death of Miltiades after a failed attack on Paros and the successful taking of Lemnos Book VII (Polymnia) The amassing of an army by Darius after learning about the defeat at Marathon () The quarrel between Ariabignes and Xerxes over which son should succeed Darius in which Xerxes is chosen (-3) The death of Darius in 486 BC () The defeat of the Egyptian rebels by Xerxes The advice given to Xerxes on invading Greece: Mardonius for invasion, Artabanus against (-10) The dreams of Xerxes in which a phantom frightens him and Artabanus into choosing invasion The preparations for war, including building the Xerxes Canal and Xerxes' Pontoon Bridges across the Hellespont The offer by Pythius to give Xerxes all his money, in which Xerxes rewards him The request by Pythius to allow one son to stay at home, Xerxes's anger, and the march out between the butchered halves of Pythius's sons The destruction and rebuilding of the bridges built by the Egyptians and Phoenicians at Abydos The siding with Persia of many Greek states, including Thessaly, Thebes, Melia, and Argos The refusal of aid after negotiations by Gelo of Syracuse, and the refusal from Crete The destruction of 400 Persian ships due to a storm The small Greek force (approx. 7,000) led by Leonidas I, sent to Thermopylae to delay the Persian army (~5,283,220 (Herodotus) ) The Battle of Thermopylae in which the Greeks hold the pass for 3 days The secret pass divulged by Ephialtes of Trachis, which Hydarnes uses to lead forces around the mountains to encircle the Greeks The retreat of all but the Spartans, Thespians, and Thebans (forced to stay by the Spartans). The Greek defeat and order by Xerxes to remove Leonidas's head and attach his torso to a cross Book VIII (Urania) Greek fleet is led by Eurybiades, a Spartan commander who led the Greek fleet after the meeting at the Isthmus 481 BC, The destruction by storm of two hundred ships sent to block the Greeks from escaping The retreat of the Greek fleet after word of a defeat at Thermopylae The supernatural rescue of Delphi from a Persian attack The evacuation of Athens assisted by the fleet The reinforcement of the Greek fleet at Salamis Island, bringing the total ships to 378 The destruction of Athens by the Persian land force after difficulties with those who remained The Battle of Salamis,