Xerxes: Crossing the Hellespont

(History of Xerxes the Great)
*While Xerxes was at Sardis, a violent storm arose and broke the bridge. Xerxes punished both the waves and the architects (103). The sea was scourged with a whip and had heavy chains thrown in it "as symbols of his defiance of its power, and of his determination to subject it to his control." The men who scourged the sea were to cry, " Miserable Monster! This is the punishment which Xerxes your master inflicts upon you, on account of the unprovoked and wanton injury you have done him. Be assured that he will pass over you, whether you will or no. He hates and defies you, object as you are, through your insatiable cruelty, and the nauseous bitterness of your waters, of the common abomination of mankind." The architects were beheaded. (103)

*a new and strong bridge was built, but on its completion they were alarmed by the occurrence of an eclipse. Eclipses were thought to be "extraordinary and supernatural" omens. (105-106)

*Xerxes asked the magi for their opinion on the matter. "Their answer was, that, as the sun was the guardian divinity of the Greeks, and the moon that of the Persians, the meaning of the sudden withdrawal of the light of day doubtless was, that Heaven was about to withhold its protection from the Greeks in the approaching struggle." (106)

*for a description of the huge grand procession that left and headed towards the Hellespont bridge see pages 106-108

*The army advanced north towards Abydos, through the province of Mysia. They passed on the right of Mount Ida, and arrived on the bank of Scamander which was upon the plain of Troy.

*There were stories abounding of the glory of the military exploits performed there, and it was customary for every military hero who passed by to pause during his march to spend some time in the ruins,"that he might inspirit and invigorate his own ambition by the associations of the spot, and also render suitable honors to the memories of those that fell there." Xerxes did this, as did Alexander later. A grand sacrifice of 1,000 oxen was made by Xerxes in honor of the dead heroes (109)

*The troops were not treated with dignity or much protection - a huge storm came up as the troops were passing by Mount Ida, and great numbers died; When they were encamped near Scamander many died from thirst; when they finally arrived in Abydos the army was in despair.

*Xerxes had a great white throne of marble erected on an elevation not far from the shores of the Hellespont, from which Xerxes would look down. He also made arrangements for a great parade to show off his splendor to the Greeks.

*At this point, Xerxes had a moment of sensitivity. As Xerxes looked down at his army, his uncle noticed tears standing in his eyes, and asked what made him sad. Xerxes replied that immensely vast as the countless multitude before him was, in one hundred years from that time not one of them all would be alive. (113)

*Artabanus (114) told him that he should not worry about such things, and that many times people actually welcomed death. After that Xerxes asked him if he still had any fears about the expedition. Artabanus admitted that he did, and had two primary concerns. The first was that he had so large an army and fleet that he didn't know how he would find shelter for them if a storm arose. Secondly, he thought it would be difficult to find food for everyone and that the march would end in famine. (115-116)

*(115) Xerxes admitted that those fears were not unreasonable, also said, "I am willing to submit to a very large portion of the evils to which I expose myself on this expedition, rather than not accomplish the end which I have in view. Besides, the most prudent and cautious counsels are not always the best. He who hazards nothing gains nothing. I have always observed that in all the affairs of human life, those who exhibit some enterprise and courage in what they undertake are far more likely to be successful than those who weigh every thing and consider every thing and will not advance (next page) where they can see any remote prospect of danger. If my predecessors had acted on the principles which you recommend, the Persian empire would never have acquired the greatness to which it has now attained. (...)." He thought they would conquer Europe and not encounter famine.

*Artabanus also warned against enlisting the Ionians to help them, since they were descendants of the Greeks, and he feared a revolt. Xerxes did not heed his advice in this though, and sent him back to Susa to take care of the gov. there. Xerxes said they had demonstrated that they were trustworthy, and wouldn't risk the lives of their wives and children by revolting.

*Finally, after a few more things and whatnot.... they crossed the bridge.