Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE TO VOL. V
- Contents
- PART II CONTINUATION OF HISTORICAL GREECE
- CHAPTER XXXVIII From the Battle of Marathon to the March of Xerxes against Greece
- CHAPTER XXXIX Proceedings in Greece from the Battle of Marathon to the time of the Battle of Thermopylæ
- CHAPTER XL Battles of Thermopylæ and Artemisium
- CHAPTER XLI Battle of Salamis.–Retreat of Xerxes
- CHAPTER XLII Battles of Platæ and Mykalê.–Final Repulse of the Persians
- CHAPTER XLIII Events in Sicily down to the expulsion of the Gelonian Dynasty and the establishment of Popular Governments throughout the Island
- CHAPTER XLIV From the Battles of Platæa and Mykalê down to the deaths of Themistoklês and Aristeidês
- CHAPTER XLV Proceedings of the Confederacy under Athens as head.-First formation and rapid expansion of the Athenian Empire
- CHAPTER XLVI Constitutional and Judicial Changes at Athens under Periklês
- Plate section
CHAPTER XL - Battles of Thermopylæ and Artemisium
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE TO VOL. V
- Contents
- PART II CONTINUATION OF HISTORICAL GREECE
- CHAPTER XXXVIII From the Battle of Marathon to the March of Xerxes against Greece
- CHAPTER XXXIX Proceedings in Greece from the Battle of Marathon to the time of the Battle of Thermopylæ
- CHAPTER XL Battles of Thermopylæ and Artemisium
- CHAPTER XLI Battle of Salamis.–Retreat of Xerxes
- CHAPTER XLII Battles of Platæ and Mykalê.–Final Repulse of the Persians
- CHAPTER XLIII Events in Sicily down to the expulsion of the Gelonian Dynasty and the establishment of Popular Governments throughout the Island
- CHAPTER XLIV From the Battles of Platæa and Mykalê down to the deaths of Themistoklês and Aristeidês
- CHAPTER XLV Proceedings of the Confederacy under Athens as head.-First formation and rapid expansion of the Athenian Empire
- CHAPTER XLVI Constitutional and Judicial Changes at Athens under Periklês
- Plate section
Summary
It was while the northerly states of Greece were thus successively falling oft from the common cause, that the deputies assembled at the Isthmus took among themselves the solemn engagement, in event of success, to inflict upon these recusant brethren condign punishment–to tithe them in property, and perhaps to consecrate a tenth of their persons, for the profit of the Delphian god. Exception was to be made in favour of those states which had been driven to yield by irresistible necessity. Such a vow seemed at that moment little likely to be executed: it was the manifestation of a determined feeling binding together the states which took the pledge, but it cannot have contributed much to intimidate the rest.
To display their own force, was the only effective way of keeping together doubtful allies; and the pass of Thermopylæ was now fixed upon as the most convenient point of defence, next to that of Tempê–leaving out indeed, and abandoning to the enemy, Thessalians, Perrhæbians, Magnêtes, Phthiôtid Achæans, Dolopes, Ænianes, Malians, &c, who would all have been included if the latter line had been adhered to ; but comprising the largest range consistent with safety. The position of Thermopylæ presented another advantage which was not to be found at Tempê ; the mainland was here separated from the island of Eubœa only by a narrow strait, about two English miles and a half in its smallest breadth, between Mount Knêmis and Cape Kênæum.
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- A History of Greece , pp. 94 - 140Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010