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nd them the captains of the squadrons； armed with whips； urged their men forward with continual blows。 Many were thrust into the sea； and there perished； a still greater number were trampled to death by their own soldiers； no one heeded the dying。 For the Greeks； reckless of their own safety and desperate； since they knew that； as the mountain had been crossed； their destruction was nigh at hand； exerted themselves with the most furious valour against the barbarians。 By this time the spears of the greater number were all shivered； and with their swords they hewed down the ranks of the Persians； and here； as they strove； Leonidas fell fighting bravely； together with many other famous Spartans； whose names I have taken care to learn on account of their great worthiness； as indeed I have those of all the three hundred。 There fell too at the same time very many famous Persians： among them； two sons of Darius； Abrocomes and Hyperanthes； his children by Phratagune； the daughter of Artanes。 Artanes was brother of King Darius； being a son of Hystaspes； the son of Arsames； and when he gave his daughter to the king； he made him heir likewise of all his substance； for she was his only child。 Thus two brothers of Xerxes here fought and fell。 And now there arose a fierce struggle between the Persians and the Lacedaemonians over the body of Leonidas； in which the Greeks four times drove back the enemy； and at last by their great bravery succeeded in bearing off the body。 This combat was scarcely ended when the Persians with Ephialtes approached； and the Greeks； informed that they drew nigh； made a change in the manner of their fighting。 Drawing back into the narrowest part of the pass； and retreating even behind the cross wall； they posted themselves upon a hillock； where they stood all drawn up together in one close body； except only the Thebans。 The hillock whereof I speak is at the entrance of the straits； where the stone lion stands which was set up in honour of Leonidas。 Here they defended themselves to the last； such as still had swords using them； and the others resisting with their hands and teeth； till the barbarians； who in part had pulled down the wall and attacked them in front； in part had gone round and now encircled them upon every side； overwhelmed and buried the remnant which was left beneath showers of missile weapons。 Thus nobly did the whole body of Lacedaemonians and Thespians behave； but nevertheless one man is said to have distinguished himself above all the rest； to wit； Dieneces the Spartan。 A speech which he made before the Greeks engaged the Medes； remains on record。 One of the Trachinians told him； 〃Such was the number of the barbarians； that when they shot forth their arrows the sun would be darkened by their multitude。〃 Dieneces； not at all frightened at these words； but making light of the Median numbers； answered 〃Our Trachinian friend brings us excellent tidings。 If the Medes darken the sun； we shall have our fight in the shade。〃 Other sayings too of a like nature are reported to have been left on record by this same person。 Next to him two brothers； Lacedaemonians； are reputed to have made themselves conspicuous： they were named Alpheus and Maro； and were the sons of Orsiphantus。 There was also a Thespian who gained greater glory than any of his countrymen： he was a man called Dithyrambus； the son of Harmatidas。 The slain were buried where they fell； and in their honour； nor less in honour of those who died before Leonidas sent the allies away； an inscription was set up； which said：…
Here did four thousand men from Pelops' land Against three hundred myriads bravely stand。
This was in honour of all。 Another was for the Spartans alone：…
Go； stranger； and to Lacedaemon tell That here； obeying her behests； we fell。
This was for the Lacedaemonians。 The seer had the following：…
The great Megistias' tomb you here may view； Whom slew the Medes； fresh from Spercheius' fords。 Well the wise seer the coming death foreknew； Yet scorned he to forsake his Spartan lords。
These inscriptions； and the pillars likewise； were all set up by the Amphictyons； except that in honour of Megistias； which was inscribed to him （on account of their sworn friendship） by Simonides； the son of Leoprepes。 Two of the three hundred； it is said； Aristodemus and Eurytus； having been attacked by a disease of the eyes； had received orders from Leonidas to quit the camp； and both lay at Alpeni in the worst stage of the malady。 These two men might； had they been so minded； have agreed together to return alive to Sparta； or if they did not like to return； they might have gone both to the field and fallen with their countrymen。 But at this time； when either way was open to them； unhappily they could not agree； but took contrary courses。 Eurytus no sooner heard that the Persians had come round the mountain than straightway he called for his armour； and having buckled it on； bade his helot lead him to the place where his friends were fighting。 The helot did so； and then turned and fled； but Eurytus plunged into the thick of the battle； and so perished。 Aristodemus； on the other hand； was faint of heart； and remained at Alpeni。 It is my belief that if Aristodemus only had been sick and returned； or if both had come back together； the Spartans would have been content and felt no anger； but when there were two men with the very same excuse； and one of them was chary of his life； while the other freely gave it； they could not but be very wroth with the former。 This is the account which some give of the escape of Aristodemus。 Others say that he； with another； had been sent on a message from the army； and； having it in his power to return in time for the battle； purposely loitered on the road； and so survived his comrades； while his fellow…messenger came back in time； and fell in the battle。 When Aristodemus returned to Lacedaemon； reproach and disgrace awaited him； disgrace； inasmuch as no Spartan would give him a light to kindle his fire； or so much as address a word to him； and reproach； since all spoke of him as 〃the craven。〃 However he wiped away all his shame afterwards at the battle of Plataea。 Another of the three hundred is likewise said to have survived the battle； a man named Pantites； whom Leonidas had sent on an embassy into Thessaly。 He； they say； on his return to Sparta； found himself in such disesteem that he hanged himself。 The Thebans under the command of Leontiades remained with the Greeks； and fought against the barbarians； only so long as necessity compelled them。 No sooner did they see victory inclining to the Persians； and the Greeks under Leonidas hurrying with all speed towards the hillock； than they moved away from their companions； and with hands upraised advanced towards the barbarians； exclaiming； as was indeed most true… 〃that they for their part wished well to the Medes； and had been among the first to give earth and water to the king； force alone had brought them to Thermopylae； and so they must not be blamed for the slaughter which had befallen the king's army。〃 These words； the truth of which was attested by the Thessalians； sufficed to obtain the Thebans the grant of their lives。 However； their good fortune was not without some drawback； for several of them were slain by the barbarians on their first approach； and the rest； who were the greater number； had the royal mark branded upon their bodies by the command of Xerxes… Leontiades； their captain； being the first to suffer。 （This man's son； Eurymachus； was afterwards slain by the Plataeans； when he came with a band Of 400 Thebans； and seized their city。） Thus fought the Greeks at Thermopylae。 And Xerxes； after the fight was over； called for Demaratus to question him； and began as follows：… 〃Demaratus； thou art a worthy man； thy true…speaking proves it。 All has happened as thou didst forewarn。 Now then； tell me； how many Lacedaemonians are there left； and of those left how many are such brave warriors as these？ Or are they all alike？〃 〃O king！〃 replied the other； 〃the whole number of the Lacedaemonians is very great； and many are the cities which they inhabit。 But I will tell thee what thou really wishest to learn。 There is a town of Lacedaemon called Sparta； which contains within it about eight thousand full…grown men。 They are； one and all； equal to those who have fought here。 The other Lacedaemonians are brave men； but not such warriors as these。〃 〃Tell me now； Demaratus；〃 rejoined Xerxes； 〃how we may with least trouble subdue these men。 Thou must know all the paths of their counsels； as thou wert once their king。〃 Then Demaratus answered… 〃O king！ since thou askest my advice so earnestly； it is fitting that I should inform thee what I consider to be the best course。 Detach three hundred vessels from the body of thy fleet； and send them to attack the shores of Laconia。 There is an island called Cythera in those parts； not far from the coast； concerning which Chilon； one of our wisest men； made the remark that Sparta would gain if it were sunk to the bottom of the sea… so constantly did he expect that it would give occasion to some project like that which I now recommend to