It was, therefore, the territory which the Persian armies would first enter, on turning the northwestern corner of the gean Sea.It would be far better for book brady fair guest them to fall back to Thermopyl, which, being a narrower and more rugged pass, could be more easily defended.The country between Thessaly and Macedon was mountainous, but it was not impassable, and Xerxes would very probably come by that way.It had its origin, however, according to the ancient legends, in the following singular occurrences At a very early period in the history of Sparta, when the people book brady fair guest had always been accustomed, like other states, to have one prince or chieftain, a certain prince died, leaving his wife, whose name was Argia, and two infant children, as his survivors.Xerxes was coming on, he said, with an immense and overwhelming force, one against which it would be utterly impossible for them to make good their defense at such a point as that.The town which was nearest to this spot book brady fair guest was Acanthus, the situation of which, together with that of the canal, will be found upon the map.Gelon was the King of Sicily, and Syracuse was his capital.It book brady fair guest is now called Corfu.They were entitled to the command of the whole, being, as they contended, the superior nation in rank, but they would waive their just claim, and be satisfied with half, if the Spartans would agree to that arrangement.This last book brady fair guest defile was close to the sea, and was called the Straits of Thermopyl.