herodotus

Thesprotians to settle in the Aiolian land, the same which they nowpossess. Since then the Thessalians, as they supposed, were attemptingto subdue them, the Phokians guarded themselves against thisbeforehand; and at that time they let the water of the hot springs runover the passage, that the place might be converted into a ravine, anddevised every means that the Thessalians might not make invasion oftheir land. Now the ancient wall had been built long before, and thegreater part of it was by that time in ruins from lapse of time; theHellenes however resolved to set it up again, and at this spot torepel the Barbarian from Hellas: and very near the road there is avillage called Alpenoi, from which the Hellenes counted on gettingsupplies.177. These places then the Hellenes perceived to be such as theirpurpose required; for they considered everything beforehand andcalculated that the Barbarians would not be able to take advantageeither of superior numbers or of cavalry, and therefore they resolvedhere to receive the invader of Hellas: and when they were informedthat the Persian was in Pieria, they broke up from the Isthmus and setforth for the campaign, some going to Thermopylai by land, and othersmaking for Artemision by sea.178. The Hellenes, I say, were coming to the rescue with speed, havingbeen appointed to their several places: and meanwhile the men ofDelphi consulted the Oracle of the god on behalf of themselves and onbehalf of Hellas, being struck with dread; and a reply was given themthat they should pray to the Winds, for these would be powerfulhelpers of Hellas in fight. So the Delphians, having accepted theoracle, first reported the answer which had been given them to thoseof the Hellenes who desired to be free; and having reported this tothem at a time when they were in great dread of the Barbarian, theylaid up for themselves an immortal store of gratitude: then after thisthe men of Delphi established an altar for the Winds in Thuia, whereis the sacred enclosure of Thuia the daughter of Kephisos, after whommoreover this place has its name; and also they approached them withsacrifices.179. The Delphians then according to the oracle even to this day makepropitiary offerings to the Winds: and meanwhile the fleet of Xerxessetting forth from the city of Therma had passed over with ten of itsships, which were those that sailed best, straight towards Skiathos,where three Hellenic ships, a Troizenian, an Eginetan and an Athenian,were keeping watch in advance. When the crews of these caught sight ofthe ships of the Barbarians, they set off to make their escape: 180,and the ship of Troizen, of which Prexinos was in command, was pursuedand captured at once by the Barbarians; who upon that took the man who