Histories

At the request of the Athenians, the fleet of the Hellenes came from +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium and put in at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis. The Athenians requested them to put in at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis so that they take their children and women out of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica and also take counsel what they should do. They had been disappointed in their plans, so they were going to hold a council about the current state of affairs.

They expected to find the entire population of the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia awaiting the barbarian, but they found no such thing. They learned that they were fortifying the Isthmus instead and considered the defense of the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese the most important thing, disregarding all the rest. When the Athenians learned this, they asked the fleet to put in at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis.

While the others put in at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, the Athenians landed in their own country. When they arrived, they made a proclamation that every Athenian should save his children and servants as he best could. Thereupon most of them sent the members of their households to Troizen [23.375,37.5] (Perseus)Troezen, and some to +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina and Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis.

They were anxious to get everything out safely because they wished to obey the oracle, and also not least because of this: the Athenians say that a great snake lives in the sacred precinct guarding the acropolis. They say this and even put out monthly offerings for it as if it really existed. The monthly offering is a honey-cake.

In all the time before this the honey-cake had been consumed, but this time it was untouched. When the priestess interpreted the significance of this, the Athenians were all the more eager to abandon the city since the goddess had deserted the acropolis. When they had removed everything to safety, they returned to the camp.