Kitap 9
When Alexander returned and told him what he had heard from the Athenians, Mardonius set forth from +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly and led his army with all zeal against Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens;In the summer of 479. Mardonius occupied Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens in July. he also took with him all the people to whose countries he came along the way. The rulers of +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly did not repent of what they had already done and were readier than before to further his march. Thorax of Larissa, who had given Xerxes safe-conduct in his flight, now, without any attempt of concealment, opened a passage for Mardonius into Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.
But when, in the course of its march, the army had come into Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, the Thebans attempted to stay Mardonius, advising him that he could find no country better fitted than theirs for encampment; he should not (they begged) go further, but rather halt there and subdue all Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas without fighting.
As long as the Greeks who were previously in accord remained so, it would be difficult even for the whole world to overcome them by force of arms; “but if you do as we advise,” said the Thebans, “you will without trouble be master of all their battle plans.
Send money to the men who have power in their cities, and thereby you will divide Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas against itself; after that, with your partisans to aid you, you will easily subdue those who are your adversaries.”
Such was their counsel, but he would not follow it. What he desired was to take Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens once more; this was partly out of mere perversity, and partly because he intended to signify to the king at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis by a line of beacons across the islands that he held Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens.
When he came to Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica, however, he found the city as unpopulated as before, for, as he learned, the majority of them were on shipboard at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis. So he took the city, but without any of its men. There were ten months between the kings taking of the place and the later invasion of Mardonius.
When Mardonius came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, he sent to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis a certain Murychides, a man from Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont, bearing the same offer as Alexander the Macedonian had ferried across to the Athenians.
He sent this for the second time because although he already knew the Athenians' unfriendly purpose, he expected that they would abandon their stubbornness now that Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica was the captive of his spear and lay at his mercy.
For this reason he sent Murychides to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis who came before the council and conveyed to them Mardonius message. Then Lycidas, one of the councillors, said that it seemed best to him to receive the offer brought to them by Murychides and lay it before the people.
This was the opinion which he declared, either because he had been bribed by Mardonius, or because the plan pleased him. The Athenians in the council were, however, very angry; so too were those outside when they heard of it. They made a ring round Lycidas and stoned him to death. Murychides the Hellespontian, however, they permitted to depart unharmed.
There was much noise at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis over the business of Lycidas; and when the Athenian women learned what was afoot, one calling to another and bidding her follow, they went on their own impetus to the house of Lycidas and stoned to death his wife and his children.
Now this was how the Athenians had crossed over to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis. As long as they expected that the Peloponnesian army would come to their aid, they remained in Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica. But when the Peloponnesians took longer and longer to act and the invader was said to be in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia already, they then conveyed all their goods out of harms way and themselves crossed over to Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis. They also sent envoys to Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, who were to upbraid the Lacedaemonians for permitting the barbarian to invade Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica and not helping the Athenians to meet him in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia; and who were to remind the Lacedaemonians of the promises which the Persian had made to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens if she would change sides, and warn them that the Athenians would devise some means of salvation for themselves if the Lacedaemonians sent them no help.
The Lacedaemonians were at this time celebrating the festival of Hyacinthus,A festival said to be of pre-Dorian origin, commemorating the killing of Hyacinthus by Apollo. and their chief concern was to give the god his due; moreover, the wall which they were building on the Isthmus was by now getting its battlements. When the Athenian envoys arrived in Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, bringing with them envoys from +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara and Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea, they came before the ephors and said:
“The Athenians have sent us with this message: the king of the Medes is ready to give us back our country, and to make us his confederates, equal in right and standing, in all honor and honesty, and to give us whatever land we ourselves may choose besides our own.
But we, since we do not want to sin against Zeus the god of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and think it shameful to betray Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, have not consented. This we have done despite the fact that the Greeks are dealing with us wrongfully and betraying us to our hurt; furthermore, we know that it is more to our advantage to make terms with the Persians than to wage war with him, yet we will not make terms with him of our own free will. For our part, we act honestly by the Greeks;
but what of you, who once were in great dread lest we should make terms with the Persian? Now that you have a clear idea of our sentiments and are sure that we will never betray Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, and now that the wall which you are building across the Isthmus is nearly finished, you take no account of the Athenians, but have deserted us despite all your promises that you would withstand the Persian in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, and have permitted the barbarian to march into Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica.
For the present, then, the Athenians are angry with you since you have acted in a manner unworthy of you. Now they ask you to send with us an army with all speed, so that we may await the foreigner's onset in Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica; since we have lost Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, in our own territory the most suitable place for a battle is the Thriasian plain.”
When the ephors heard that, they delayed answering till the next day, and again till the day after. This they did for ten days, putting it off from day to day. In the meantime all the Peloponnesians were doing all they could to fortify the Isthmus, and they had nearly completed the task.
I cannot say for certain why it was that when Alexander the Macedonian came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens cp. Hdt. 8.135 the Lacedaemonians insisted that the Athenians should not join the side of the Persian, yet now took no account of that; it may be that with the Isthmus fortified, they thought they had no more need of the Athenians, whereas when Alexander came to Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica, their wall was not yet built and they were working at this in great fear of the Persians.
The nature of their response was as follows: on the day before the final hearing of the Athenian delegation, Chileus, a man of Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea, who had more authority with the Lacedaemonians than any other of their guests, learned from the ephors all that the Athenians had said.
Upon hearing this he, as the tale goes, said to the ephors, “Sirs, if the Athenians are our enemies and the barbarians allies, then although you push a strong wall across the Isthmus, a means of access into the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese lies wide open for the Persian. No, give heed to what they say before the Athenians take some new resolve which will bring calamity to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.”
This was the counsel he gave the ephors, who straightway took it to heart. Without saying a word to the envoys who had come from the cities, they ordered five thousand Spartans to march before dawn. Seven helots were appointed to attend each of them, and they gave the command to Pausanias son of Cleombrotus.
The leader's place rightfully belonged to Pleistarchus son of Leonidas, but he was still a boy, and Pausanias his guardian and cousin. Cleombrotus, Pausanias' father and Anaxandrides' son, was no longer living.
After he led the army which had built the wall away from the Isthmus, he lived but a little while before his death. The reason for Cleombrotus leading his army away from the Isthmus was that while he was offering sacrifice for victory over the Persian, the sun was darkened in the heavens. Pausanias chose as his colleague a man of the same family,His cousin; Euryanax was son of Dorieus, who was a brother of Pausanias father Cleombrotus. Euryanax son of Dorieus.
So Pausanias' army had marched away from Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta; but as soon as it was day, the envoys came before the ephors, having no knowledge of the expedition, and being minded themselves too to depart each one to his own place. When they arrived, “You Lacedaemonians,” they said, “remain where you are, observing your Hyacinthia and celebrating, leaving your allies deserted. For the wrong that you do them and for lack of allies, the Athenians, will make their peace with the Persian as best they can,
and thereafter, in so far as we will be king's allies, we will march with him against whatever land his men lead us. Then will you learn what the issue of this matter will be for you.” In response to this the ephors swore to them that they believed their army to be even now at Orestheum,Other references place Orestheum N.W. of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, therefore hardly on the direct route to the Isthmus. marching against the “strangers,” as they called the barbarians.
Having no knowledge of this, the envoys questioned them further as to the meaning of this and thereby learned the whole truth; they marvelled at this and hastened with all speed after the army. With them went five thousand men-at-arms of the Lacedaemonian countrymen.Inhabitants of the country districts of +Laconia [22.583,37] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Laconia, not enjoying the full privileges of Spartans.
So they made haste to reach the Isthmus. The Argives, however, had already promised Mardonius that they would prevent the Spartans from going out to war. As soon as they were informed that Pausanias and his army had departed from Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, they sent as their herald to Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica the swiftest runner of long distances whom they could find.
When he came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, he spoke to Mardonius in the following manner: “I have been sent by the Argives to tell you that the young men have gone out from Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon to war, and that the Argives cannot prevent them from so doing; therefore, make plans accordingly.”
So spoke the herald, and went back again. When Mardonius heard that, he no longer desired to remain in Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica. Before he had word of it, he had held his land, desiring to know the Athenians' plan and what they would do; he neither harmed nor harried the land of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica, for he still supposed that they would make terms with him.
But when he could not prevail upon them and learned the truth of the matter, he withdrew before Pausanias' army prior to its entering the Isthmus. First, however, he burnt Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, and utterly overthrew and demolished whatever wall or house or temple was left standing.
The reason for his marching away was that Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica was not a land fit for horses, and if he should be defeated in a battle, there was no way of retreat save one so narrow that a few men could prevent his passage.He would have to retreat into Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia by way of the pass over Cithaeron. He therefore planned to retreat to Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes and do battle where he had a friendly city at his back and ground suitable for horsemen.
So Mardonius drew his men off, and when he had now set forth on his road there came a message that in addition to the others, an advance guard of a thousand Lacedaemonians had arrived at +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara. When he heard this, he deliberated how he might first make an end of these. He accordingly turned about and led his army against +Megara [23.35,38] (Perseus) Megara, his cavalry going first and overrunning the lands of that city. That was the westernmost place in Europe (continent)Europe which this Persian army reached.
Presently there came a message to Mardonius that the Greeks were gathered together on the Isthmus. Thereupon he marched back again through Decelea; the rulers of Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia sent for those of the Asopus country who lived nearby, and these guided him to Sphendalae and from there to +Tanagra [23.6,38.3083] (Perseus) Tanagra.
Here he camped for the night, and on the next day he turned from there to Scolus, where he was in Theban territory. There he laid waste the lands of the Thebans, though they sided with the Persian part. This he did, not for any ill-will that he bore them, but because sheer necessity drove him to make a stronghold for his army and to have this for a refuge if the fortune of battle were other than he wished.
His army, stationed along the Asopus river, covered the ground from Erythrae past Hysiae and up to the lands of Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea. I do not mean to say that the walled camp which he made was of this size; each side of it was of a length of about ten furlongs.
While the barbarians were engaged in this task, Attaginus son of Phrynon, a Theban, made great preparations and invited Mardonius with fifty who were the most notable of the Persians to be his guests at a banquet. They came as they were bidden; the dinner was held at Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes. What follows was told me by Thersander of Orkhomenos (deserted settlement), Boeotia, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeOrchomenus, one of the most notable men of that place. Thersander too (he said) was invited to this dinner, and fifty Thebans in addition. Attaginus made them sit, not each man by himself but on each couch a Persian and a Theban together.
Now as they were drinking together after dinner, the Persian who sat with him asked Thersander in the Greek tongue from what country he was. Thersander answered that he was from Orkhomenos (deserted settlement), Boeotia, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeOrchomenus. Then said the Persian: “Since you have eaten at the board with me and drunk with me afterwards, I would like to leave a memorial of my belief, so that you yourself may have such knowledge as to take fitting counsel for your safety.
Do you see these Persians at the banquet and that host which we left encamped by the river side? In a little while you shall see but a small remnant left alive of all these.” As he said this, the Persian wept bitterly.
Marvelling at these words, Thersander answered: “Must you not then tell this to Mardonius and those honorable Persians who are with him?” “Sir,” said the Persian, “that which a god wills to send no man can turn aside, for even truth sometimes finds no one to believe it.