Histories

If you do not do this, we will immediately gather up our households and travel to +Siris [15.6333,40.0667] (Perseus) Siris in Italy [12.833,42.833] (nation), Europe Italy, which has been ours since ancient times, and the prophecies say we must found a colony there. You will remember these words when you are without such allies.”

When Themistocles said this, Eurybiades changed his mind. I think he did so chiefly out of fear that the Athenians might desert them if they set sail for the Isthmus. If the Athenians left, the rest would be no match for the enemy, so he made the choice to remain there and fight.