Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/95

BATTLES OF THERMOPYL^ AND ARTESUSIUM. 71 (he states which took the pledge, but it cannot have contributed much to intimidate the rest. To display their own force, was the only effective way of keeping together doubtful allies ; and the pass of Thennopylse was now fixed upon as the most convenient point of defence, next to that of Tempe, — leaving out indeed, and abandoning to the enemy, Thessalians, Perrhaebians, Magnetes, Phthiotid Achseans, Dolopes, ^nianes, Malians, etc., who would all have been included if the latter line had been adhered to ; but com- prising the largest range consistent with safety. The position of Thermopylte presented another advantage which was not to be found at Tempe ; the mainland was here separated from the island of Euboea only by a narrow strait, about two English miles and a half in its smallest breadth, between mount Knemis and cape Kengeum. On the northern portion of Euboea, im- mediately facing Magnesia and Achgea Phthiotis, was situated the line of coast called Artemisium : a name derived from the temple of Artemis, which was its most conspicuous feature, be- longing to the town of Histiaea. It was arranged that the Gre- cian fleet should be mustered there, in order to cooperate with the land-force, and to oppose the progress of the Persians on both elements at once. To fight in a narrow spaced was sup- posed favorable to the Greeks on sea not less than on land, inas- much as their ships were both fewer in number and heavier in sailing than those in the Persian service. From the position of Artemisium, it was calculated that they might be able to prevent the Persian fleet from advancing into the narrow strait which severs Euboea, to the north and west, from the mainland, and which, between Chalkis and Boeotia, becomes not too wide for a bridge. It was at this latter point that the Greek seamen would have preferred to place their defence : but the occupation of the northern part of the Euboean strait was indispensable to prevent the Persian fleet from landing troops in the rear of the defenders of Thermopylae. Of this Euboean strait, the western limit is formed by what ' Hcrodot. viii, 15-60. Compare Isokrates, Panegyric, Or. iv, p. 59. I shall have occasion presently to remark the revolution which took place in Athenian feeling on this point between the Persian and Pelopon Tteaian wars.