Kitap 7
1.1
When the message concerning the fight at Marathon came to Darius son of Hystaspes, already greatly angry against the Athenians for their attack upon Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he was now much more angry and eager to send an expedition against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.
1.2
Immediately he sent messengers to all the cities and commanded them to equip an army, instructing each to provide many more ships and horses and provisions and transport vessels than they had before. Asia (continent)Asia was in commotion with these messages for three years,489-487. as the best men were enrolled for service against Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas and made preparations.
1.3
In the fourth year the Egyptians, whom Cambyses had enslaved, revolted from the Persians; thereupon Darius was even more eager to send expeditions against both.
2.1
But while Darius was making preparations against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt and Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, a great quarrel arose among his sons concerning the chief power in the land. They held that before his army marched he must declare an heir to the kingship according to Persian law.
2.2
Three sons had been born to Darius before he became king by his first wife, the daughter of Gobryas, and four more after he became king by Atossa daughter of Cyrus. Artobazanes was the oldest of the earlier sons, Xerxes of the later;
2.3
and as sons of different mothers they were rivals. Artobazanes pleaded that he was the oldest of all Darius' offspring and that it was everywhere customary that the eldest should rule; Xerxes argued that he was the son of Cyrus' daughter Atossa and that it was Cyrus who had won the Persians their freedom.
3.1
While Darius delayed making his decision, it chanced that at this time Demaratus son of Ariston had come up to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, in voluntary exile from Lacedaemonia after he had lost the kingship of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta.
