Book 7
When the message concerning the fight at Marathon came to Darius son of Hystaspes, already greatly angry against the Athenians for their attack upon Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he was now much more angry and eager to send an expedition against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.
Immediately he sent messengers to all the cities and commanded them to equip an army, instructing each to provide many more ships and horses and provisions and transport vessels than they had before. Asia (continent)Asia was in commotion with these messages for three years,489-487. as the best men were enrolled for service against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and made preparations.
In the fourth year the Egyptians, whom Cambyses had enslaved, revolted from the Persians; thereupon Darius was even more eager to send expeditions against both.
But while Darius was making preparations against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt and Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, a great quarrel arose among his sons concerning the chief power in the land. They held that before his army marched he must declare an heir to the kingship according to Persian law.
Three sons had been born to Darius before he became king by his first wife, the daughter of Gobryas, and four more after he became king by Atossa daughter of Cyrus. Artobazanes was the oldest of the earlier sons, Xerxes of the later;
and as sons of different mothers they were rivals. Artobazanes pleaded that he was the oldest of all Darius' offspring and that it was everywhere customary that the eldest should rule; Xerxes argued that he was the son of Cyrus' daughter Atossa and that it was Cyrus who had won the Persians their freedom.
While Darius delayed making his decision, it chanced that at this time Demaratus son of Ariston had come up to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, in voluntary exile from Lacedaemonia after he had lost the kingship of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta.
Learning of the contention between the sons of Darius, this man, as the story goes, came and advised Xerxes to add this to what he said: that he had been born when Darius was already king and ruler of Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia, but Artobazanes when Darius was yet a subject;
therefore it was neither reasonable nor just that anyone should have the royal privilege before him. At Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta too (advised Demaratus) it was customary that if sons were born before their father became king, and another son born later when the father was king, the succession to the kingship belongs to the later-born.
Xerxes followed Demaratus advice, and Darius judged his plea to be just and declared him king. But to my thinking Xerxes would have been made king even without this advice, for Atossa held complete sway.
After declaring Xerxes king, Darius was intent on his expedition. But in the year after this and the revolt of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, death came upon him in the midst of his preparations, after a reign of six and thirty years521-485. in all, and it was not granted to him to punish either the revolted Egyptians or the Athenians.
After Darius' death, the royal power descended to his son Xerxes. Now Xerxes was at first by no means eager to march against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas; it was against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt that he mustered his army. But Mardonius son of Gobryas, Xerxes cousin and the son of Darius' sister, was with the king and had more influence with him than any Persian. He argued as follows: “Master, it is not fitting that the Athenians should go unpunished for their deeds, after all the evil they have done to the Persians.
For now you should do what you have in hand; then, when you have tamed the insolence of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, lead your armies against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, so that you may have fair fame among men, and others may beware of invading your realm in the future.”
This argument was for vengeance,Some take the Greek to mean “this argument was his helper”; but the statement seems rather pointless. but he kept adding that Europe (continent)Europe was an extremely beautiful land, one that bore all kinds of orchard trees, a land of highest excellence, worthy of no mortal master but the king.
He said this because he desired adventures and wanted to be governor of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. Finally he worked on Xerxes and persuaded him to do this, and other things happened that helped him to persuade Xerxes.
Messengers came from +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly from the Aleuadae (who were princes of +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly) and invited the king into Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas with all earnestness; the Pisistratidae who had come up to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa used the same pleas as the Aleuadae, offering Xerxes even more than they did.
They had come up to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis with Onomacritus, an Athenian divinerThe word sometimes means “a diviner”; here, probably, rather a “selecter and publisher” of existing oracles, by recitation or otherwise. who had set in order the oracles of Musaeus. They had reconciled their previous hostility with him; Onomacritus had been banished from Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens by Pisistratus' son Hipparchus, when he was caught by Lasus A poet and musician, Pindar's teacher. of +Hermione [23.2583,37.3833] (Perseus) Hermione in the act of interpolating into the writings of Musaeus an oracle showing that the islands off +Lemnos [25.25,39.916] (island), Lesvos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Lemnos would disappear into the sea.
Because of this Hipparchus banished him, though they had previously been close friends. Now he had arrived at Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa with the Pisistratidae, and whenever he came into the king's presence they used lofty words concerning him and he recited from his oracles; all that portended disaster to the Persian he left unspoken, choosing and reciting such prophecies as were most favorable, telling how the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont must be bridged by a man of Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia and describing the expedition.
So he brought his oracles to bear, while the Pisistratidae and Aleuadae gave their opinions.
After being persuaded to send an expedition against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, Xerxes first marched against the rebels in the year after Darius death. He subdued them and laid Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt under a much harder slavery than in the time of Darius, and he handed it over to Achaemenes, his own brother and Darius' son. While governing Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, this Achaemenes was at a later timeIn 460; cp. Hdt. 3.15. slain by a Libyan, Inaros son of Psammetichus.
After the conquest of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, intending now to take in hand the expedition against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, Xerxes held a special assembly of the noblest among the Persians, so he could learn their opinions and declare his will before them all. When they were assembled, Xerxes spoke to them as follows:
“Men of Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia, I am not bringing in and establishing a new custom, but following one that I have inherited. As I learn from our elders, we have never yet remained at peace ever since Cyrus deposed Astyages and we won this sovereignty from the Medes. It is the will of heaven; and we ourselves win advantage by our many enterprises. No one needs to tell you, who already know them well, which nations Cyrus and Cambyses and Darius my father subdued and added to our realm.
Ever since I came to this throne, I have considered how I might not fall short of my predecessors in this honor, and not add less power to the Persians; and my considerations persuade me that we may win not only renown, but a land neither less nor worse, and more fertile, than that which we now possess; and we would also gain vengeance and requital. For this cause I have now summoned you together, that I may impart to you what I intend to do.
It is my intent to bridge the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont and lead my army through Europe (continent)Europe to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, so I may punish the Athenians for what they have done to the Persians and to my father.
You saw that Darius my father was set on making an expedition against these men. But he is dead, and it was not granted him to punish them. On his behalf and that of all the Persians, I will never rest until I have taken Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens and burnt it, for the unprovoked wrong that its people did to my father and me.
First they came to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis with our slave Aristagoras the Milesian and burnt the groves and the temples; next, how they dealt with us when we landed on their shores, when Datis and Artaphrenes were our generals, I suppose you all know.
For these reasons I am resolved to send an army against them; and I reckon that we will find the following benefits among them: if we subdue those men, and their neighbors who dwell in the land of Pelops the Phrygian, we will make the borders of Persian territory and of the firmament of heaven be the same.
No land that the sun beholds will border ours, but I will make all into one country, when I have passed over the whole of Europe (continent)Europe.
I learn that this is the situation: no city of men or any human nation which is able to meet us in battle will be left, if those of whom I speak are taken out of our way. Thus the guilty and the innocent will alike bear the yoke of slavery.
This is how you would best please me: when I declare the time for your coming, every one of you must eagerly appear; and whoever comes with his army best equipped will receive from me such gifts as are reckoned most precious among us.
Thus it must be done; but so that I not seem to you to have my own way, I lay the matter before you all, and bid whoever wishes to declare his opinion.” So spoke Xerxes and ceased.
After him Mardonius said: “Master, you surpass not only all Persians that have been but also all that shall be; besides having dealt excellently and truly with all other matters, you will not suffer the Ionians To an oriental all Greeks alike were “Ionians,” Persian Yauna; cp. the “Javan” of the Bible. In Aristoph. Ach. 104 the Persian ambassador addresses a Greek as χαυνόπρωκτ Ιαοναῦ. who dwell in Europe (continent)Europe to laugh at us, which they have no right to do.
It would be strange indeed if we who have subdued and made slaves of Sacae and Indians and Ethiopians and Assyrians and many other great nations, for no wrong done to the Persians but of mere desire to add to our power, will not take vengeance on the Greeks for unprovoked wrongs.
What have we to fear from them? Have they a massive population or abundance of wealth? Their manner of fighting we know, and we know how weak their power is; we have conquered and hold their sons, those who dwell in our land and are called Ionians and Aeolians and Dorians.
I myself have made trial of these men, when by your father's command I marched against them. I marched as far as Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia and almost to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens itself, yet none came out to meet me in battle.
Yet the Greeks are accustomed to wage wars, as I learn, and they do it most senselessly in their wrongheadedness and folly. When they have declared war against each other, they come down to the fairest and most level ground that they can find and fight there, so that the victors come off with great harm; of the vanquished I say not so much as a word, for they are utterly destroyed.
Since they speak the same language, they should end their disputes by means of heralds or messengers, or by any way rather than fighting; if they must make war upon each other, they should each discover where they are in the strongest position and make the attempt there. The Greek custom, then, is not good; and when I marched as far as the land of Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia, it had not come into their minds to fight.
But against you, O king, who shall make war? You will bring the multitudes of Asia (continent)Asia, and all your ships. I think there is not so much boldness in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas as that; but if time should show me wrong in my judgment, and those men prove foolhardy enough to do battle with us, they would be taught that we are the greatest warriors on earth. Let us leave nothing untried; for nothing happens by itself, and all men's gains are the fruit of adventure.”
Thus Mardonius smoothed Xerxes' resolution and stopped. The rest of the Persians held their peace, not daring to utter any opinion contrary to what had been put forward; then Artabanus son of Hystaspes, the king's uncle, spoke. Relying on his position, he said,
“O king, if opposite opinions are not uttered, it is impossible for someone to choose the better; the one which has been spoken must be followed. If they are spoken, the better can be found; just as the purity of gold cannot be determined by itself, but when gold is compared with gold by rubbing,i.e. rubbing against the touchstone, which would be stained by pure gold. we then determine the better.