Note 106 — Chapter VI · THE MARCH OF THE PERSIAN ARMY. PREPARATIONS IN GREECE.
Reading edition
It has been asserted that this passage from Diodorus is drawn from the passage of Ephorus, of which the fragment is a survival. It would seem to me that the essential difference between the two points to a difference of origin, and that they are two pieces of evidence on the question, and not one.
Note on the Sequence of Events in Relation to the Negotiations with Gelo.
It would, perhaps, be a mistake to lay too much stress on the indications of date in Herodotus with reference to the somewhat crowded incidents of this time. The actual dates cannot be settled, though it is possible to arrive at some idea of Herodotus’ views as to the sequence of events.
(a.) The Greek spies were sent to Asia at the time when Xerxes’ army was collected at Sardes (vii. 146).
(b.) The embassies to Gelo, Argos, etc., were sent after the despatch of the spies (vii. 146, ad init., 148, ad init.).
(c.) Gelo, after the departure of the joint embassy (vii. 163), and when he heard that Xerxes had crossed the Hellespont (ibid.), sent the treasure-ships to Delphi.
(d.) Before he sent these vessels he knew that he had to expect a Carthaginian attack (vii. 165, ad fin.).
The evidence is inconclusive. We lack the means of deciding the sequence of the departure of the embassy and of the acquisition of the information with regard to the coming of the Carthaginian expedition.