OF THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GREEKS.
When the messengers told the words that they had heard and written
down to the people, there were many and various opinions among those
who sought to interpret the oracle. Some of the older men said that it
seemed to them that the god bade them fortify the citadel, for that in
old time the citadel of Athens had been surrounded with a fence. And
this fence they supposed to be the “wooden wall.” And there were others
that said the “wooden wall” signified their ships; but these were
confounded by the last words of the oracle:
“Thou, holy Salamis, shalt bring
Dark death to sons of women born,
Or when abroad the seed they fling,
Or when they pluck the ripened corn.”
These words troubled them much, for the readers of oracles declared
that it was signified by them that they should fight in ships and be
worsted at Salamis.
Now there was at Athens a certain man that was but newly risen into
the front rank of the citizens. This was Themistocles the son of
Neocles. He then coming forward affirmed that the oracle-readers did
not read the words aright, for that, if they had been really spoken
concerning the Athenians, the god would have said, “Sad Salamis,”
rather than “Holy Salamis,” it being decreed that the dwellers in the
land should die there. It was manifest, therefore, he said, to one
that interpreted the words aright that they were spoken concerning the
barbarians, and not concerning the Athenians. Wherefore he advised his
fellow-citizens that they should make ready to fight in ships, for that
these were their “wooden wall.” When Themistocles had set forth these
opinions, the Athenians judged them to be better than the opinions of
the oracle-readers. For these would have hindered them from fighting
in ships, yea, from so much as lifting up their hands against the
enemy; and would have had them leave their country, and find some other
wherein to dwell.
Before this, another counsel of this same Themistocles had been given
excellently in season. It so chanced that the Athenians had much
money in their public treasury, having received it from their mines
at Laurium. This they were about to divide among the citizens, man by
man, so that each should have ten drachmæ; but Themistocles persuaded
the Athenians that this division should not be made, but that they
should use the money for the building of two hundred ships for the war
that they had on hand, that is to say, the war against Ægina. This
war indeed it was that was the saving of Greece, for it compelled the
Athenians to become seafaring men. As for the two hundred ships, they
were not used for the end for the which they were made; but they were
a help to Greece when she most needed them. So many ships had the
Athenians ready before the war; and they began to build others. And
now, after hearing the oracle and consulting thereupon, they judged it
well to put their whole force on shipboard, even as the god commanded
them; and so, together with such of the Greeks as were of the same
mind, to give battle to the barbarians.
So soon as the Greeks that followed the good cause, even the cause of
Greece, were assembled together, they took counsel and pledged their
faith one to the other. This being done, they agreed in this, that,
first of all, all feuds that there were of nation against nation should
be appeased. Many such there were; but the greatest of all was that
between the men of Athens and the men of Ægina. Afterward, when they
knew that King Xerxes had come down to Sardis with his host, they
thought it good to send spies to see how matters stood with the King in
Asia; also they sent embassadors, some to Argos, to make an alliance
against the Persians; and others to Sicily, to Gelon, lord of Syracuse;
and to Corcyra, to ask for help; and others again to Crete. For they
desired to bind together into one all that bare the Greek name, so that
they might strive with one heart against him that was the enemy of all.
Now the power of Syracuse was said to be greater than the power of any
other city among the Greeks.
When they had thus taken counsel together, and had caused all such as
were at enmity to be reconciled, they sent three men into Asia to be
spies. These came to Sardis and learned what was to be known about
the King’s army. But being discovered, they were questioned by the
generals and condemned to die. But when Xerxes heard this he blamed the
purpose of the generals, and sent some of his own spearmen, commanding
that if they found the spies yet alive they should bring them into his
presence. So the spearmen went, and finding them yet alive brought them
into the presence of the King. And when the King saw them, he inquired
of them wherefore they had come; and afterward commanded the spearmen
that they should show them the whole army, both horse and foot, and all
the power of the King, and that when the men had had their fill of this
sight, they should send them away unhurt whithersoever they would. And
the cause, he said, why he gave this commandment about the spies was
this. If these spies be put to death, the Greeks will not know that my
power is greater by far than all that they have heard, nor shall we
harm them much slaying three of their men. But if these spies return to
Greece, then will the Greeks hear the truth about this my host, and of
their own free will they will give themselves to us and surrender their
freedom, and we shall be spared the trouble of this great business. At
another time, also, Xerxes spake much in the same fashion. When he was
in Abydos he saw three corn ships coming from the Black Sea and sailing
down the Hellespont, carrying wheat to Ægina and the Peloponnesus.
And they that sat by him when they knew that the ships belonged to
the enemy had thought of taking them, and looked to the King that he
should give the word. Then said Xerxes, “Whither do these ships sail?”
And the men answered, “To thy enemies, O King, carrying corn to them.”
Then the King said, “And are we not sailing to the same place, taking
with us corn as well as many other things? What wrong therefore do
these men carrying food for us?” So it came to pass that the spies
returned safe to Greece.
After this the Greeks sent messengers to divers cities, asking help.
First they sent them to Argos. Now the Argives had been warned by an
oracle that they should sit quiet, being indeed greatly weakened by
that which they had suffered at the hands of the Spartans, for these,
under King Cleomenes, had slain six thousand citizens. Nevertheless
they bade the messengers come into their council chamber and declare
their message. And when they had heard it they answered, “We will help
you if the Spartans will give us a truce for thirty years, and will
also divide with us the command of the army. This indeed we should
by rights have altogether, but we will divide it with Sparta.” The
truce they asked that, their children having grown to man’s estate,
they might be able to make head against Sparta, if need should be. The
Spartans answered, “As for the truce, we will bring the matter before
the people, but the leadership we can not divide as ye would have it.
For we have two kings and ye only one. But your King shall have one
vote.” This the Argives could not endure. Whereupon they said to the
messengers, “Depart out of our borders before the sun be set, or we
will deal with you as with enemies.”
This is the story of the Argives, but the other Greeks affirm that
Xerxes sent a messenger to them, saying, “We Persians are your kinsmen,
for Perses, who is our father, was son to Perseus that was the son of
Danae, that was the daughter of Acrisius your King. Wherefore neither
should we fight against you, nor ye against us. Do ye, therefore, keep
quiet, and there shall be none whom we will honor more than you.” With
this message the Argives were greatly pleased; and they asked for
a share in the leadership for a pretense only, as knowing that the
Spartans would not yield it.
Many years after it chanced that while certain ambassadors from Athens
were at Susa, there came up also an embassy from Argos, who inquired
of King Artaxerxes, that was son to Xerxes, “Does the friendship that
Xerxes thy father made with us still remain, or dost thou count us as
enemies?” To this Artaxerxes answered that the friendship remained, and
that he held no city dearer to him than Argos.
The truth of these matters can not certainly be known. Yet so much may
be affirmed without doubt, that if all men were to bring their own
misdeeds into one place, as wishing to exchange them for the misdeeds
of their neighbors, when they came to look close into the misdeeds of
their neighbors, they would be right glad to carry back their own.
Other messengers, among whom was one Syagrus of Sparta, were sent to
speak with Gelon, lord of Syracuse. These, when they were come into
his presence, spake, saying, “The Spartans and the Athenians and their
allies have sent us to tell thee that the Persians are marching into
Europe, giving out indeed that they make war upon Athens only, but
proposing to subdue the whole land of Greece. Do thou therefore--for
thou has great power, being lord of Sicily--help us that we may keep
our freedom. And be sure that if thou suffer us to perish these
barbarians will fall next upon thee, and that if thou helpest us
thou helpest thyself.” To this Gelon made answer, “Men of Greece, ye
think only of yourselves when ye ask my help against the Persians.
Did ye help me when I would have had you for my allies against the
Carthaginians? Nevertheless I will not render evil for evil, but will
help you, sending two hundred ships, and twenty thousand footmen, and
two thousand horsemen, and archers and slingers and light horsemen,
of each two thousand. Also I will promise meat for the whole host of
the forces so long as the war shall continue. Only ye must make me
commander.”
Therefore Syagrus the Spartan burst forth, “Surely now Agamemnon son of
Pelops would groan to hear that Gelon and the men of Syracuse had taken
the leadership from Sparta. If thou wilt help the Greeks, O King, know
that thou must follow the leading of the Spartans.”
Then said Gelon, “For all thy evil words, man of Sparta, thou shalt
not persuade me to answer thee evil. Yet if ye put such store by this
command, how much more should I, that can bring with me so great an
army! Howbeit I will yield to you so much as this. If ye will take the
rule of the army, then will I command the ships; or, if ye choose the
ships, yield the army to me. But if this please you not, then ye must
depart without my alliance.”
Then said the ambassador from Athens, making haste before the Spartan
can speak, “The Greeks have sent me, O King, to ask not for a leader,
but for an army; but thou sayest little of an army, but art over-eager
for the leadership. As to the army, we were willing that the Spartan
should answer; but as to the fleet, hear this. If the Spartans will
have the command, we yield it to them; but if not, then it comes to us,
and we give it to no man. For why should we yield, who are the most
ancient nation of all the Greeks, and of whom came the most skillful to
order an army of all the chieftains that fought against Troy?”
Then said Gelon, “Man of Athens, ye seem to have commanders more than
enough, but of them that should be commanded a few only. Go ye back
then to Greece with all haste, and say that she has lost the spring out
of the year.” For he likened himself and his power to the spring, which
is the best season of the year.
When the Greeks had departed, Gelon sent three small ships, and with
them one Cadmus, who should watch the issue of the war. And the man had
with him many gifts and earth and water. These Gelon commanded him to
give to King Xerxes if he should get the upper hand, and if not, to
bring back again. This Cadmus had received the lordship of Cos from his
father, yet for love of right and justice gave it up to the people.
And in this manner also he showed himself to be a righteous man; for
when the Greeks had prevailed, and Xerxes had departed, he kept not the
gifts, as he might have done, but carried them back to Gelon.
Nevertheless some say that, notwithstanding the matter of the
leadership, Gelon would have helped the Greeks, but that there came
to Sicily about this time a great army of Phœnicians and Libyans and
Sardinians under Hamilcar, King of Carthage. They say also that he
conquered this army on the very same day on which the Greeks conquered
the Persians at Salamis.
Envoys went also to the Corcyreans, who spake them fair, saying that
they would send sixty ships. But these ships were long delayed;
and after they had set forth they lingered about the coast of the
Peloponnese, waiting for the end, even as did Gelon. But when the
Greeks reproached them, the Corcyreans answered that the Etesian winds
had not suffered them to round Cape Malea.
The Cretans inquired of the god of Delphi whether they should help
the Greeks; and the god answered them, “Do ye not remember, ye fools,
how that Minos was wroth with your nation because ye went to help the
Greeks against Troy, because forsooth a barbarian had carried off a
woman from Sparta, yet cared not to avenge him when he perished at
Camicus?” Wherefore the men of Crete sat still.
While these things were being done the men of Thessaly sent to the
Greeks, saying, “Come ye and guard the pass of Olympus, so shall ye
preserve both our country and the rest of Greece also. But if ye will
not, then must we yield to the Persians, lest we be left alone and so
perish on your behalf.”
Then the Greeks sent an army, even ten thousand men at arms, to the
Pass of Olympus. But when they had been there a few days only there
came messengers from Alexander, King of Macedon, saying, “Depart from
this place lest ye be trampled underfoot by your enemies.” And he
told them of the number of the army and of the ships. So the Greeks
departed and returned to the Isthmus; and having taken counsel again,
they determined to send an army to Thermopylæ, which is the Pass from
Thessaly into Greece. And the fleet they sent to Artemisium, which is
in the island of Eubœa. As for the Pass it is but fifty feet wide, and
westward there is a high mountain which no man can climb, but to the
eastward is the sea and the marshes of the river Peneus. And across
this Pass there had been built a wall in old time. The Phocians built
it for fear of the men of Thessaly. And now the Greeks repaired the
breaches, for it was broken down.
In the meanwhile the men of Delphi inquired of the god what they should
do, being in great fear of the barbarians. And the god said to them
that they should pray to the winds. To the Athenians also there came
an oracle that they should seek help from their son-in-law. Now their
son-in-law was Boreas, the northwind; for Boreas, being a prince of
Thrace, took to wife, as say the Greeks, Orithyia, the daughter of
Erechtheus, that was King of Athens.