Our best source for the Celtic invasion of Greece in 279 BC is in the second century AD geographer Pausanias’ Description of Greece. In the final book, he describes Phocis, the region in which the oracle at Delphi was located. Much of the book is, therefore, dedicated to a description of Delphi. As so often in his work, however, here too Pausanias takes the time to digress in great depth on the history related to a particular monument. His lengthy description of the Celtic invasion (10.19.5–23.14) does not disappoint.
Pausanias begins his account of the Celtic invasion by stating he has mentioned it before when he described the Athenian boule Council Chamber. He did so back in book one, setting out how among the paintings in the Chamber, there was one by Olbiades showing Callippus who led the Athenians to Thermopylae to halt the Celtic invasion (1.3.5). In book ten, Pausanias tells us he has reserved his actual description of the invasion until now because, at Delphi “the greatest of the Greek exploits against the barbarians took place” (10.19.5).
Pausanias tells us that under their leader Cambaules, the Celts advanced as far as Thrace but realized they did not have the strength to match the Greeks. When another expedition was mounted in late 280 or early
