and girls who lived near enough to
the Hellespont to see this mighty parade, which continued night and day.
They saw not only the sacred chariot drawn by eight white horses, the
glittering array of the Immortals, the burnished helmets and arms of the
foot soldiers, and the silken canopies and tents over the grandees, but
also countless chariots drawn by four horses, and provided on either
side with sharp scythes, which were intended to mow down the enemy like
ripe grain.
[Illustration: Crossing the Hellespont.]
Besides these strange mowing machines, there were many other engines of
war, which were all made to strike terror into the hearts of the Greeks,
and to subdue completely the proud people who had so sorely defeated
Darius' troops at Marathon.
To prevent his fleet from being wrecked as his father's was, Xerxes had
given orders to dig a great canal across the isthmus that connected
Mount Athos with the mainland; and through this the vessels sailed past
the promontory in safety.
XLIX. PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE.
The news of Xerxes' crossing of the Hellespont, and of his approach to
conquer Greece, soon reached Athens, where it filled all hearts with
fear. The people then remembered Miltiades, and bitterly regretted his
death, and their ingratitude, which had been its real cause.
As the mighty general who had already once delivered them was dead, they
tried to think who could best replace him, and decided to recall
Aristides the Just from his undeserved exile. Aristides generously
forgave his fellow-citizens for all the harm they had done him, and he
and Themistocles began to do all in their power to insure the safety of
Athens.
Swift runners were dispatched in every direction with messages urging
all the Greek cities to unite for the good of the country by sending as
many brave men as possible to check the Persian army, and to try to
hinder it from really entering Greece.
Themistocles was the most active in this attempt to induce the Greek
cities to join forces, and it was he who planned a great council, or
meeting, at Corinth, in 481 B.C. There it soon became evident that the
cities were too jealous of each other to unite as they should.
Many of them promised help, which they never sent; others vowed they
would neither send troops nor furnish aid of any kind, unless _their_
generals had supreme command; and even the oracles gave vague and
discouraging answers, when consulted as usual.
In spite of all these drawbacks, Themistocles managed to get a few
allies; and, in order to induce the Spartans to lend their aid, he
promised them the command not only of the army, but also of the fleet.
He next persuaded them that it would be wisest to send an armed force
into Thessaly, so as to defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae, which was
the only road by which the Persians could enter Greece. This natural
causeway, as we have seen, lay between the mountains and the sea; and,
because there were springs of warm water here, it was generally known as
Thermopylae, which is the Greek for "Hot Gateway."
Under the guidance of Le-on'i-das, one of the Spartan kings, three
hundred Lacedaemonian soldiers and six thousand allies marched thither,
and undertook to guard the pass. This was a very small army; but it was
impossible to get more soldiers at the time, as all the Greeks were more
anxious to attend the Olympic games, which were just then being
celebrated, than to defend their country and homes.
Many of them said they were afraid the gods would be angry if they did
not keep the feast as usual, and declared that it was against the law to
bear arms or make war during that time. This was perfectly true; but
Xerxes did not care at all for the Greek gods, and the country would
have been defenseless had it not been for Leonidas and his handful of
men.
While this little army traveled northwards, the rest of the people
thronged to Olympia, promising to come and fight as soon as the games
were ended, and they could again bear arms without offending the gods.
The Persian fleet, as you have seen, had passed behind Mount Athos,
instead of rounding it as before, and Xerxes intended landing part of
his army just below Thermopylae. Unfortunately for him, however, the four
hundred vessels bearing his troops were wrecked by a sudden storm.
Another fleet was immediately prepared; but, before it was ready, the
Olympic games came to an end, and the Greeks, flying to arms as they had
promised, hastily embarked upon their own vessels, and came and took up
their position at Ar-te-mis'ium, to hinder the advance of the Persian
fleet.
[Illustration]
L. LEONIDAS AT THERMOPYLAE
The Persian army had come to the Pass of Thermopylae; and Xerxes, seeing
that it was guarded by only a few men, sent them a haughty message,
bidding them surrender their arms.
Instead of seeing a meek compliance with this request, as they expected,
the Persian heralds were amazed to hear Leonidas reply with true laconic
brevity, "Come and take them!"
The Spartan king, however, had quickly seen that it would be impossible
for him to do much more than stop for a while the advance of this mighty
host. As a Spartan never drew back, he made up his mind to die on the
field of battle, and bade his warriors comb their hair, don their
choicest armor, and dress themselves in their richest attire, as was the
custom when some great danger threatened them and they expected to die.
The Persians, seeing this, were greatly surprised, and advanced
confidently, for they fancied that men who took so much trouble to curl
and perfume their hair would not be hard to conquer. They soon found out
their mistake.
As they advanced, the archers shot a volley of arrows, and in such
numbers that they fairly darkened the sun. One of the allies, seeing
this, ran to warn Leonidas; but he received the startling news with
great coolness, and merely said, "Very well; then we can fight in the
shade."
When Xerxes saw that the Greeks would not yield without striking a blow,
he gave orders for the battle to begin. The Persians pressed forward,
under the eye of their king, who sat high up on the rocks to see them
conquer; but, to his surprise, they were driven back by that mere
handful of men.
Again and again they tried to force the pass, but all their attempts
proved vain. The Persian soldiers, amazed at the courage of the Greeks,
were filled with superstitious fears, and began to refuse to advance,
except when driven onward under the stinging blows of the lash.
The king was furious to see their close ranks give way time after time,
and finally ordered his own Immortals to march on and scatter the army,
which, although so small, was keeping millions of men at bay. He
expected that everything would of course give way at the very first
charge of these troops.
Imagine his wrath, therefore, when he saw the Immortals also retreat,
after many useless efforts to drive away the enemy. The Persians did not
know what to do. They could not advance, and were ashamed to retreat.
LI. DEATH OF LEONIDAS.
While the Persians were hesitating thus, a Greek shepherd, Eph-i-al'tes,
stole into their camp, and, vile traitor that he was, offered to show
them another way to get into Greece, if they would pay him well. This
man was led into the tent of a Persian general, where he explained that
he could easily lead a troop of Persians over the mountains.
By a goat path known to the Greeks only, it was possible not only to
cross the mountains, but also to come down upon the small Greek force
guarding the Pass of Thermopylae.
His offer as guide was accepted. Ephialtes, true to his promise, if not
to his country, led the Persian Immortals along this narrow way.
Leonidas, who could not imagine that any one of the Greeks would be base
enough to sell his country and honor for gold, had placed only a few of
the allies at this spot.
[Illustration: A Fighting Persian.]
The Immortals followed Ephialtes, easily cut these few men down, and
came unperceived behind the Spartan troops. It was only when he heard
the tramp of horses behind him and on the mountain above him, that
Leonidas found out that he had been betrayed.
Hastily calling his allies, he gave them permission to save themselves
by flight, declaring, however, that he and his companions would never
leave their post, and that, since they could not conquer, they were
ready to die.
Some of the allies took advantage of this permission to escape, but
seven hundred Thes'pi-ans nobly chose to remain with the Spartans. With
the courage of despair, these men now fought against the Persians before
and behind them, selling their lives as dearly as possible. In spite of
the odds against them, they refused to surrender, and finally fell, one
after another, on the spot which they had undertaken to guard.
Their bodies, which were found almost in a heap,--for they had scorned
to fly,--were honorably buried in a single mound, over which rose a
monument with this modest inscription,--
"Go, passer-by, at Sparta tell,
Obedient to her law we fell."
The Persians had forced their way into Greece. Nothing could check their
further advance, so the mighty army swept southward. The first place of
note on their way to Athens was Delphi, the site of the sacred temple,
where great treasures were stored.
The Greeks knew that the Persians did not worship the same gods, and
feared that they might rob the temple: so they now eagerly questioned
the oracle, to find out whether they should not all assemble there in
its defense.
To their surprise, the oracle proudly replied, "The gods will take care
of their own," and bade them rather use their strength to defend their
own homes.
The Persians marched into the rocky gorge leading to the temple at
Delphi, but just as they were entering the valley a terrible
thunderstorm broke forth. The darkness became so great that the
soldiers lost their way. The rocks rolled and crashed down upon them;
and the soldiers, filled with dread, beat a hasty retreat, and never
again dared venture into this valley.
In the mean while the Greek fleet at Artemisium had held the Persian
vessels at bay, until news was brought of the death of Leonidas, and the
passage of Thermopylae. Then the Greeks sailed as fast as they could
toward Athens, knowing that they would be needed there to defend the
city.
The various allies, sure that it would be quite useless to try to defend
the northern part of Greece any longer, retreated into the Peloponnesus,
and, hoping to prevent the Persians from entering there, hastily began
to build a huge wall all across the Isthmus of Corinth, which is only
about five miles wide.
LII. THE BURNING OF ATHENS.
As all their allies were trying only to defend the Peloponnesus, the
Athenians were left entirely alone. Many of their friends advised them
to abandon their city, and follow the other Greeks southward, leaving
all Attica a prey to the foe.
This the Athenians did not wish to do, so they sent in haste to Delphi,
to inquire of the oracle whether they had better retreat, or attempt to
defend their city. As was generally the case, the oracle did not give a
plain answer, but merely said, "The wooden walls will defend you and
your children."
When this answer was brought to Athens, no one could tell exactly what
it meant. Some of the citizens fancied that the oracle was advising them
to retreat behind the ancient wooden stockade on the Acropolis, but
Themistocles insisted that by "wooden walls" the oracle meant their
ships.
He finally persuaded the Athenians to believe him. All the old men,
women, and children were hastily brought on board the ships, and carried
to the Peloponnesus, where they were welcomed by their friends. Then the
men embarked in their turn, and the fleet sailed off to the Bay of
Sal'a-mis, where it awaited a good chance to fight.
The Persians swept down into Attica, and entered the deserted city of
Athens. Here they gazed in wonder at all they saw, and, after robbing
the houses, set fire to the town, and burned down all the most beautiful
buildings.
The Persians were so delighted at having attained their purpose, and
reduced the proud city to ashes, that they sent messengers to bear the
glad tidings to the Persian capital. Here the people became almost wild
with joy, and the whole city rang with their cries of triumph for many a
day.
As you will remember, Themistocles had allowed the Spartans to command
both the army and the navy. It was therefore a Spartan king,
Eu-ry-bi'a-des, who was head of the fleet at Salamis. He was a careful
man, and was not at all in favor of attacking the Persians.
Themistocles, on the contrary, felt sure that an immediate attack, being
unexpected, would prove successful, and therefore loudly insisted upon
it. His persistency in urging it finally made Eurybiades so angry that
he exclaimed, "Those who begin the race before the signal is given are
publicly scourged!"
Themistocles, however, would not allow even this remark to annoy him,
and calmly answered, "Very true, but laggards never win a crown!" The
reply, which Eurybiades thought was meant for an insult, so enraged him
that he raised his staff to strike the bold speaker. At this, the brave
Athenian neither drew back nor flew into a passion: he only cried,
"Strike if you will, but hear me!"
Once more Themistocles explained his reasons for urging an immediate
attack; and his plans were so good, that Eurybiades, who could but
admire his courage, finally yielded, and gave orders to prepare for
battle.
LIII. THE BATTLES OF SALAMIS AND PLATAEA.
The fleets soon came face to face; and Xerxes took up his post on a
mountain, where he sat in state upon a hastily built throne to see his
vessels destroy the enemy. He had made very clever plans, and, as his
fleet was far larger than that of the Greeks, he had no doubt that he
would succeed in defeating them.
His plans, however, had been found out by Aristides, who was in the
Island of AEgina; and this noble man rowed over to the fleet, at the risk
of being caught by the enemy, to warn his fellow-citizens of their
danger.
He first spoke to Themistocles, saying, "Rivals we have always been; let
us now set all other rivalry aside, and only strive which can best serve
his native country."
Themistocles agreed to this proposal, and managed affairs so wisely and
bravely that the Greeks won a great victory. When they came home in
triumph with much spoil, the women received them with cries of joy, and
strewed flowers under their feet.