Isthmus and set forth
for the campaign, some going to Thermopylai by land, and others making
for Artemision by sea.

178. The Hellenes, I say, were coming to the rescue with speed, having
been appointed to their several places: and meanwhile the men of Delphi
consulted the Oracle of the god on behalf of themselves and on behalf
of Hellas, being struck with dread; and a reply was given them that they
should pray to the Winds, for these would be powerful helpers of Hellas
in fight. So the Delphians, having accepted the oracle, first reported
the answer which had been given them to those of the Hellenes who
desired to be free; and having reported this to them at a time when they
were in great dread of the Barbarian, they laid up for themselves
an immortal store of gratitude: then after this the men of Delphi
established an altar for the Winds in Thuia, where is the sacred
enclosure of Thuia the daughter of Kephisos, after whom moreover this
place has its name; and also they approached them with sacrifices.

179. The Delphians then according to the oracle even to this day make
propitiary offerings to the Winds: and meanwhile the fleet of Xerxes
setting forth from the city of Therma had passed over with ten of its
ships, which were those that sailed best, straight towards Skiathos,
where three Hellenic ships, a Troizenian, an Eginetan and an Athenian,
were keeping watch in advance. When the crews of these caught sight of
the ships of the Barbarians, they set off to make their escape:

180, and the ship of Troizen, of which Prexinos was in command, was
pursued and captured at once by the Barbarians; who upon that took the
man who was most distinguished by beauty among the fighting-men on board
of her, 169 and cut his throat at the prow of the ship, making a good
omen for themselves of the first of the Hellenes whom they had captured
who was pre-eminent for beauty. The name of this man who was sacrificed
was Leon, and perhaps he had also his name to thank in some degree for
what befell him.

181. The ship of Egina however, of which Asonides was master, even
gave them some trouble to capture it, seeing that Pytheas the son of
Ischenooes served as a fighting-man on board of her, who proved himself a
most valiant man on this day; for when the ship was being taken, he
held out fighting until he was hacked all to pieces: and as when he had
fallen he did not die, but had still breath in him, the Persians who
served as fighting-m