Histories

Thereupon the Greeks resolved that they would send a land army to +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly by sea to guard the pass. When the forces had assembled, they passed through the Euripus and came to Alus in +Achaea [21.75,38.25] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Achaea, where they disembarked and took the road for +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly, leaving their ships where they were. They then came to the pass of Tempe, which runs from the lower[*](As opposed to the hill country further inland.) Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia into +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly along the river Peneus, between the mountains +Olympus (mountain), Nomos Larisis, Thessaly, Greece, Europe Olympus and Ossa.

There the Greeks were encamped, about ten thousand men-at-arms altogether, and the cavalry was there as well. The general of the Lacedaemonians was Euaenetus son of Carenus, chosen from among the Polemarchs, yet not of the royal house, and Themistocles son of Neocles was the general of the Athenians.

They remained there for only a few days, for messengers came from Alexander son of Amyntas, the Macedonian. These, pointing out the size of the army and the great number of ships, advised them to depart and not remain there to be trodden under foot by the invading host. When they had received this advice from the messengers (as they thought their advice was sound and that the Macedonian meant well by them), the Greeks followed their counsel.

To my thinking, however, what persuaded them was fear, since they had found out that there was another pass leading into +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly by the hill country of Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia through the country of the Perrhaebi, near the town of Gonnus; this was indeed the way by which Xerxes' army descended on +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly. The Greeks accordingly went down to their ships and made their way back to the Isthmus.