. As to Artemision first, coming out of the Thracian Sea the space
is contracted from great width to that narrow channel which lies between
the island of Skiathos and the mainland of Magnesia; and after the
strait there follows at once in Euboea the sea-beach called Artemision,
upon which there is a temple of Artemis. Then secondly the passage into
Hellas by Trechis is, where it is narrowest, but fifty feet wide: it is
not here however that the narrowest part of this whole region lies,
but in front of Thermopylai and also behind it, consisting of a single
wheel-track only 167 both by Alpenoi, which lies behind Thermopylai and
again by the river Phoinix near the town of Anthela there is no space
but a single wheel-track only: and on the West of Thermopylai there is
a mountain which is impassable and precipitous, rising up to a great
height and extending towards the range of Oite, while on the East of the
road the sea with swampy pools succeeds at once. In this passage there
are hot springs, which the natives of the place call the "Pots," 168 and
an altar of Heracles is set up near them. Moreover a wall had once been
built at this pass, and in old times there was a gate set in it; which
wall was built by the Phokians, who were struck with fear because the
Thessalians had come from the land of the Thesprotians to settle in
the Aiolian land, the same which they now possess. Since then the
Thessalians, as they supposed, were attempting to subdue them, the
Phokians guarded themselves against this beforehand; and at that time
they let the water of the hot springs run over the passage, that the
place might be converted into a ravine, and devised every means that the
Thessalians might not make invasion of their land. Now the ancient wall
had been built long before, and the greater part of it was by that time
in ruins from lapse of time; the Hellenes however resolved to set it
up again, and at this spot to repel the Barbarian from Hellas: and very
near the road there is a village called Alpenoi, from which the Hellenes
counted on getting supplies.

177. These places then the Hellenes perceived to be such as their
purpose required; for they considered everything beforehand and
calculated that the Barbarians would not be able to take advantage
either of superior numbers or of cavalry, and therefore they resolved
here to receive the invader of Hellas: and when they were informed that
the Persian was in Pieria, they broke up from the