History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides

Thucydides, Vol. 1-4. Smith, Charles Foster, translator. London and Cambridge, MA: Heinemann and Harvard University Press, 1919-1923.

But as the sacrifices for crossing the border[*](The sacrifices offered to Zeus by the Spartan kings before crossing the border.) were not favourable, they went back home themselves, and sent word to their allies, after the coming month— the Carneian month,[*](Corresponding to the Attic Metageitnion, nearly our August.) a holiday among the Dorians—to prepare to take the field.