Histories

After he saw it and asked about everything there, he sacrificed a thousand cattle to Athena of Troy [26.25,39.95] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, AsiaIlium, and the Magi offered libations to the heroes. After they did this, a panic fell upon the camp in the night. When it was day they journeyed on from there, keeping on their left the cities of Rhoetium and Ophryneum and Dardanus, which borders Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos,[*](It was about nine miles from Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos.) and on their right the Teucrian Gergithae.

When they were at Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos, Xerxes wanted to see the whole of his army. A lofty seat of white stone had been set up for him on a hill[*](Probably what is called Mal-Tepe, on the promontory of Nagara.) there for this very purpose, built by the people of Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos at the king's command. There he sat and looked down on the seashore, viewing his army and his fleet; as he viewed them he desired to see the ships contend in a race. They did so, and the Phoenicians of Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon won; Xerxes was pleased with the race and with his expedition.

When he saw the whole Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont covered with ships, and all the shores and plains of Abydus [26.416,40.2] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Abydos full of men, Xerxes first declared himself blessed, and then wept.

His uncle Artabanus perceived this, he who in the beginning had spoken his mind freely and advised Xerxes not to march against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. Marking how Xerxes wept, he questioned him and said, “O king, what a distance there is between what you are doing now and a little while ago! After declaring yourself blessed you weep.”

Xerxes said, “I was moved to compassion when I considered the shortness of all human life, since of all this multitude of men not one will be alive a hundred years from now.”