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As far as this point then, and on land, as far as Thermopylae, the
armament of Xerxes had been free from mischance; and the numbers were
still, according to my reckoning, of the following amount. First
there was the ancient complement of the twelve hundred and seven vessels
which came with the king from Asia - the contingents of the nations
severally - amounting, if we allow to each ship a crew of two hundred
men, to 241,400 - Each of these vessels had on board, besides
native soldiers, thirty fighting men, who were either Persians,
Medes, or Sacans; which gives an addition of 36,210. To
these two numbers I shall further add the crews of the penteconters;
which may be reckoned, one with another, at fourscore men each. Of
such vessels there were (as I said before) three thousand; and the
men on board them accordingly would be 240,000. This was the
sea force brought by the king from Asia; and it amounted in all to
517,610 men. The number of the foot soldiers was
1,700,000; that of the horsemen 80,000; to which must
be added the Arabs who rode on camels, and the Libyans who fought in
chariots, whom I reckon at 20,000. The whole number,
therefore, of the land and sea forces added together amounts to
2,317,610 men. Such was the force brought from Asia,
without including the camp followers, or taking any account of the
provision- ships and the men whom they had on board.
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