The Bridge of Boats

Mandrocles' bridge

Mandrocles of Samos bridged the Bosporus with boats. Darius rewarded him richly, and he dedicated a painting of the crossing in the temple of Hera on Samos. Darius set up two pillars by the strait, listing his peoples.

In the game: The Ionian boatyard builds the bridge's boats.

Herodotus 4.83-89

Seven hundred thousand men?

Herodotus gives 700,000 men and 600 ships. No ancient army of the time could be fed in such numbers; modern historians think of a far smaller force. Even the date is uncertain, between about 519 and 512.

In the game: The muster shows a modern estimate, and says so.

Herodotus 4.87; Briant (2002) chapter 4

The Getae

On the march to the Ister, the Getae alone fought and were beaten. Herodotus says they believed in immortality and sent a messenger to their god Zalmoxis every few years.

Herodotus 4.93-96

The war without a battle

The Scythians drew the Persians east across the steppe, filling wells and burning the grass ahead of them, and would never stand. Their horsemen turned and struck when the Persians were strung out.

In the game: Scythian horse archers feign flight up to three times, and raid faster over the winter ice.

Herodotus 4.120-127

A bird, a mouse, a frog, five arrows

Herodotus says the Scythians sent Darius these gifts. Darius read them as surrender of earth and water; Gobryas read: unless you fly like birds, hide like mice or leap into the lakes like frogs, these arrows will kill you. It has the shape of a parable.

Herodotus 4.131-132

The Ionians at the bridge

The Scythians urged the Ionians to break the bridge. Miltiades of the Chersonese said yes; Histiaeus of Miletus said their own rule depended on Darius, and the bridge stood. Miltiades later won Marathon, and the story may have been told to his credit.

In the game: Hold the bridge for the King's return.

Herodotus 4.136-142

Rewards

Coes was made tyrant of Mytilene and Histiaeus was given land in Thrace. Then Darius took Histiaeus to Susa as an honoured adviser, out of reach of Miletus. From there the Ionian Revolt would begin.

Herodotus 5.11, 5.23-25