So the Greeks remained in +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea and fought there; this came about as I will now reveal. Having arrived at +Aphetae [23.1167,39.1167] (Perseus) Aphetae in the early part of the afternoon, the barbarians saw for themselves the few Greek ships that they had already heard were stationed off +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium, and they were eager to attack so that they might take them.

They were not prepared to make a head-on attack since they feared that the Greeks would see them coming and turn to flee with night close upon them as they fled; it was their belief that the Greeks would save themselves by flight, and they did not want even so much as a firebearer to be saved.