The Persians at Delphi

Upon hearing of the Greek withdrawal from Artemisium, Xerxes led the Persians to Histiaea to recover from their wounds. Meanwhile, the Thessalians went to the Phocians in an attempt to bring them over to the Persian side, which the Tessalians had joined. Out of hatred for the Thessalians, the Phocians refused to desert Greece, and Xerxes ravaged their country. Once they reached Panopes, "the army divided and one division, the stronger and more numerous, proceeded with Xerxes towards Athens..the other division of the army made with their guides for the temple at Delphi (VIII, 34)." The troops deployed to go to Delphi were sent with the express purpose of "plundering the temple at Delphi, and bringing its treasures to Xerxes (VIII, 35)."

Word that the Persians were heading towards Delphi sent the locals to their oracle. The temple replied that it could take care of itself, so most of the Delphians abandonded the town hiding their valuables. Just as the Persians were approaching, portents occurred. First, the sacred weapons from inside the temple moved out of it, and then "just as the Persians came to the shrine of Athene Pronea, thunderbolts fell on them from the sky, and two pinnacles of rock, torn from Parnassus, came crashing and rumbling down amongst them, killing a large number, while at the same time there was a battle cry from inside the shrine (VIII, 37)." The rocks caused so much chaos that the Persians turned and fled. Pursued by the remaining Delphians, they were slaughtered.