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The chronology here implied for the ten years (cf. Thuc. i. 18) between Marathon and Salamis would seem to be the following:

490 B. C. (autumn). Marathon.

490 B. C. (winter)—487 B. C. (spring). Orders given for another expedition, followed by three years (ἐπὶ τρία ἔτεα, vii. 1. 2), but apparently not full years (cf. inf.), of preparations.

487 B. C. (τετάρτῳ ἔτεϊ, vii. 1. 3). Revolt of Egypt.

486 B. C. (autumn τῷ ὑστέρῳ ἔτεϊ). Death of Darius; cf. vii. 4 n.

485 B. C. Xerxes reduces Egypt (δευτέρῳ ἔτεϊ μετὰ τὸν θάνατον τὸν Δαρείου, vii. 7).

484 (spring)—480 (spring). Four full years of preparation (τέσσερα ἔτεα πλήρεα, vii. 20. 1).

480 (spring). In the spring of the fifth year the expedition proper begins with the march from Sardis (vii. 37. 1 ἅμα τῷ ἔαρι παρεσκευασμένος στρατὸς ἐκ τῶν Σαρδίων ὁρμᾶτο). The march of the king from Susa by Critalla belongs to the preparations for the expedition.

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