Histories

The Magi interpreted it in this way, and immediately every single man of the Persians who had been assembled rode away to his own province and there used all zeal to fulfill the kings command, each desiring to receive the promised gifts. Thus it was that Xerxes mustered his army, searching out every part of the continent.

For full four years[*](484-481.) after the conquest of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt he was equipping his force and preparing all that was needed for it; before the fifth year was completed, he set forth on his march with the might of a great multitude.

This was by far the greatest of all expeditions that we know of. The one that Darius led against the Scythians is nothing compared to it; neither is the Scythian expedition when they burst into Media[*](Cp. Hdt. 1.103; Hdt. 4.1.) in pursuit of the Cimmerians and subdued and ruled almost all the upper lands of Asia (continent)Asia (it was for this that Darius afterwards attempted to punish them). According to the reports, the expedition led by the sons of Atreus against +Troy [26.2833,39.9167] (Perseus) Troy is also nothing by comparison; neither is the one of the Mysians and Teucrians which before the Trojan war crossed the +Karadeniz Bogazi (strait), Istanbul, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Bosporus into Europe (continent)Europe,[*](It seems fairly clear that there was some sort of movement from the one continent to the other; Herodotus makes it from Asia (continent)Asia to Europe (continent)Europe; but on the evidence it is just as likely to have been the other way. See How and Wells, ad loc.) subdued all the Thracians, and came down to the +Ionian Sea [19,39] (sea), Europe Ionian sea, marching southward as far as the river Peneus.

All these expeditions and whatever others have happened in addition could not together be compared with this single one. For what nation did Xerxes not lead from Asia (continent)Asia against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas? What water did not fail when being drunk up, except only the greatest rivers?