Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

After he arrived in Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he first sent heralds to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas to demand earth and water and to command the preparation of meals for the king. He sent demands for earth everywhere except to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens and Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon. The reason for his sending for earth and water the second time was this: he fully believed that whoever had not previously given it to Darius' messengers would now be compelled to give by fear; so he sent out of desire to know this for certain.