Histories

Herodotus

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

for Bacis' oracle concerning this matter runs as follows

  1. When a strange-tongued man casts a yoke of papyrus on the waves,
  2. Then take care to keep bleating goats far from the coasts of +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea
To these verses the Euboeans gave no heed; but in the evils then present and soon to come they suffered the greatest calamity.

While the Greeks were doing as I have said, there came to them their lookout from +Trachis [22.55,38.8] (Perseus) Trachis. There was a scout at +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium, one Polyas, a native of Anticyra, who was charged (and had a rowing boat standing ready for it), if the fleet should suffer a reverse to declare it to the men at +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae. Similarly, if any ill should befall the land army, Abronichus son of Lysicles, an Athenian, was with Leonidas, ready for his part to bring the news in a thirty-oared bark to the Greeks at +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium.

So this Abronichus came and declared to them the fate of Leonidas and his army. When the Greeks learned this, they no longer delayed their departure but went their ways in their appointed order, the Corinthians first and last of all the Athenians.

Themistocles, however, picked out the seaworthiest Athenian ships and made his way to the places where drinking water could be found. Here he engraved on the rocks words which the Ionians read on the next day when they came to +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium. This was what the writing said: “Men of Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia, you do wrongly to fight against the land of your fathers and bring slavery upon Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.

It would best for you to join yourselves to us, but if that should be impossible for you, then at least now withdraw from the war, and entreat the Carians to do the same as you. If neither of these things may be and you are fast bound by such constraint that you cannot rebel, yet we ask you not to use your full strength in the day of battle. Remember that you are our sons and that our quarrel with the barbarian was of your making in the beginning.”