the history-第107章

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d　Thermopylae。　　　　　Such　then　was　the　amount　of　the　entire　host　of　Xerxes。　As　for　the　number　of　the　women　who　ground　the　corn；　of　the　concubines；　and　the　eunuchs；　no　one　can　give　any　sure　account　of　it；　nor　can　the　baggage…horses　and　other　sumpter…beasts；　nor　the　Indian　hounds　which　followed　the　army；　be　calculated；　by　reason　of　their　multitude。　Hence　I　am　not　at　all　surprised　that　the　water　of　the　rivers　was　found　too　scant　for　the　army　in　some　instances；　rather　it　is　a　marvel　to　me　how　the　provisions　did　not　fail；　when　the　numbers　were　so　great。　For　I　find　on　calculation　that　if　each　man　consumed　no　more　than　a　choenix　of　corn　a　day；　there　must　have　been　used　daily　by　the　army　110；340　medimni；　and　this　without　counting　what　was　eaten　by　the　women；　the　eunuchs；　the　sumpter…beasts；　and　the　hounds。　Among　all　this　multitude　of　men　there　was　not　one　who；　for　beauty　and　stature；　deserved　more　than　Xerxes　himself　to　wield　so　vast　a　power。　　　　　The　fleet　then；　as　I　said；　on　leaving　Therma；　sailed　to　the　Magnesian　territory；　and　there　occupied　the　strip　of　coast　between　the　city　of　Casthanaea　and　Cape　Sepias。　The　ships　of　the　first　row　were　moored　to　the　land；　while　the　remainder　swung　at　anchor　further　off。　The　beach　extended　but　a　very　little　way；　so　that　they　had　to　anchor　off　the　shore；　row　upon　row；　eight　deep。　In　this　manner　they　passed　the　night。　But　at　dawn　of　day　calm　and　stillness　gave　place　to　a　raging　sea；　and　a　violent　storm；　which　fell　upon　them　with　a　strong　gale　from　the　east…　a　wind　which　the　people　in　those　parts　call　Hellespontias。　Such　of　them　as　perceived　the　wind　rising；　and　were　so　moored　as　to　allow　of　it；　forestalled　the　tempest　by　dragging　their　ships　up　on　the　beach；　and　in　this　way　saved　both　themselves　and　their　vessels。　But　the　ships　which　the　storm　caught　out　at　sea　were　driven　ashore；　some　of　them　near　the　place　called　Ipni；　or　〃The　Ovens；〃　at　the　foot　of　Pelion；　others　on　the　strand　itself；　others　again　about　Cape　Sepias；　while　a　portion　were　dashed　to　pieces　near　the　cities　of　Meliboea　and　Casthanaea。　There　was　no　resisting　the　tempest。　　　　　It　is　said　that　the　Athenians　had　called　upon　Boreas　to　aid　the　Greeks；　on　account　of　a　fresh　oracle　which　had　reached　them；　commanding　them　to　〃seek　help　from　their　son…in…law。〃　For　Boreas；　according　to　the　tradition　of　the　Greeks；　took　to　wife　a　woman　of　Attica；　viz。；　Orithyia；　the　daughter　of　Erechtheus。　So　the　Athenians；　as　the　tale　goes；　considering　that　this　marriage　made　Boreas　their　son…in…law；　and　perceiving；　while　they　lay　with　their　ships　at　Chalcis　of　Euboea；　that　the　wind　was　rising；　or；　it　may　be；　even　before　it　freshened；　offered　sacrifice　both　to　Boreas　and　likewise　to　Orithyia；　entreating　them　to　come　to　their　aid　and　to　destroy　the　ships　of　the　barbarians；　as　they　did　once　before　off　Mount　Athos。　Whether　it　was　owing　to　this　that　Boreas　fell　with　violence　on　the　barbarians　at　their　anchorage　I　cannot　say；　but　the　Athenians　declare　that　they　had　received　aid　from　Boreas　before；　and　that　it　was　he　who　now　caused　all　these　disasters。　They　therefore；　on　their　return　home；　built　a　temple　to　this　god　on　the　banks　of　the　Ilissus。　　　　　Such　as　put　the　loss　of　the　Persian　fleet　in　this　storm　at　the　lowest　say　that　four　hundred　of　their　ships　were　destroyed；　that　a　countless　multitude　of　men　were　slain；　and　a　vast　treasure　engulfed。　Ameinocles；　the　son　of　Cretines；　a　Magnesian；　who　farmed　land　near　Cape　Sepias；　found　the　wreck　of　these　vessels　a　source　of　great　gain　to　him；　many　were　the　gold　and　silver　drinking…cups；　cast　up　long　afterwards　by　the　surf；　which　he　gathered；　while　treasure…boxes　too　which　had　belonged　to　the　Persians；　and　golden　articles　of　all　kinds　and　beyond　count；　came　into　his　possession。　Ameinocles　grew　to　be　a　man　of　great　wealth　in　this　way；　but　in　other　respects　things　did　not　go　over　well　with　him：　he　too；　like　other　men；　had　his　own　grief…　the　calamity　of　losing　his　offspring。　　　　　As　for　the　number　of　the　provision　craft　and　other　merchant　ships　which　perished；　it　was　beyond　count。　Indeed；　such　was　the　loss；　that　the　commanders　of　the　sea　force；　fearing　lest　in　their　shattered　condition　the　Thessalians　should　venture　on　an　attack；　raised　a　lofty　barricade　around　their　station　out　of　the　wreck　of　the　vessels　cast　ashore。　The　storm　lasted　three　days。　At　length　the　Magians；　by　offering　victims　to　the　Winds；　and　charming　them　with　the　help　of　conjurers；　while　at　the　same　time　they　sacrificed　to　Thetis　and　the　Nereids；　succeeded　in　laying　the　storm　four　days　after　it　first　began；　or　perhaps　it　ceased　of　itself。　The　reason　of　their　offering　sacrifice　to　Thetis　was　this：　they　were　told　by　the　Ionians　that　here　was　the　place　whence　Peleus　carried　her　off；　and　that　the　whole　promontory　was　sacred　to　her　and　to　her　sister　Nereids。　So　the　storm　lulled　upon　the　fourth　day。　　　　　The　scouts　left　by　the　Greeks　about　the　highlands　of　Euboea　hastened　down　from　their　stations　on　the　day　following　that　whereon　the　storm　began；　and　acquainted　their　countrymen　with　all　that　had　befallen　the　Persian　fleet。　These　no　sooner　heard　what　had　happened　than　straightway　they　returned　thanks　to　Neptune　the　Saviour；　and　poured　libations　in　his　honour；　after　which　they　hastened　back　with　all　speed　to　Artemisium；　expecting　to　find　a　very　few　ships　left　to　oppose　them；　and　arriving　there　for　the　second　time；　took　up　their　station　on　that　strip　of　coast：　nor　from　that　day　to　the　present　have　they　ceased　to　address　Neptune　by　the　name　then　given　him；　of　〃Saviour。〃　　　　　The　barbarians；　when　the　wind　lulled　and　the　sea　grew　smooth；　drew　their　ships　down　to　the　water；　and　proceeded　to　coast　along　the　mainland。　Having　then　rounded　the　extreme　point　of　Magnesia；　they　sailed　straight　into　the　bay　that　runs　up　to　Pagasae。　There　is　a　place　in　this　bay；　belonging　to　Magnesia；　where　Hercules　is　said　to　have　been　put　ashore　to　fetch　water　by　Jason　and　his　companions；　who　then　deserted　him　and　went　on　their　way　to　Aea　in　Colchis；　on　board　the　ship　Argo；　in　quest　of　the　golden　fleece。　From　the　circumstance　that　they　intended；　after　watering　their　vessel　at　this　place；　to　quit　the　shore　and　launch　forth　into　the　deep；　it　received　the　name　of　Aphetae。　Here　then　it　was　that　the　fleet　of　Xerxes　came　to　an　anchor。　　　　　Fifteen　ships；　which　had　lagged　greatly　behind　the　rest；　happening　to　catch　sight　of　the　Greek　fleet　at　Artemisium；　mistook　it　for　their　own；　and　sailing　down　into　the　midst　of　it；　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。　The　commander　of　this　squadron　was　Sandoces；　the　son　of　Thamasius；　governor　of　Cyme；　in　Aeolis。　He　was　of　the　number　of　the　royal　judges；　and　had　been　crucified　by　Darius　some　time　before；　on　the　charge　of　taking　a　bribe　to　determine　a　cause　wrongly；　but　while　he　yet　hung　on　the　cross；　Darius　bethought　him　that　the　good　deeds　of　Sandoces　towards　the　king's　house　were　more　numerous　than　his　evil　deeds；　and　so；　confessing　that　he　had　acted　with　more　haste　than　wisdom；　he　ordered　him　to　be　taken　down　and　set　at　large。　Thus　Sandoces　escaped　destruction　at　the　hands　of　Darius；　and　was　alive　at　this　time；　but　he　was　not　fated　to　come　off　so　cheaply　from　his　second　peril；　for　as　soon　as　the　Greeks　saw　the　ships　making　towards　them；　they　guessed　their　mistake；　and　putting　to　sea；　took　them　without　difficulty。　　　　　Aridolis；　tyrant　of　Alabanda　in　Caria；　was　on　board　one　of　the　ships；　and　was　made　prisoner；　as　also　was　the　Paphian　general；　Penthylus；　the　son　of　Domonous；　who　was　on　board　another。　This　person　had　brought　with　him　twelve　ships　from　Paphos；　and；　after　losing　eleven　in　the　storm　off　Sepias；　was　taken　in　the　remaining　one　as　he　sailed　towards　Artemisium。　The　Greeks；　after　questioning　their　prisoners　as　much　as　they　wished　concerning　the　forces　of　Xerxes；　sent　them　away　in　chains　to　the　Isthmus　of　Corinth。　　　　　The　sea　force　of　the　barbarians；　with　the　exception　of　the　fifteen　ships　commanded　（as　I　said）　by　Sandoces；　came　safe　to　Aphetae。　Xerxes　meanwhile；　with　the　land　army；　had　proceeded　through　Thessaly　and　Achaea；　and　three　days　earlier；　had　entered　the　territory　of　the　Malians。　In　Thessaly；　he　matched　his　own　horses　against　the　Thessalian；　which　he　heard　were　the　best　in　Greece；　but　the　Greek　coursers　were　left　far　behind　in　the　race。　All　the　rivers　in　this　region　had　water　enough　to　supply　his　army；　except　only　the　Onochonus；　but　in　Achaea；　the　largest　of　the　streams；　the　Apidanus；　barely　held　out。　　　　　On　his　arrival　at　Alus　in　Achaea；　his　guides；　wishing　to　inform　him　of　everything；　told　him　the　tale　known　to　the　dwellers　in　those　parts　concerning　the　temple　of　the　Laphystian　Jupiter…　how　that　Athamas　the　son　of　Aeolus　took　counsel　with　Ino　and　plotted　the　death　of　Phrixus；　and　how　that　afterwards　the　Achaeans；　warned　by　an　oracle；　laid　a　forfeit　upon　his　posterity；　forbidding　the　eldest　of　the　race　ever　to　enter　into　the　court…house　（which　they　call　the　people's　house）；　and　keeping　watch　themselves　to　see　the　law　obeyed。　If　one　comes　within　the　doors；　he　can　never　go　out　again　except　to　be　sacrificed。　Further；　they　told　him　how　that　many　persons；　when　on　the　point　of　being　slain；　are　seized　with　such　fear　that　they　flee　away　and　take　refuge　in　some　other　country；　and　that　these；　if　they　come　back　long　afterwards；　and　are　found　to　be　the　persons　who　entered　the　court…house；　are　led　forth　covered　with　chaplets；　and　in　a　grand　procession；　and　are　sacrificed。　This　forfeit　is　paid　by　the　descendants　of　Cytissorus　the　son　of　Phrixus；　because；　when　the　Achaeans；　in　obedience　to　an　oracle；　made　Athamas　the　son　of　Aeolus　their　sin…offering；　and　were　about　to　slay　him；　Cytissorus　came　from　Aea　in　Colchis　and　rescued　Athamus；　by　which　deed　he　brought　the　anger　of　the　god　upon　his　own　posterity。　Xerxes；　therefore；　having　heard　this　story；　when　he　reached　the　grove　of　the　god；　avoided　it；　and　commanded　his　army　to　do　the　like。　He　also　paid　the　same　respect　to　the　house　and　precinct　of　the　descendants　of　Athamas。　　　　　Such　were　the　doing　of　Xerxes　in　Thessaly　and　in　Achaea；　From　hence　he　passed　on　into　Malis；　along　the　shores　of　a　bay；　in　which　there　is　an　ebb　and　flow　of　the　tide　daily。　By　the　side　of　this　bay　lies　a　piece　of　flat　land；　in　one　part　broad；　but　in　another　very　narrow　indeed；　around　which　runs　a　range　of　lofty　hills；　impossible　to　climb；　enclosing　all　Malis　within　them；　and　called　the　Trachinian　cliffs。　The　first　city　upon　the　bay；　as　you　come　from　Achaea；　is　Anticyra；　near　which　the　river　Spercheius；　flowing　down　from　the　country　of　the　Enianians；　empties　itself　into　the　sea。　About　twenty　furlongs　from　this　stream　there　is　a　second　river；　called　the　Dyras；　which　is　said　to　have　appeared　first　to　help　Hercules　when　he　was　burning。　Again；　at　the　distance　of　twenty　furlongs；　there　is　a　stream　called　the　Melas；　near　which；　within　about　five　furlongs；　stands　the　city　of　Trachis。　　　　　At　the　point　where　this　city　is　built；　the　plain　between　the　hills　and　the　sea　is　broader　than　at　any　other；　for　it　there　measures　22；000　plethra。　South　of　Trachis　there　is　a　cleft　in　the　mountain…range　which　shuts　in　the　territory　of　Trachinia；　and　the　river　Asopus　issuing　from　this　cleft　flows　for　a　while　along　the　foot　of　the　hills。　　　　　Further　to　the　south；　another　river；　called　the　Phoenix；　which　has　no　great　body　of　water；　flows　from　the　same　hills；　and　falls　into　the　Asopus。　Here　is　the　narrowest