In the mountain-range which encloses the land of Trachis there is a
cleft to the South of Trachis itself; and through this cleft the river
Asopos flows, and runs along by the foot of the mountain.

200. There is also another river called Phoinix, to the South of the
Asopos, of no great size, which flowing from these mountains runs out
into the Asopos; and at the river Phoinix is the narrowest place, for
here has been constructed a road with a single wheel-track only.
Then from the river Phoinix it is a distance of fifteen furlongs to
Thermopylai; and in the space between the river Phoinix and Thermopylai
there is a village called Anthela, by which the river Asopos flows, and
so runs out into the sea; and about this village there is a wide space
in which is set up a temple dedicated to Demeter of the Amphictyons, and
there are seats for the Amphictyonic councillors and a temple dedicated
to Amphictyon himself.

201. King Xerxes, I say, was encamped within the region of Trachis in
the land of the Malians, and the Hellenes within the pass. This place is
called by the Hellenes in general Thermopylai, but by the natives of the
place and those who dwell in the country round it is called Pylai. Both
sides then were encamped hereabout, and the one had command of all that
lies beyond Trachis 208 in the direction of the North Wind, and the
others of that which tends towards the South Wind and the mid-day on
this side of the continent. 209

202. These were the Hellenes who awaited the attack of the Persian in
this place:--of the Spartans three hundred hoplites; of the men of
Tegea and Mantineia a thousand, half from each place, from Orchomenos
in Arcadia a hundred and twenty, and from the rest of Arcadia a
thousand,--of the Arcadians so many; from Corinth four hundred, from
Phlius two hundred, and of the men of Mykene eighty: these were they who
came from the Peloponnese; and from the Boeotians seven hundred of the
Thespians, and of the Thebans four hundred.

203. In addition to these the Locrians of Opus had been summoned to come
in their full force, and of the Phokians a thousand: for the Hellenes
had of themselves sent a summons to them, saying by messengers that they
had come as forerunners of the others, that the rest of the allies
were to be expected every day, that their sea was safely guarded, being
watched by the Athenians and the Eginetans and by those who had been
appointed to serve in the fleet, and that they need