--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This headland was [34] the point to which…" description: "\"“This headland was [34] the point to which Xerxes’ engineers carried their two bridges from Abydos – a distance of seven furlongs. One was constructed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg" --- # This headland was \[34\] the point to which Xerxes’… ![“This headland was [34] the point to which Xerxes’ engineers carried their two bridges from Abydos – a distance of seven furlongs. One was constructed by the Phoenicians using flax cables, the other by the Egyptians with papyrus cables. The work was successfully completed, but a subsequent storm of…” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg) > ““This headland was \[34\] the point to which Xerxes’ engineers carried their two bridges from Abydos – a distance of seven furlongs. One was constructed by the Phoenicians using flax cables, the other by the Egyptians with papyrus cables. The work was successfully completed, but a subsequent storm of great violence smashed it up and carried everything away. Xerxes was very angry when he \[35\] learned of the disaster, and gave orders that the Hellespont should receive three hundred lashes and have a pair of fetters thrown into it. I have heard before now that he also sent people to brand it with hot irons. He certainly instructed the men with the whips to utter, as they wielded them, the barbarous and presumptuous words: ‘You salt and bitter stream, your master lays this punishment upon you for injuring him, who never injured you. But Xerxes the King will cross you, with or without your permission. No man sacrifices to you, and you deserve the neglect by your acid and muddy waters.’ In addition to punishing the Hellespont Xerxes gave orders that the men responsible for building the bridges should have their heads cut off.17 The men who received these invidious orders duly carried them \[36\] out, and other engineers completed the work.”” [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Xerxes punished the Hellespont and its builders after a storm destroyed his bridges, showing how leaders may blame nature and punish subordinates for failures beyond their control. **In simple terms:** A ruler blamed a river and killed the engineers after a storm ruined his bridges. Key Takeaway Recognize when blame is misdirected and avoid scapegoating. Themes power punishment nature leadership Mood reflective critical Type historical political When to use this quote - military engineering - political leadership - disaster response - historical analysis Key Concepts retribution scapegoating authority human error Questions to Reflect On - Do we still blame natural forces for our failures? - How can leaders respond constructively to unforeseen setbacks? A Different Perspective The account may exaggerate for dramatic effect, reflecting ancient storytelling conventions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Injured Xerxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injured-xerxes-5490790/) [Punishing Hellespont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishing-hellespont-5490789/) [Xerxes Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xerxes-angry-5490786/) [Xerxes Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xerxes-engineers-5490788/) [Xerxes Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xerxes-gave-5490787/) ## Related quotes > [Haste in every business brings failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/haste-in-every-business-brings-failures/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Those who are guided by reason are generally successful in their plans; those who are rash and precipitate seldom enjoy the favour of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/those-who-are-guided-by-reason-are-generally-successful-in-their/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Of all possessions a friend is the most precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/of-all-possessions-a-friend-is-the-most-precious/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Unless a variety of opinions are laid before us, we have no opportunity of selection, but are bound of necessity to adopt the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/unless-a-variety-of-opinions-are-laid-before-us-we-have-no/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [To think well and to consent to obey someone giving good advice are the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/to-think-well-and-to-consent-to-obey-someone-giving-good-advice-are/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/circumstances-rule-men-men-do-not-rule-circumstances/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [ They \[the Persians\] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deliberate-on-matters-of-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. 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One was constructed by the Phoenicians using flax cables, the other by the Egyptians with papyrus cables. The work was successfully completed, but a subsequent storm of great violence smashed it up and carried everything away. Xerxes was very angry when he [35] learned of the disaster, and gave orders that the Hellespont should receive three hundred lashes and have a pair of fetters thrown into it. I have heard before now that he also sent people to brand it with hot irons. He certainly instructed the men with the whips to utter, as they wielded them, the barbarous and presumptuous words: ‘You salt and bitter stream, your master lays this punishment upon you for injuring him, who never injured you. But Xerxes the King will cross you, with or without your permission. No man sacrifices to you, and you deserve the neglect by your acid and muddy waters.’ In addition to punishing the Hellespont Xerxes gave orders that the men responsible for building the bridges should have their heads cut off.17 The men who received these invidious orders duly carried them [36] out, and other engineers completed the work.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herodotus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which-xerxes-engineers-carried/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Xerxes Angry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which-xerxes-engineers-carried/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1e/herodotus-2844_quote_this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which_1498935.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This headland was [34] the point to which Xerxes’ engineers carried their two bridges from Abydos – a…” — Herodotus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herodotus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This headland was [34] the point...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which-xerxes-engineers-carried/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/this-headland-was-34-the-point-to-which-xerxes-engineers-carried/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```