Just after Mardonius had reached Thebes, where he intended to give battle to the Greeks on ground of his own choosing, he was invited by a wealthy Theban man, together with 50 of his most distinguished nobles, to a sumptuous banquet. 50 of Thebans great nobles also attended this feast.

One of the Persian nobles there told the Theban that he was seated next to, a remarkable thing.

Tag words: Mardonius; Herodotus; JFC Fuller; Xerxes; Thermopylae; Salamis; Spartans; Athenians; Argos; Argives; Pausanias; John Marincola; Lacedaemonian; Thersander;