The Twitter Herodotus

7.111 The Satrae have never been subject to anyone, so far as we know. An oracle of Dionysus is in their territory, high in the mountains.

7.112 Xerxes passed through the land of the Satrae. Then he passed Mount Pangaeus and its gold and silver mines, keeping it to his right.

7.113 He arrived at Eïon & the Strymon River, where the Magi cut the throats of some white horses by way of seeking a favorable omen.

7.114 The Persians crossed the river at Nine Roads. Because of the name, they buried alive 9 local boys & girls--a Persian custom of sorts.

7.115 Xerxes continued west from the Strymon, making the people in those parts join his army or navy, as appropriate.

7.116 When he got to Acanthus, Xerxes named the Acanthians his guest-friends. This was due to their having built the canal through Athos.

7.117 While Xerxes was there, the canal's chief architect died, Artachaees. He was about 8 feet tall and had the loudest voice in the world.

7.118 The cities that hosted Xerxes' army on his march were devastated by the experience due to the enormous expense of feeding so many men.

7.119 Corn had to be prepared months in advance, cattle fattened, & gold & silver bowls prepared. And the army took everything when it left.

7.120 Someone remarked at the time that the people of Abdera, who had hosted Xerxes, should be thankful the king only ate once a day.