Histories

So this part of the barbarian army marched as I have said, and others set forth with guides for the temple at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, keeping +Parnassus (mountain), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Parnassus on their right. These, too, laid waste to every part of +Phocis (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Phocis which they occupied, burning the towns of the Panopeans and Daulii and Aeolidae.

The purpose of their parting from the rest of the army and marching this way was that they might plunder the temple at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi and lay its wealth before Xerxes, who (as I have been told) had better knowledge of the most notable possessions in the temple than of what he had left in his own palace, chiefly the offerings of Croesus son of Alyattes; so many had always spoken of them.

When the Delphians learned all this, they were very much afraid, and in their great fear they inquired of the oracle whether they should bury the sacred treasure in the ground or take it away to another country. The god told them to move nothing, saying that he was able to protect what belonged to him.

Upon hearing that, the Delphians took thought for themselves. They sent their children and women overseas to +Achaea [21.75,38.25] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Achaia. Most of the men went up to the peaks of +Parnassus (mountain), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Parnassus and carried their goods into the Corycian cave, but some escaped to +Amphissa [22.3833,38.525] (Perseus) Amphissa in +Lokris (region (general)), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Locris. In short, all the Delphians left the town save sixty men and the prophet.

Now when the barbarians drew near and could see the temple, the prophet, whose name was Aceratus, saw certain sacred arms, which no man might touch without sacrilege, brought out of the chamber within and laid before the shrine.