The histories of Herodotus;

58-61] THE TROOPS REVIEWED 389
bay called Melas, and having come to the river Melas, whose
stream did not suffice for the army, but failed—having crossed
this river, from which the bay derives its name, they marched
westward, passing by .^Enos, an iEolian city, and the lake
Stentoris, until they reached Doriscus. Doriscus is a shore
and extensive plain of Thrace. Through it flows a large
river, the Hebrus. On it a royal fort had been built, the same
that is now called Doriscus, and a Persian garrison had been
established in it by Darius from the time that he marched
against the Scythians. This place, therefore, appeared to
Xerxes to be convenient for reviewing and numbering his
army ; this he accordingly did. All the ships, therefore, having
arrived at Doriscus, the captains, at the command of
Xerxes, brought them to the shore adjoining Doriscus. On
this coast stood Sala, a Samothracian city, and Zona; and at
its extremity Serrhium, a celebrated promontory : this region
formerly belonged to the Ciconians. Having steered to this
shore, they hauled up the ships and repaired them; and in
the meantime Xerxes numbered his army at Doriscus. How
great a number of men each contributed, I am unable to say
with certainty; for it is not mentioned by any one; but the
amount of the whole land forces was found to be seventeen
hundred thousand. They were computed in this manner:
Having drawn together ten thousand men in one place, and
having crowded them as close together as it was possible,
they traced a circle on the outside ; and having traced it, and
removed the ten thousand, they threw up a stone fence on the
circle, reaching to the height of a man's navel. Having done
this, they made others enter within the inclosed space, until
they had in this manner computed all ; and having numbered
them, they drew out according to nations.
Those who served in this expedition were the following:
their heads they wore
The Persians, equipped as follows : on
loose coverings, called tiaras; on the body various coloured
sleeved breastplates, with iron scales like those of fish; and
on their legs, loose trousers ; and instead of shields, bucklers
made of osiers; and under them their quivers were hung.
They had short spears, long bows, and arrows made of cane
and, besides, daggers suspended from the girdle on the right
thigh. They had for their general Otanes, father of Amestris,
wife of Xerxes. They were formerly called Cephenes by the
Grecians, but by themselves and neighbours Artaeans; but
when Perseus, son of Danae and Jupiter, came to Cepheus,
son of Belus, and married his daughter Andromeda, he had a
son to whom he gave the name of Perses; and him he left
;