Histories

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.

This was the course of their expedition into +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly, while the king was planning to cross into Europe (continent)Europe from Asia (continent)Asia and was already at Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos. The Thessalians, now bereft of their allies, sided with the Persian wholeheartedly and unequivocally. As a result of this they, in their acts, proved themselves to be most useful to the king.

When they had come to the Isthmus, the Greeks, taking into account what was said by Alexander, deliberated as a body how and where they should stand to fight. It was decided that they should guard the pass of +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae, for they saw that it was narrower than the pass into +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly and nearer home.