Histories

this, then, was the primary reason for their precaution long before[*](As a matter of fact the Thessalians had determined on their policy very recently indeed; but Xerxes apparently supposes that they had resolved to join him from the first.) when they changed to a better mind, for they perceived that their country would be easily and speedily conquerable. It would only have been necessary to let the river out over their land by barring the channel with a dam and to turn it from its present bed so that the whole of +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly, with the exception of the mountains, might be under water.”