The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [174]
4. But at Abae the Persians captured a number of them, and killed some of their women by repeatedly raping them, before stripping the city of its goods and setting it alight.
5. Now Xerxes set himself to march towards Athens, entering Boeotia by the country of the Orchomenians.
6. The Boeotians had one and all embraced the cause of the Persians, and their towns were in the possession of Macedonian garrisons,
7. Whom Alexander had sent there, to make it manifest to Xerxes that the Boeotians were on his side.
8. Meanwhile, the Greek fleet, which had left Artemisium, proceeded to Salamis at the request of the Athenians, and there cast anchor.
9. The Athenians had requested them to take up this position, in order that they might carry their women and children out of Attica, and plan what course to follow thereafter.
10. They had hoped to see the Peloponnesians drawn up in full force to resist the enemy in Boeotia, but that did not happen;
11. On the contrary, they learnt that the Greeks of those parts, only concerning themselves about their own safety, were building a wall across the Isthmus,
12. And intended to guard the Peloponnese, and let the rest of Greece take its chance.
13. It was this news that made Athens request that the combined fleet should anchor at Salamis.
14. So while the rest of the fleet lay off this island, the Athenians cast anchor along their own coast.
15. Immediately on their arrival a proclamation was issued that every Athenian should save his family and household as he best could;
16. Whereupon some sent their families to Egina, some to Salamis, but the greater number to Troezen. This removal was made with all possible haste.
17. And now the remainder of the Grecian sea force, hearing that the fleet which had been at Artemisium was come to Salamis,
18. Joined it at that island from Troezen, orders having been issued previously that the ships should muster at Pogon, the port of the Troezenians.
19. The vessels collected were many more in number than those which had fought at Artemisium, and were supplied by more cities.
20. The admiral was the same who had commanded before, namely Eurybiades the Spartan.
21. The city which sent by far the greatest number of ships, and the best sailors, was Athens. There were three hundred and seventy eight ships in all, most of them triremes.
Chapter 78
1. As the captains of the fleet were discussing their strategy, some advising that they should withdraw to the Isthmus so that, if they were defeated, they could return to their homes,
2. Word came that the Persians had entered Attica, and were ravaging and burning everything.
3. For the army under Xerxes had just arrived at Athens from its march through Boeotia, where it had burnt Thespiae and Plataea,
4. Both of which cities were forsaken by their inhabitants, who had fled to the Peloponnese;
5. And now it was laying waste all the possessions of the Athenians.
6. Thespiae and Plataea had been burnt by the Persians, because they knew from the Thebans that neither of those cities had espoused their side.
7. Since the Persians had crossed the Hellespont and begun their march on Greece, four months had gone by;
8. One, while the army made the crossing and delayed about the region of the Hellespont; and three while they proceeded from there to Attica, which they entered in the archonship of Calliades.
9. They found Athens empty; a few people only remained in the citadel, either keepers of the treasures, or men of the poorer sort.
10. These persons having fortified the citadel with planks and boards, held out against the enemy.
11. The Persians camped on the hill opposite the citadel, which is called Mars’ Hill by the Athenians, and began the siege of the place,
12. Attacking the Greeks with arrows to which rags of flaming tow were attached.
13. Those within the citadel found themselves in a woeful case, for their wooden rampart betrayed them, catching fire; but still they resisted.
14. It was in vain that the Pisistratidae came and offered