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The same night the land army of the barbarians began its march towards
the Peloponnese, where, however, all that was possible had been done
to prevent the enemy from forcing an entrance by land. As soon as ever
news reached the Peloponnese of the death of Leonidas and his
companions at Thermopylae, the inhabitants flocked together from the
various cities, and encamped at the Isthmus, under the command of
Cleombrotus, son of Anaxandridas, and brother of Leonidas. Here
their first care was to block up the Scironian Way; after which it
was determined in council to build a wall across the Isthmus. As the
number assembled amounted to many tens of thousands, and there was not
one who did not give himself to the work, it was soon finished.
Stones, bricks, timber, baskets filled full of sand, were used in
the building; and not a moment was lost by those who gave their aid;
for they laboured without ceasing either by night or day.
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