Histories

As far as I can judge by conjecture, Xerxes gave the command for this digging out of pride, wishing to display his power and leave a memorial; with no trouble they could have drawn their ships across the isthmus, yet he ordered them to dig a canal from sea to sea, wide enough to float two triremes rowed abreast. The same men who were assigned the digging were also assigned to join the banks of the river Strymon by a bridge.

Thus Xerxes did this. He assigned the Phoenicians and Egyptians to make ropes of papyrus and white flax for the bridges,[*](leuko/linon is apparently not really flax but “Esparto grass,” imported from Spain [-4.000,40.000] (nation), EuropeSpain by the Phoenicians.) and to store provisions for his army, so that neither the army nor the beasts of burden would starve on the march to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.

After making inquiry, he ordered them to store it in the most fitting places, carrying it to the various places from all parts of Asia (continent)Asia in cargo ships and transports. They brought most of it to the White Headland (as it is called) in Thrace (region (general)), EuropeThrace; some were dispatched to Tyrodiza in the Perinthian country or to Doriscus, others to Eion on the Strymon or to Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia.

While these worked at their appointed task, all the land force had been mustered and was marching with Xerxes to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, setting forth from Critalla in +Cappadocia [36,38.5] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Cappadocia, which was the place appointed for gathering all the army that was to march with Xerxes himself by land.