Histories

This was like that other saying of Xerxes when he was at Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos and saw ships laden with corn sailing out of the +Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Pontus through the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont on their way to +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina and the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese. His counsellors, perceiving that they were enemy ships, were for taking them, and looked to the king for orders to do so.

Xerxes, however, asked them where the ships were sailing, and they answered: “To your enemies, Sire, carrying corn.” Xerxes then answered, “And are not we too sailing to the same places as they, with corn among all our other provisions? What wrong are they doing us in carrying food there?”

So the spies were sent back after they had seen all and returned to Europe (continent)Europe. After sending the spies, those of the Greeks who had sworn alliance against the Persian next sent messengers to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos.