The horsemen rode at them and shot arrows and javelins among the whole Greek army to its great hurt, since they were mounted archers and difficult to deal with in an encounter; they spoiled and blocked the Gargaphian spring, from which the entire Greek army drew its water.

None indeed but the Lacedaemonians were posted near the spring, and it was far from the several stations of the other Greeks, whereas the Asopus was near; nevertheless, they would always go to the spring, since they were barred from the Asopus, not being able to draw water from that river because of the horsemen and the arrows.

When this happened, seeing that their army was cut off from water and thrown into confusion by the horsemen, the generals of the Greeks went to Pausanias on the right wing, and debated concerning this and other matters; for there were other problems which troubled them more than what I have told. They had no food left, and their followers whom they had sent into the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese to bring provisions had been cut off by the horsemen and could not make their way to the army.

So they resolved in their council that if the Persians held off through that day from giving battle, they would go to the Island.Several streams flow north or northwest from Cithaeron, and unite eventually form the small river Oeroe. Between two of these there is a long strip of land, which is perhaps the nh=sos; but it is not now actually surrounded by water, as Herodotus describes it. This is ten furlongs distant from the Asopus and the Gargaphian spring, near which their army then lay, and in front of the town of Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea.