HERODOTUS

BOOK VIII. 35-37temple at Delphi, keeping Parnassus on their right.These, too, laid waste whatsoever part of Phocisthey occupied, burning the towns of the Panopeansand Daulii and Aeolidae. The purpose of theirparting from the rest of the army and marching thisway was, that they might plunder the temple atDelphi and lay its wealth before Xerxes ;who (asI have been told)knew of all the most notablepossessions in the temple better than of what hehad left in his own palace, and chiefly the offeringsof Croesus son of Alyattes ;so many had ever spokenof them.36. When the Delphians learnt all this they weresore afraid ;and in their great fear they inquired ofthe oracle whether they should bury the sacredtreasure in the ground or convey it away to anothercountry. But the god bade them move nothing,saying that he was able to protect his own. Onthat hearing, the Delphians took thought forthemselves. They sent their children and womenoversea to Achaia ;of the men, the most went upto the peaks of Parnassus and carried their goods1into the Corycian cave, and some escaped to Amphissain Locris in; brief, all the Delphians left thetown save sixty men and the prophet.37. Now when the foreigners drew nigh in theircoming and could see the temple, the prophet, whosename was Aceratus, saw certain sacred arms, that noman might touch without sacrilege, brought out ofthe chamber within and laid before the shrine. So1In the heights above Delphi and some three hoursdistant from it, adjacent to Parnassus. The cave is ' ' some200 feet long, 90 feet broad at the widest point, and 20 to40 feet high " (How and Wells).35