The Twitter Herodotus

7.1 When Darius heard about Marathon, he began preparing a 2nd expedition to Greece. Work went on for 3  yrs. In the 4th yr. Egypt revolted.

7.2 Darius’ sons Artobazanes & Xerxes debated which shd be chosen heir. A. was eldest, by D.’s 1st wife, but X was the grandson of Cyrus.

7.3 Demaratus of Sparta came to Susa. He told Xerxes to argue that he (unlike bro) was born when Darius was king. X. did & was named heir.

7.4 The year after he'd named Xerxes his successor, Darius died. He'd ruled for 36 yrs. It was not his lot to punish either Egypt or Athens.

7.5 Xerxes, now king, wasn't interested in invading Greece, but his cousin Mardonius argued that he needed to punish the Athenians.

7.6 Mardonius was motivated by his desire to be made satrap of Greece. Some Thessalian Aleuadae and the exiled Pisistratids also wanted war.

7.7 Xerxes was persuaded. First, however, he put down the rebellion in Egypt, and he made his brother Achaemenes satrap there.

7.8 Xerxes summoned his nobles & told them of his plans to subdue Greece &, while he was at it, the rest of Europe. He asked their opinions.

7.9 Mardonius spoke 1st. The way the Greeks fight is stupid, he said. They prob. won't dare to meet us in battle. If they do, they'll lose.

7.10 Xerxes' uncle Artabanus (who'd also opposed Darius' Scythian venture) rebuked Mardonius & pointed out the dangers of a Grk expedition.