Histories

So the foreign fleet, of which, with the exception of fifteen ships Sandoces was captain, came to +Aphetae [23.1167,39.1167] (Perseus) Aphetae. Xerxes and his land army marched through +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly and +Achaea [21.75,38.25] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Achaea, and it was three days since he had entered Malis. In +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly he held a race for his own cavalry; this was also a test of the Thessalian horsemen, whom he had heard were the best in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. The Greek horses were far outpaced in this contest. Of the Thessalian rivers, the Onochonus was the only one which could not provide enough water for his army to drink. In +Achaea [21.75,38.25] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Achaea, however, even the greatest river there, the Apidanus,[*](The Apidanus and Enipeus unite; the whole stream, a tributary of the Peneus, is sometimes called Apidanus and sometimes Enipeus.) gave out, remaining but a sorry trickle.

When Xerxes had come to Alus in +Achaea [21.75,38.25] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Achaea, his guides, desiring to inform him of all they knew, told him the story which is related in that country concerning the worship of Laphystian Zeus, namely how Athamas son of Aeolus plotted Phrixus' death with Ino, and further, how the Achaeans by an oracle's bidding compel Phrixus descendants to certain tasks.

They order the eldest of that family not to enter their town-hall (which the Achaeans call the People's House)[*](From lew/s or lho/s.) and themselves keep watch there. If he should enter, he may not come out, save only to be sacrificed. They say as well that many of those who were to be sacrificed had fled in fear to another country, and that if they returned at a later day and were taken, they were brought into the town-hall. The guides showed Xerxes how the man is sacrificed, namely with fillets covering him all over and a procession to lead him forth.