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ἄρχεται μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀσωποῦ ποταμοῦ. For the Asopus and its ravine cf. ch. 199 n. It is generally assumed that Hydarnes began by ascending the Asopus ravine, and these words, though they should not be pressed (as by Grundy, p. 299), favour that assumption. If so, Trachis must have been previously captured by the Persians (cf. ch. 203. 2 n.). But Pausanias (x. 22. 8) gives a different account: ἀτραπός ἐστι διὰ τοῦ ὄρους τῆς Οἴτης, μία μὲν ἡ ὑπὲρ Τραχῖνος ἀπότομός τε τὰ πλείω καὶ ὄρθιος δεινῶς, ἑτέρα δὲ ἡ διὰ τῆς Αἰνεάνων ὁδεῦσαι στρατῷ ῥᾴων, δἰ ἦς καὶ Ὑδάρνης ποτὲ Μῆδος κατὰ νώτου τοῖς περὶ Λεωνίδην ἐπέθετο Ἕλλησι. In the ‘steep and abrupt path starting above Trachis’ Munro (J. H. S. xxii. 313) recognizes the original of the modern high road. But the other was the path by which Hydarnes, and afterwards Brennus, turned Thermopylae (Paus. x. 22. 1 and 8). It was easier for an army and led through the territory of the Aenianes, i. e. round the western end of the Trachinian cliffs. Presumably it passed behind Trachis and connected with the Anopaea path in the valley of the Asopus above the gorge. The expression τὸν Ἀσωπὸν διαβάντες (ch. 217. 1) in Herodotus distinctly supports Pausanias' view given above, which is adopted by Munro (l. c.). Munro explains his views on the path taken by Hydarnes and on the position and conduct of the Phocians in C. A. H. iv. 293-7 with map. Ἀνόπαια, ‘upwards’; cf. Hom. Od. i. 320. Later writers call the mountain Callidromus (Plin. H. N. iv. 28; Strabo 428; Liv. xxxvi. 15) after one of its peaks (Liv. xxxvi. 16). It is now named Saromata, while the path is said to be called Μουνοπάτι. Ἀλπηνὸν πόλιν. More properly a village (κώμη, ch. 176. 5) by name Ἀλπηνοί (ch. 176. 2, 229. 1). It is suitably identified by Grundy (p. 290) with the remains of a walled acropolis on a hill which stands out into the plain . . . about half a mile beyond the East Gate. If this were captured, the defenders of Thermopylae would be cut off from supplies (ch. 176. 5) and all hope of retreat. Μελαμπύγου ... Κερκώπων. The Cercopes were two thievish mischievous dwarfs who stole the arms of Heracles while he slept on the rock here named and attacked him with them. But Heracles seized them and hung them head downwards from a pole he carried on his shoulders. In that position they jeered at the hinder parts of the hero tanned with exposure, and recognized in him the μελάμπυγος against whom their mother had warned them. Heracles amused at their droll way of telling this tale released them. The story is very old, appearing in a poem ascribed to Homer by Suidas (ψεύστας, ἠπεροπῆας, ἀμήχανα τ᾽ ἔργ᾽ ἀνύσαντας, ἐξαπατητῆρας), on an early metope from Selinus, and on archaic vases; cf. Lobeck, Aglaophamus, 1298. Probably some curious rocks fixed the place of the legend. For Heracles cf. 176. 3 n. τὸ στεινότατον: cf. 176. 2 n.
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