Kitap 8
“Adeimantus, you have turned your ships to flight and betrayed the Hellenes, but they are overcoming their enemies to the fulfillment of their prayers for victory.” Adeimantus did not believe them when they said this, so they spoke again, saying that they could be taken as hostages and killed if the Hellenes were not seen to be victorious.
So he and the others turned their ships around and came to the fleet, but it was all over. The Athenians spread this rumor about them, but the Corinthians do not agree at all, and they consider themselves to have been among the foremost in the battle. The rest of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas bears them witness.
Aristides son of Lysimachus, the Athenian whom I mentioned a little before this as a valiant man, did this in the commotion that arose at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis: taking many of the armed men who were arrayed along the shore of Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, he brought them across and landed them on the island of Psyttalea, and they slaughtered all the Persians who were on that islet.
When the battle was broken off, the Hellenes towed to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis as many of the wrecks as were still there and kept ready for another battle, supposing that the king could still make use of his surviving ships.
A west wind had caught many of the wrecks and carried them to the shore in Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica called Colias. Thus not only was all the rest of the oracle fulfilled which Bacis and Musaeus had spoken about this battle, but also what had been said many years before this in an oracle by Lysistratus, an Athenian soothsayer, concerning the wrecks carried to shore there. Its meaning had eluded all the Hellenes: The Colian women will cook with oars. But this was to happen after the king had marched away.
When Xerxes understood the calamity which had taken place, he feared that some of the Ionians might advise the Hellenes, if they did not think of it themselves, to sail to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont and destroy the bridges. He would be trapped in Europe (continent)Europe in danger of destruction, so he resolved on flight. He did not want to be detected either by the Hellenes or by his own men, so he attempted to build a dike across to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, and joined together Phoenician cargo ships to be both a bridge and a wall, making preparations as if to fight another sea battle.
All who saw him doing this confidently supposed that he fully intended to stay and fight there, but none of this eluded Mardonius, who had the most experience of the king's intentions. While doing all this, Xerxes sent a messenger to Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia to announce the disaster.
While Xerxes did thus, he sent a messenger to Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia with news of his present misfortune. Now there is nothing mortal that accomplishes a course more swiftly than do these messengers, by the Persians' skillful contrivance. It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day's journey. These are stopped neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.
The first rider delivers his charge to the second, the second to the third, and thence it passes on from hand to hand, even as in the Greek torch-bearers' race in honor of Hephaestus. This riding-post is called in Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia, angareion.
When the first message came to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, saying that Xerxes had taken Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, it gave such delight to the Persians who were left at home that they strewed all the roads with myrtle boughs and burnt incense and gave themselves up to sacrificial feasts and jollity.
The second, however, coming on the heels of the first, so confounded them that they all tore their tunics, and cried and lamented without ceasing, holding Mardonius to blame; it was not so much in grief for their ships that they did this as because they feared for Xerxes himself.
Such was the plight of the Persians for all the time until the coming of Xerxes himself ended it. Mardonius, however, seeing that Xerxes was greatly distressed because of the sea-fight, and suspecting that he planned flight from Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, thought that he would be punished for persuading the king to march against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and that it was better for him to risk the chance of either subduing Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas or dying honorably while engaged in a noble cause; yet his hope rather inclined to the subduing of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. Taking all this into account, he made this proposal:
“Sire, be not grieved nor greatly distressed because of what has befallen us. It is not on things of wood that the issue hangs for us, but on men and horses; furthermore, there is no one among these men, who thinks that he has now won a crowning victory and will disembark from his ship in an attempt to withstand you, no, nor anyone from this mainland. Those who have withstood us have paid the penalty.
If then you so desire, let us straightway attack the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, or if it pleases you to wait, that also we can do. Do not be downcast, for the Greeks have no way of escaping guilt for their former and their later deeds and from becoming your slaves. It is best then that you should do as I have said, but if you have resolved to lead your army away, even then I have another plan.
Do not, O king, make the Persians the laughing-stock of the Greeks, for if you have suffered harm, it is by no fault of the Persians. Nor can you say that we have anywhere done less than brave men should, and if Phoenicians and Egyptians and Cyprians and Cilicians have so done, it is not the Persians who have any part in this disaster.
Therefore, since the Persians are in no way to blame, be guided by me; if you are resolved not to remain, march homewards with the greater part of your army. It is for me, however, to enslave and deliver Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas to you with three hundred thousand of your host whom I will choose.”
When Xerxes heard that, he was as glad and joyful as a man in his situation might be and said to Mardonius that he would answer him after deliberating which of the two plans he would follow. When he consulted with those Persians whom he summoned, he resolved to send for Artemisia as well, because he saw that she alone at the former sitting had discerned what was best to do.
When Artemisia came, Xerxes bade all others withdraw, both Persian councillors and guards, and said to her: “It is Mardonius' advice that I should follow here and attack the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, for the Persians, he says, and the land army are not to blame for our disaster; of that they would willingly give proof.
Therefore he advises me to do this, or else he offers to choose three hundred thousand men of the army and deliver Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas to me enslaved, while I myself by his counsel march homeward with the rest of the host.
Now I ask of you, seeing that you correctly advised me against the late sea-fight, counsel me as to which of these two things would be best for me to do.”
When she was asked for advice, she replied: “It is difficult, O king, to answer your plea for advice by saying that which is best, but in the present turn of affairs I think it best that you march back and that Mardonius, if he so wishes and promises to do as he says, be left here with those whom he desires.
For if he subdues all that he offers to subdue and prospers in his design, the achievement, Sire, is yours since it will be your servants who have accomplished it. If, on the other hand, the issue is contrary to Mardonius' expectation, it is no great misfortune so long as you and all that household of yours are safe;
for while you and the members of your household are safe, many a time will the Greeks have to fight for their lives. As for Mardonius, if any disaster befalls him, it is does not much matter, nor will any victory of the Greeks be a real victory when they have but slain your servant. As for you, you will be marching home after the burning of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, which thing was the whole purpose of your expedition.”
Artemisia's counsel pleased Xerxes, for it happened that she spoke what he himself had in mind. In truth, I think that he would not have remained even if all men and women had counselled him so to do—so panic-stricken was he. Having then thanked Artemisia, he sent her away to take his sons to +Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Ephesus, for he had some bastard sons with him.
With these sons he sent Hermotimus as guardian. This man was by birth of +Pedasa [27.3833,37.0333] (Perseus) Pedasa, and the most honored by Xerxes of all his eunuchs. The people of +Pedasa [27.3833,37.0333] (Perseus) Pedasa dwell above Bodrum [27.466,37.5] (inhabited place), Mugla Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Halicarnassus. The following thing happens among these people: when anything untoward is about to befall those who dwell about their city, the priestess of Athena then grows a great beard. This had already happened to them twice.
Hermotimus, who came from +Pedasa [27.3833,37.0333] (Perseus) Pedasa, had achieved a fuller vengeance for wrong done to him than had any man whom we know. When he had been taken captive by enemies and put up for sale, he was bought by one Panionius of +Khios [26.116,38.383] (inhabited place), Chios, Khios, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Chios, a man who had set himself to earn a livelihood out of most wicked practices. He would procure beautiful boys and castrate and take them to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and +Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Ephesus where he sold them for a great price,
for the barbarians value eunuchs more than perfect men, by reason of the full trust that they have in them. Now among the many whom Panionius had castrated was Hermotimus, who was not entirely unfortunate; he was brought from Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis together with other gifts to the king, and as time went on, he stood higher in Xerxes' favor than any other eunuch.
Now while the king was at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and preparing to lead his Persian army against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, Hermotimus came for some business down to the part of +Mysia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Mysia which is inhabited by Chians and called +Atarneus [26.95,39.05] (Perseus) Atarneus. There he found Panionius.
Perceiving who he was, he held long and friendly converse with him, telling him that it was to him that he owed all this prosperity and promising that he would make him prosperous in return if he were to bring his household and dwell there. Panionius accepted his offer gladly, and brought his children and his wife.
When Hermotimus had gotten the man and all his household into his power, he said to him: “Tell me, you who have made a livelihood out of the wickedest trade on earth, what harm had I or any of my forefathers done to you or yours, that you made me to be no man, but a thing of nought? You no doubt thought that the gods would have no knowledge of your former practices, but their just law has brought you for your wicked deeds into my hands. Now you will be well content with the fullness of that justice which I will execute upon you.”
With these words of reproach, he brought Panionius' sons before him and compelled him to castrate all four of them—his own children; this Panionius was compelled to do. When he had done this, the sons were compelled to castrate their father in turn. This, then, was the way in which Panionius was overtaken by vengeance at the hands of Hermotimus.
Having given his sons to Artemisia's charge to be carried to +Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Ephesus, Xerxes called Mardonius to him and bade him choose whom he would from the army, and make his words good so far as endeavor availed. That is as far as matters went on that day; in the night, however, the admirals, by the king's command, put out to sea from Phalerum and made for the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont again with all speed to guard the bridges for the king's passage.
When the barbarians came near to the “Girdle” in their course, they thought that certain little headlands, which here jut out from the mainland, were ships, and they fled for a long way. When they learned at last that they were no ships but headlands, they drew together and went on their way.
When it was day, the Greeks saw the land army abiding where it had been and supposed the ships also to be at Phalerum. Thinking also that there would be a sea-fight they prepared to defend themselves. When, however, they learned that the ships were gone, they straightway resolved on pursuit; so they pursued Xerxes' fleet as far as +Andros [24.9,37.816] (inhabited place), Nisos Andros, Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Andros, but failed to catch sight of it. When they came to +Andros [24.9,37.816] (inhabited place), Nisos Andros, Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Andros, they held a council there.
Themistocles declared his opinion that they should hold their course through the islands, and having pursued the ships, should sail forthwith to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont to break the bridges. Eurybiades, on the other hand, offered a contrary opinion, saying that to break the bridges would be the greatest harm that they could do to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.
“For,” said he, “if the Persian is cut off and compelled to remain in Europe (continent)Europe, he will attempt not to be inactive. This he will do because if he remains inactive, he can neither make his cause prosper nor find any way of return home, but his army will perish of hunger. If, on the other hand, he is enterprising and active, it may well be that every town and nation in Europe (continent)Europe will join itself to him, by conquest or, before that, by compact. He will then live on whatever yearly fruits of the earth Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas produces.
But, as I think that the Persian will not remain in Europe (continent)Europe after his defeat in the sea-fight, let us permit him to flee to his own country. Thereafter let it be that country and not ours which is at stake in the war.” With that opinion the rest of the Peloponnesian admirals also agreed.
When Themistocles perceived that he could not persuade the greater part of them to sail to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont, he turned to the Athenians (for they were the angriest at the Persians' escape, and they were minded to sail to the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont even by themselves, if the rest would not) and addressed them as follows:
“This I have often seen with my eyes and heard yet more often, namely that beaten men, when they be driven to bay, will rally and retrieve their former mishap. Therefore I say to you,—as it is to a fortunate chance that we owe ourselves and Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, and have driven away so mighty a band of enemies—let us not pursue men who flee,
for it is not we who have won this victory, but the gods and the heroes, who deemed Asia (continent)Asia and Europe (continent)Europe too great a realm for one man to rule, and that a wicked man and an impious one who dealt alike with temples and bones, burning and overthrowing the images of the gods,—yes, and one who scourged the sea and threw fetters into it.