13 moments

1. Royal residence at Babylon

   0498-01-01 BC · Royal Palace, Babylon, Babylonia

   

   Xerxes resided in the royal palace of Babylon from 498 BC, during his years as crown prince under Darius I. The exact palace location is represented by the archaeological site of Babylon.

2. Egyptian revolt campaign

   0484-01-01 BC · Egypt

   

   Soon after his accession, Xerxes personally led the campaign that suppressed the Egyptian revolt; the revolt was suppressed in January 484 BC. The source establishes Xerxes's presence in Egypt but does not identify a specific city; coordinates are a representative point for Egypt.

3. Winter quarters before the Greek invasion

   0481-01-01 BC · Sardis, Lydia, Anatolia

   

   Xerxes led the eastern-satrapy forces to Sardis, where the army spent the winter before advancing toward the Hellespont. The source dates the wintering at Sardis to 481–480 BC; this card uses the earliest supported year.

4. Crossing of the Hellespont

   0480-01-01 BC · Hellespont at Abydos, between Anatolia and Thrace

   

   Xerxes crossed from Abydos into Europe with his army using the pontoon bridge over the Hellespont. Coordinates mark a representative point in the historically reported bridge-crossing corridor between Abydos and Sestos.

5. Departure from Sardis

   0480-01-01 BC · Sardis, Lydia, Anatolia

   

   Xerxes reached Sardis during the invasion march and sent heralds to Greek cities before preparing to proceed to Abydos. The canonical chronology places his departure from Sardis in spring 480 BC.

6. March through Celaenae

   0480-01-01 BC · Celaenae, Phrygia, Anatolia

   

   During the opening march from Cappadocia toward Sardis and the Hellespont, Xerxes was at Celaenae, where the Lydian Pythius entertained him and his army. Ancient Celaenae is represented by the area of modern Dinar, Türkiye.

7. Muster at Doriscus

   0480-01-01 BC · Doriscus, Thrace, Greece

   

   After entering Europe, Xerxes assembled his land and naval forces at Doriscus and conducted a muster of the army. Coordinates are for the identified site of ancient Doriscus near the modern village of Doriskos, Greece.

8. Passage through Colossae

   0480-01-01 BC · Colossae, Phrygia, Anatolia

   

   Xerxes passed through Colossae during his westward march toward Lydia and the Hellespont. Coordinates represent the archaeological area of ancient Colossae near Honaz, Türkiye.

9. Return through Abdera

   0480-01-01 BC · Abdera, Thrace, Greece

   

   During his return from Athens toward Asia, Xerxes visited Abdera and established friendly relations with its inhabitants. The source distinguishes this reported visit from a separate, doubted anecdote about Xerxes loosening his girdle at Abdera.

10. Return to Sardis

    0480-01-01 BC · Sardis, Lydia, Anatolia

    

    After returning from Athens and the Greek campaign, Xerxes was again at Sardis, the Achaemenid administrative center in Lydia. Herodotus establishes Xerxes's return to Sardis but does not provide a more precise arrival date; 480 BC is used because the return followed Salamis in September 480 BC.

11. Review of forces at Abydos

    0480-01-01 BC · Abydos, Hellespont, Anatolia

    

    At Abydos, Xerxes watched his land forces and fleet from a prepared marble throne before the crossing into Europe. Coordinates represent the conventional site of ancient Abydos near Nara Burnu, Türkiye.

12. Visit to the Pergamum of Priam

    0480-01-01 BC · Hisarlik (ancient Troy), Troad, Anatolia

    

    On the route from Sardis to Abydos, Xerxes ascended the Pergamum of Priam to view the site associated with Troy and made an offering there. Coordinates identify Hisarlik, the conventional archaeological location of ancient Troy.

13. Winter camp after Salamis

    0480-01-01 BC · Thessaly, Greece

    

    After the Persian naval defeat at Salamis, Xerxes established his winter camp in Thessaly before continuing his return toward Asia. The source does not identify the camp's exact site; coordinates are a representative point in Thessaly. The winter occupation extended into 479 BC.