Greece -- History -- To 146 B.C.; History, Ancient
109. Having crossed over the bed of the river Lisos after it had been
dried up, he passed by these Hellenic cities, namely Maroneia, Dicaia
and Abdera. These I say he passed by, and also the following lakes of
note lying near them,--the Ismarian lake, lying between Maroneia and
Stryme; the Bistonian lake near Dicaia, into which two rivers pour their
waters, the Trauos 99 and the Compsantos; 100 and at Abdera no lake
indeed of any note was passed by Xerxes, but the river Nestos, which
flows there into the sea. Then after passing these places he went by the
cities of the mainland, 101 near one of which there is, as it chances,
a lake of somewhere about thirty furlongs in circumference, abounding in
fish and very brackish; this the baggage-animals alone dried up, being
watered at it: and the name of this city is Pistyros. 102
110. These cities, I say, lying by the sea coast and belonging to
Hellenes, he passed by, leaving them on the left hand; and the tribes of
Thracians through whose country he marched were as follows, namely
the Paitians, Kikonians, Bistonians, Sapaians, Dersaians, Edonians,
Satrians. Of these they who were settled along the sea coast accompanied
him with their ships, and those of them who dwelt inland and have been
enumerated by me, were compelled to accompany him on land, except the
Satrians:
111, the Satrians however never yet became obedient to any man, so far
as we know, but they remain up to my time still free, alone of all the
Thracians; for they dwell in lofty mountains, which are covered with
forest of all kinds and with snow, and also they are very skilful in
war. These are they who possess the Oracle of Dionysos; which Oracle is
on their most lofty mountains. Of the Satrians those who act as prophets
103 of the temple are the Bessians; it is a prophetess 104 who utters
the oracles, as at Delphi; and beyond this there is nothing further of a
remarkable character. 105
112. Xerxes having passed over the land which has been spoken of, next
after this passed the strongholds of the Pierians, of which the name
of the one is Phagres and of the other Pergamos. By this way, I say,
he made his march, going close by the walls of these, and keeping Mount
Pangaion on the right hand, which is both great and lofty and in which
are mines both of gold and of silver possessed by the Pierians and
Odomantians, and especially by the Satrians.
113. Thus passing by the Paionians, Doberians and Paioplians, who dwell
beyond Pangaion towards the North Wind, he went on Westwards, until at
last he came to the river Strymon and the city of Eïon, of which,
so long as he lived, Boges was commander, the same about whom I was
speaking a short time back. This country about Mount Pangaion is called
Phyllis, and it extends Westwards to the river Angites, which flows into
the Strymon, and Southwards it stretches to the Strymon itself; and at
this river the Magians sacrificed for good omens, slaying white horses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account