Now these Galati inhabit the remotest parts of Europe, near a mighty
sea, not navigable where they live: it has tides and breakers and
sea monsters quite unlike those in any other sea: and through their
territory flows the river Eridanus, by whose banks people think the
daughters of the sun lament the fate of their brother Phaethon. And
it is only of late that the name Galati has prevailed among them:
for originally they were called Celts both by themselves and by all
other nations. And an army gathered together by them marched towards
the Ionian Sea, and dispossessed all the nations of Illyria and all
that dwelt between them and the Macedonians, and even the Macedonians
themselves, and overran Thessaly. And when they got near to Thermopylæ,
most of the Greeks did not interfere with their onward march,
remembering how badly handled they had formerly been by Alexander
and Philip, and how subsequently Antipater and Cassander had nearly
ruined Greece; so that, on account of their weakness, they did not
consider it disgraceful individually that a general defence should be
abandoned. But the Athenians, although they had suffered more than
any other of the Greeks during the long Macedonian war, and had had
great losses in battles, yet resolved to go forth to Thermopylæ with
those of the Greeks who volunteered, having chosen this Callippus as
their General. And having occupied the narrowest pass they endeavoured
to bar the passage of the barbarians into Greece. But the Celts
having discovered the same defile by which Ephialtes the Trachinian
had formerly conducted the Persians, and having routed those of the
Phocians who were posted there in battle array, crossed Mount Œta
unbeknown to the Greeks. Then it was that the Athenians displayed
themselves to the Greeks as most worthy, by their brave defence
against the barbarians, being taken both in front and flank. But those
suffered most that were in their ships, inasmuch as the Lamiac Gulf was
full of mud near Thermopylæ; the explanation is, as it seems to me,
that here warm springs have their outlet into the sea. Here therefore
they suffered much. For, having taken on board their comrades, they
were obliged to sail over mud in vessels heavy with men and armour.
Thus did the Athenians endeavour to save the Greeks in the manner I
have described. But the Galati having got inside Pylæ, and not caring
to take the other fortified towns, were most anxious to plunder the
treasures of the god at Delphi. And the people of Delphi, and those
of the Phocians who dwelt in the cities round Parnassus, drew up in
battle array against them. A contingency of the Ætolians also arrived:
and you must know that at that era the Ætolians were eminent for manly
vigour. And when the armies engaged not only did lightnings dismay the
Galati, and fragments of rock coming down on them from Parnassus, but
three mighty warriors pressed them hard, two, they say, came from the
Hyperboreans, Hyperochus and Amadocus, and the third was Pyrrhus, the
son of Achilles. And in consequence of this aid the Delphians offer
sacrifice to Pyrrhus, though before they held his tomb in dishonour as
that of an enemy. But the greater part of the Galati having crossed
into Asia Minor in their ships, ravaged its maritime parts. And some
time afterwards the inhabitants of Pergamum, which in old times was
called Teuthrania, drove the Galati from the sea into the region now
called Galatia. They lived in the region east of the river Sangarius,
having captured Ancyra, a city of the Phrygians which Midas the son of
Gordias had formerly built. And the anchor which Midas found was still,
even in my time, in the temple of Zeus, and the well shown which was
called Midas’ well: which Midas, they say, poured wine into that he
might capture Silenus. As well as Ancyra they captured Pessinus near
the mountain Agdistis, where they say Atte was buried. And the people
of Pergamum have spoils of the Galati, and there is a painting of their
action with the Galati. And the region which the people of Pergamum
inhabit was in old times, they say, sacred to the Cabiri. And they
claim to be Arcadians who crossed over with Telephus into Asia Minor.
Of their other wars, if they fought any, the fame has not universally
spread: but three most notable exploits have been performed by them,
their gaining dominion over the southern part of Asia Minor, and their
expulsion of the Galati from thence, and their venture under Telephus
against the forces of Agamemnon, when the Greeks, unable to find Ilium,
ravaged the Mysian plain, thinking it was Trojan territory. But I
return to where I made my digression from.