When the first message came to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, saying that Xerxes had taken Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, it gave such delight to the Persians who were left at home that they strewed all the roads with myrtle boughs and burnt incense and gave themselves up to sacrificial feasts and jollity.

The second, however, coming on the heels of the first, so confounded them that they all tore their tunics, and cried and lamented without ceasing, holding Mardonius to blame; it was not so much in grief for their ships that they did this as because they feared for Xerxes himself.