Histories

Herodotus

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

Now for this prophecy, which Mardonius said was spoken of the Persians, I know it to have been made concerning not them but the Illyrians and the army of the Enchelees.[*](Referring to a legendary expedition of these northwestern tribes, directed against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi in particular.) There is, however, a prophecy made by Bacis concerning this battle:

  1. By Thermodon's stream and the grass-grown banks of Asopus,
  2. Will be a gathering of Greeks for fight and the ring of the barbarian's war-cry;
  3. Many a Median archer, by death untimely overtaken will fall
  4. There in the battle when the day of his doom is upon him.
I know that these verses and others very similar to them from Musaeus referred to the Persians. As for the river Thermodon, it flows between +Tanagra [23.6,38.3083] (Perseus) Tanagra and +Glisas [23.4167,38.2833] (Perseus) Glisas.[*](A little to the northwest of Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes.)