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τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδόν: by the same way as he had come; possibly Xerxes and his suite returned from the Thriasian plain by Eleutherae (ch. 65. 1 n.) to Thebes, though next year Mardonius is said to have gone by Decelea and Tanagra (ix. 15), but probably the army used all the practicable routes.

προπέμψαι. Considerations of transport and supply must have made it necessary for Mardonius to retire to Thessaly for winter quarters, and it was now October (ἀνωρίη). Only Artabazus' corps really escorted the king on his homeward way (ch. 126). For the force retained by Mardonius cf. Appendix XIX. 5.


τοὺς ἀθανάτους: cf. vii. 41. 2, 83. 1.

θωρηκοφόρους: cf. vii. 61. 1 n.

τὴν ἵππον τὴν χιλίην: in vii. 40, 41, and 55 it appears that there were two regiments of this strength. For the Medes cf. vii. 62, the Sacae and Bactrians vii. 64, and the Indians vii. 65.


ἓν δὲ ... αἱρέετο, ‘among the nations selected the Persian was in strongest force.’ Cf. Thuc. iii. 39ἀποφαίνω Μυτιληναίους μάλιστα δὴ μίαν πόλιν ἠδικηκότας ὑμᾶς”, iii. 113, viii. 40.

στρεπτοφόρους. For Persian ornaments cf. vii. 83. 2 n.; ix. 80. 2.

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    • Thucydides, Histories, 3.39
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