amed Salvenius, brought an answer from
the god, as to what would be the result of affairs in Italy. Both
reported the same as to the vision[234] of the god: they said, that
in beauty and stature he was like the Olympian Jupiter. After crossing
the Assus and advancing to the foot of Hedylium, Sulla encamped near
Archelaus, who had thrown up a strong intrenchment between Mounts
Akontium and Hedylium, at a place called the Assia. The spot on which
he encamped is called Archelaus from his name up to the present day.
After the interval of one day Sulla left Murena[235] with one legion
and two cohorts, to annoy the enemy if he should attempt to form in
order of battle; he himself sacrificed on the banks of the Kephisus,
and the victims being favourable, he advanced towards Chaeroneia with
the object of again effecting a junction with the forces there, and
examining the place called Thurium, which was occupied by the enemy.
This is a rough summit and a conical-shaped hill, named Orthopagus;
and under it is the stream of the Morius and a temple of the Thurian
Apollo. The deity has this name from Thuro, the mother of Chaeron, who
is said to have been the founder of Chaeroneia. Some say that the cow
which was given by the Pythian Apollo as a guide to Kadmus[236]
appeared there, and that the place was so called from her; for the
Phoenicians call the cow Thor. As Sulla was approaching Chaeroneia, the
tribune who was stationed in the city led out the soldiers under arms,
and met him with a chaplet of bay. No sooner had Sulla received the
chaplet, and after saluting the soldiers, encouraged them to the
approaching battle, than two Chaeroneians (Homoloichus and Anaxidamos)
presented themselves to him and undertook to drive the enemy from
Thurium if he would give them a few soldiers. They said there was a
path unknown to the barbarians, leading from the place called
Petrachus by the Museum[237] to the highest point of Thurium, and that
by taking this direction they could, without difficulty, fall on the
enemy and either roll stones down upon them from above or drive them
into the plain. As Gabinius bore testimony to the courage and fidelity
of the men, Sulla bade them make the attempt; and in the mean time he
formed his line and distributed his cavalry on each flank, himself
taking the right and giving Murena the command on the left. The legati
Galba[238] and Hortensius, with some reserved cohorts in the rear,
occupied the neighbouring