several authors,1 but what appear to be its remains may still be
traced in parts of the peninsula; moreover, its object, and the
manner of its construction, are so particularly detailed by
Herodotus,8 that we can from thence scarcely doubt the fact.
Xerxes quits These and other preparations being completed, Xerxes put
Susa, and j^g a r m y in motion towards the spring of the year 481 B.C., by
marching from Susa to Critales in Cappadocia,3 where all the
levies from the regions lying to the eastward were assembled:
he proceeded from thence to Lydia, where he was joined by the
levies from Arabia and the rest of the territory lying to the
experiences westward: here the boundless wealth and liberality of Pytheus
of Pytheus.ty were exercised in maintaining, for a time, the whole of the army.4
This vast concentration appears to have been conducted with
the utmost regularity, owing to the accuracy of the combinations,
and the care taken in providing supplies throughout
the extensive line between the capital of Persia and that of
Lesser Asia. During the winter’s halt at Sardis, heralds were
despatched to make the usual demands of earth and water from
the Grecian states,5 whilst workmen were employed in replacing
The bridge the floating-bridge across the Hellespont, which had been
Hellespont is destroyed by a storm at the moment when it was almost com-
a ?to™ ? an d pleted.6 Early in the spring, Xerxes continued his march
replaced. towards Abydos, where he found not only a prodigious fleet
assembled,7 according to his orders, to facilitate the contemplated
invasion of Europe, but the means were likewise prepared for
Account ofthis passing thither without embarking his legions. This surprising
exbuOTdinaiy connecting Asia with Europe, is described as being double;
one portion was formed by means of 360 fifty-oared boats, and
the other of 314 triremes, in a line parallel to the former:
each vessel was firmly anchored in a slanting direction, so as
best to resist the effects of the current on one side, as well as
the strong winds to which it was exposed on the other.8 Two
1 Thucydides, lib. IV ., cap. c ix .; Plato, De Leg., lib. I I I . ; Diod. Sic.,
lib. I I ., cap. ii.
2 Lib. V I I ., cap. xxi., xxii., xxiii.
s Herod., lib. V I I ., cap. xxvi. 4 Ibid., cap. xxvii.
5 Ibid., cap. xxxii. " Ibid., cap. xxxiv.
7 Ibid., cap. xlv. Ibid., cap. xxxv.
enormous reed cables, and two others of hemp, well secured at ^ m e th o d of
the extremities, were passed over each line of boats from side tion.
to side of the Hellespont. Across these cables, trunks of trees
were laid to support a platform, on which a deep covering of
earth was placed; while barriers at the sides, to protect the
horses and other animals,1 completed this gigantic undertaking.
Although one part of the bridge afforded a passage for the
troops, whilst the baggage and the numerous camp followers,
which always accompany an Asiatic army, had the use of the
other, seven days and nights were consumed in passing into
Thrace. The fleet then proceeded westward through the The army
Dardanelles in order to rendezvous at the Sarpedian promon- Dardanelles.
tory, whilst the army proceeded north-eastward by the Cherso-
nesus, and along the Gulf of Melas to the plain of Doriscus.
Here Xerxes halted, and the fleet, consisting of nearly 3000 ^ 1 7 Z 'Y
vessels, being drawn up on the beach,8 the number of his on the plain of
. , , i -i T n • Doriscus. followers was ascertained by the novel proceeding 01 causing
the whole multitude to pass in succession through a walled
enclosure, which was of the necessary size to contain exactly
10,000 men.3
The graphic details given by Herodotus are admirably adapted
to place before the imagination the grandeur of the spectacle
exhibited on the plain of Doriscus: when, mounted on a
splendid car, the monarch visited in turn the contingents furnished
by the several nations within his dominions ;4 and subsequently,
from a throne raised on a Sidonial vessel, reviewed his
fleet,5 which for this purpose was ranged in order of battle.
On land, the Persian troops, wearing close-grained felt caps, Armament
i • i. 1 an<* equip- wide trousers, many-coloured tunics with sleeves, steel cuirasses, ment of the
bucklers, bows, quivers, and poniards in the girdle, some of^e^des,
them also displaying gold, others silver pomegranates,6 led the Assyrians,
way.7 The Medes followed, similarly equipped; then the
Assyrians, and next the Chaldeans, both wearing linen cuirasses
and brass helmets of an extraordinary form; these were armed _
1 Herod., lib. V II., cap. xxxvi. 8 Ibid., cap. lix.
3 Ibid., cap. lx. 4 Ibid., cap. c.
s Ibid. 6 Ibid , cap. xli.
7 Ibid., cap. Ixi.
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