The histories of Herodotus;

4 02 HERODOTUS—BOOK VII, POLYMNIA [115-119
called Argilus ; this and the country above it is called Bisaltia
from thence keeping the bay near the Temple of Neptune on
the left hand, it went through what is called the plain of
Syleus; and passing by Stagirus, a Grecian city, arrived at
Acanthus; taking with them each of the above nations, and
those that dwell round Mount Pangaeus, as well as those which
I have before enumerated; having those that dwelt near the
sea to serve on shipboard, and those above the sea to follow
on foot. This road, along which King Xerxes marched his
army, the Thracians neither disturb nor sow, but regard it
with great veneration even to my time. When he arrived
at Acanthus, the Persian enjoined the Acanthians to show
them hospitality, and presented them with a Medic dress, and
commended them, seeing them ready for the war, and hearing
of the excavation at Mount Athos. While Xerxes was at
Acanthus, it happened that Artachaees, who had superintended
the canal, died of disease ; he was much esteemed by Xerxes,
and was of the race of the Achaemenidae, and in stature the
tallest of the Persians, for he wanted only four fingers of five
royal cubits; and he had the loudest voice of any man, so
that Xerxes, considering his loss very great, had him carried
to the grave and buried him with great pomp ;
and the whole
army raised up a mound for his sepulchre. To this Artachaees
the Acanthians, in obedience to an oracle, offer sacrifice as
to a hero, invoking him by name. King Xerxes, therefore,
when Artachaees died, considered it a great loss. Those of
the Grecians who received the army and entertained Xerxes
were reduced to extreme distress, so that they were obliged
to abandon their homes; since Antipater, son of Orges, one
of the most distinguished citizens, being selected by the Thasians,
who received and entertained the army of Xerxes on
behalf of the cities on the continent, showed that four hundred
talents of silver had been expended on the banquet. In
like manner those who superintended in the other cities gave
in their accounts. For the banquet was of the following kind,
as being ordered long beforehand, and considered of great
importance: In the first place, as soon as they heard the
heralds proclaiming it all around, the citizens, having distributed
the corn that was in the cities, all made flour and
meal for many months ; and in the next place, they fatted
cattle, finding the best they could for money, and fed land
and water fowl in coops and ponds, for the entertainment of
the army : moreover, they made gold and silver cups and vessels,
and all such things as are placed on a table. But these
things were made for the king himself, and those who sat at
;