the history-第146章
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ed with respect to the barbarian； earned their everlasting gratitude。 This done； they raised an altar to the winds at Thyia （where Thyia； the daughter of Cephissus； from whom the region takes its name； has a precinct）； and worshipped them with sacrifices。 And even to the present day the Delphians sacrifice to the winds； because of this oracle。 The fleet of Xerxes now departed from Therma； and ten of the swiftest sailing ships ventured to stretch across direct for Sciathus； at which place there were upon the look…out three vessels belonging to the Greeks； one a ship of Troezen； another of Egina； and the third from Athens。 These vessels no sooner saw from a distance the barbarians approaching than they all hurriedly took to flight。 The barbarians at once pursued； and the Troezenian ship； which was commanded by Prexinus； fell into their hands。 Hereupon the Persians took the handsomest of the men…at…arms； and drew him to the prow of the vessel； where they sacrificed him； for they thought the man a good omen to their cause； seeing that he was at once so beautiful； and likewise the first captive they had made。 The man who was slain in this way was called Leo； and it may be that the name he bore helped him to his fate in some measure。 The Eginetan trireme； under its captain； Asonides； gave the Persians no little trouble； one of the men…at…arms； Pythes； the son of Ischenous； distinguishing himself beyond all the others who fought that day。 After the ship was taken this man continued to resist； and did not cease fighting till he fell quite covered with wounds。 The Persians who served as men…at…arms in the squadron； finding that he was not dead； but still breathed； and being very anxious to save his life； since he had behaved so valiantly； dressed his wounds with myrrh； and bound them up with bandages of cotton。 Then； when they were returned to their own station； they displayed their prisoner admiringly to the whole host； and behaved towards him with much kindness； but all the rest of the ship's crew were treated merely as slaves。 Thus did the Persians succeed in taking two of the vessels。 The third； a trireme commanded by Phormus of Athens； took to flight and ran aground at the mouth of the river Peneus。 The barbarians got possession of the bark but not of the men。 For the Athenians had no sooner run their vessel aground than they leapt out； and made their way through Thessaly back to Athens。 When the Greeks stationed at Artemisium learnt what had happened by fire…signals from Sciathus； so terrified were they； that； quitting their anchorage…ground at Artemisium； and leaving scouts to watch the foe on the highlands of Euboea； they removed to Chalcis； intending to guard the Euripus。 Meantime three of the ten vessels sent forward by the barbarians advanced as far as the sunken rock between Sciathus and Magnesia； which is called 〃The Ant；〃 and there set up a stone pillar which they had brought with them for that purpose。 After this； their course being now clear； the barbarians set sail with all their ships from Therma； eleven days from the time that the king quitted the town。 The rock； which lay directly in their course； had been made known to them by Pammon of Scyros。 A day's voyage without a stop brought them to Sepias in Magnesia； and to the strip of coast which lies between the town of Casthanaea and the promontory of Sepias。 As far as this point then； and on land； as far as Thermopylae； the armament of Xerxes had been free from mischance； and the numbers were still； according to my reckoning； of the following amount。 First there was the ancient complement of the twelve hundred and seven vessels which came with the king from Asia… the contingents of the nations severally… amounting； if we allow to each ship a crew of two hundred men； to 241；400… Each of these vessels had on board； besides native soldiers； thirty fighting men； who were either Persians； Medes； or Sacans； which gives an addition of 36；210。 To these two numbers I shall further add the crews of the penteconters； which may be reckoned； one with another； at fourscore men each。 Of such vessels there were （as I said before） three thousand； and the men on board them accordingly would be 240；000。 This was the sea force brought by the king from Asia； and it amounted in all to 517；610 men。 The number of the foot soldiers was 1；700；000； that of the horsemen 80；000； to which must be added the Arabs who rode on camels； and the Libyans who fought in chariots； whom I reckon at 20；000。 The whole number； therefore； of the land and sea forces added together amounts to 2；317；610 men。 Such was the force brought from Asia； without including the camp followers； or taking any account of the provision… ships and the men whom they had on board。 To the amount thus reached we have still to add the forces gathered in Europe； concerning which I can only speak from conjecture。 The Greeks dwelling in Thrace； and in the islands off the coast of Thrace； furnished to the fleet one hundred and twenty ships； the crews of which would amount to 24；000 men。 Besides these； footmen were furnished by the Thracians； the Paeonians； the Eordians； the Bottiaeans； by the Chalcidean tribes； by the Brygians； the Pierians； the Macedonians； the Perrhaebians the Enianians； the Dolopians； the Magnesians； the Achaeans and by all the dwellers upon the Thracian sea…board； and the forces of these nations amounted； I believe； to three hundred thousand men。 These numbers； added to those of the force which came out of Asia； make the sum of the fighting men 2；641；610。 Such then being the number of the fighting men； it is my belief that the attendants who followed the camp； together with the crews of the corn…barks； and of the other craft accompanying the army； made up an amount rather above than below that of the fighting men。 However I will not reckon them as either fewer or more； but take them at an equal number。 We have therefore to add to the sum already reached an exactly equal amount。 This will give 5；283；220 as the whole number of men brought by Xerxes； the son of Darius； as far as Sepias and 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
