that he believed the story of Themistocles, that the bridge over the Hellespont might be destroyed, and thus his retreat cut off.

Accordingly he immediately made preparations to depart, and ordered the fleet to sail for the Hellespont. He left the best of his land forces (300,000), under command of Mardonius, to complete the subjugation of Greece, so ingloriously begun.

atte. Spartans victorious

Platine Sept 479

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CHAPTER VIII.

PLATEE, SEPTEMBER, 479 B.C.

THE departure of Xerxes gave the Greeks just cause for rejoicing. Gifts were vowed to the gods, and prizes distributed. Honors were heaped upon Themistocles at Sparta. Together with Eurybiades, he was publicly crowned with a wreath, presented with a splendid chariot, and conducted solemnly by 300 Spartan knights as far as the frontier of the land. All these honors were not such as would create a favorable impression at Athens. At any rate, either for this or some other reason, the influence of Aristeides again became predominant. In the spring of 479 B.C. he was elected commander-in-chief of the Athenian land forces.

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Mardonius spent the winter of 480-79 B.C. in Thessalia. From the first his conduct was marked by extreme caution. He passed the time in forming such connections as he could with Greek states, and especially in negotiating with the Athenians. He even offered to rebuild their city and temples, if they would make a common cause with him. Aristeides was now the one to come forward and take a firm stand. Through him the Athenians declared that they would not barter away their liberty for any treasures in the world; that they were the enemies of the Persians, and would remain

In May,

such as long as the sun pursued its course. 479 B.C., Mardonius advanced towards the south, and in July reoccupied Athens. Again the Athenians were compelled to leave their homes and undergo the privations attendant upon emigration. After devastating the whole of Attica, Mardonius passed back over Citharon into Boeotia, where, in the meadows of the Asopus near Platææ, there would be a favorable opportunity for the management of his cavalry.

Meanwhile the Peloponnesians had joined the Athenians at Eleusis. The commander-in-chief of both was Pausanias, king of Sparta, who was a man of genius

and great ambition. The forces in all amounted to

some 110,000 troops: of these, Athens sent 8,000, led by Aristeides. It was the largest combined army that Greece ever raised, but it contained no cavalry. These forces marched into Boeotia, and met Mardonius and his troops near Platææ. The armies confronted one another for ten days, neither having the courage to take the initiative. At last the Persians began to suffer from the want of supplies, and determined to make an attack. The result of the battle was doubtful for a long time. Great bravery was shown on both sides. At last the combat was decided by the heavy armor and coolness of the Spartans. The Persians gave way; and when Mardonius himself fell, all resistance was at an end.

In another part of the field the Athenians had hot work with the Greek allies of Mardonius, but finally Aristeides succeeded in driving back the ranks of the foe. In this memorable fight, both Athens and Sparta proved themselves the leading champions of Greece. The victory of Platææ was the most decisive of the

whole war; for Marathon and Salamis had only broken the courage of the enemy, while here his power was annihilated. With a loftier pride.than ever before, the Greeks recognized the contrast between themselves and the barbarians, and never was their country stronger than on the battle-field of Platææ.

Greeks victorious

MyCale47

CHAPTER IX.

MYCALE, SEPTEMBER, 479 B.C.

REBUILDING OF ATHENS.

IMMEDIATELY after the flight of Xerxes from Salamis, Themistocles sailed with the Athenian fleet over the Ægean, visiting the islands and compelling them to pay tributes. He returned to Athens with large stores of money. Emboldened by this, the Athenians with some allies sent out, in the early spring, while Mardonius was still in Thessalia, a fleet of 110 sail, under Leotychides and Xanthippus. In the mean time a Persian fleet of 300 ships had anchored off Samos, and a land army was being collected at Mycale. Xerxes himself remained near Sardis, to await the final result of the operations of Mardonius. The Greek fleet made for Samos. Upon their arrival, the Persians retreated to the promontory of Mycale, disembarked, drew their ships ashore, and with the land army strongly entrenched themselves. The Greeks, however, followed them, and, in spite of showers of arrows, advanced against the fortified encampment. A hand-to-hand fight then ensued, resulting in the total rout of the Persians. This victory is said to have been gained on the same day as that of Platææ.

One of the results of Mycale was that Greece obtained the control of all the islands near the coast of Asia Minor.