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 Nereïds, 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 Nereïds.
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
Demonoös, 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.