Histories

A few days after the Persians' coming to Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes, a thousand Phocian men-at-arms under the leadership of Harmocydes, the most notable of their countrymen, arrived. When these men too were in Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes, Mardonius sent horsemen and bade the Phocians take their station on the plain by themselves.

When they had done so, the whole of the Persian cavalry appeared, and presently word was spread through all of the Greek army which was with Mardonius, and likewise among the Phocians themselves, that Mardonius would shoot them to death with javelins.

Then their general Harmocydes exhorted them: “Men of +Phocis (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Phocis,” he said, “seeing that death at these fellows' hands is staring us in the face (we being, as I surmise, maligned by the Thessalians), it is now time for every one of you to be noble; for it is better to end our lives in action and fighting than tamely to suffer a shameful death. No, rather we will teach them that they whose slaying they have devised are men of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.” Thus he exhorted them.