Alternatives, part I

Some different meanings occur now and then in the explicit meaning of crossing or crossing over, but these generally occur in the context of the strategic actions of war — making them weak alternatives to the dominant meaning. As the crossers “pursue” “the” “enemy,” for example, those pursued take flight and, in the process, cross as well. “Pursued” by the Persians, for example, the Scythians, “crossed the Tanais.” ¹ Ironically, when the Scythians arrive at the Agathrysi's neighboring territory, they are seen as invaders, and the Agathrysi stop them “to bar any invaders from crossing” — read invading. ² Histiaus, the planner of the Ionian revolt, “crossed to Chios” ³ to escape. During the first Persian invasion of Europe, the Athenians take the advice of the Eretrians, who were facing destruction, and “crossed over to Oropus [to] save themselves.” ⁴ Thucydides writes that Athens left the battle scene at Corcyra and “crossed over to the island opposite.” Once there, they “sent a herald, and took up under truce the bodies which they had left behind.” ⁵ During the Sicilian expedition, Alcibiades fled trial in Athens and, as “an outlaw, crossed in a boat & to the Peloponnese.” ⁶ He took flight, that is. In his flight from Alexander, Bessus “crossed the river Oxus &” ⁷ Antiochus left Thermopylae and “crossed to Ephesus” in retreat. ⁸