Plataea closes the door.

Kalkara, Malta - Fordingbridge, Hants Ernle Bradford


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I should like to express my particular thanks to Mr A. R. Burn, whose writings on this subject first aroused my interest and enthusiasm some years ago. While the book was in preparation Mr Burn was good enough to assist me in many ways and to enlighten me in depth on many aspects of even the most recondite of matters relating to Xerxes’ invasion of Greece. I would like to stress, however, that all errors remain mine, and I would also like to thank him for permission to quote extracts from Persia and the Greeks (1962) published by Edward Arnold (Publishers) Limited.

I am indebted to the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies for permission to make use of their invaluable library. I am, as always, deeply indebted to the London Library, that remarkable institution without which writers like myself, who do not live in London, could never have access to half the authorities required for research work.

I and my publishers also wish to thank the following who have kindly given permission for the use of copyright material: Basil Blackwell Publisher Limited for an extract from Sparta by A. H. M. Jones; Edinburgh University Press for an extract from Arms and Armour of the Greeks by A. M. Snodgrass; David Higham Associates Limited on behalf of Peter Green for an extract from The Year of Salamis, published by Weidenfeld (Publishers) Limited; John Murray (Publishers) Limited for an extract from The Great Persian War by G. B. Grundy; Penguin Books Limited for extracts from Plutarch, The Rise and Tall of Athens translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert, Penguin Classics i960, Copyright © Ian Scott-Kilvert; Herodotus, translated by Aubrey de Selincourt, Copyright © The Estate of Aubrey de Selincourt and A. R. Burn, 1972; and The Greeks by

H. D. F. Kitto, 1951, Second edition 1957; The Society of Authors on behalf of the Estate of A. E. Housman for an extract from Collected Poems, published by Jonathan Cape Limited; Weidenfeld (Publishers) Limited for a quotation by H. Humback from The Heritage of Persia by R. N. Frye.


CHRONOLOGY

EARLY HISTORY

B.C.

550 Foundation of the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Elder.

547 Defeat of Croesus, King of Lydia.

539 Cyrus incorporates Babylon and all the lands adjacent to Persia including Syria and Phoenicia.

530 Accession of Cambyses, who incorporates Egypt into the Empire.

522 Accession of Darius.

513-12 Darius extends Persian Empire to Scythia and establishes a bridge-head into Greece by subduing Thrace.

5 00    Revolt of Ionian Greeks (in Asia Minor) against Persian rule.

494    Final suppression of Ionian revolt.

490    Persian invasion of Greece is defeated at Marathon.

486    Death of Darius and accession of Xerxes.

THE INVASION OF XERXES

481 Spring. Xerxes sets out from Susa.

Autumn. Sends demands for submission from Greek states. Spends winter in Sardis.

480 Spring. Xerxes crosses the Hellespont.

Greeks withdraw their advance force from the Pass of Tempe.

hate June-early July. While Xerxes and the army move south the Persian fleet heads for the canal cut behind Mount Athos.

Mid-August. Bulk of Greek fleet moves up to Artemisium. Leonidas and his small holding-force march north to Thermopylae.

Leonidas fortifies the pass at Thermopylae and raids the country to the north of it.

The Persian fleet is caught in a storm off the Greek coast north of Cape Sepias and suffers considerable losses.

c.