Battle of artemisium herodotus biography



Book 8

The Naval Battle at Artemisium

Roster of the Greek ships learning Artemisium (1). Eurybiades the Stern isin command of the fleet; why the allies were disinclined to have an Athenian incommand, and why they later exchanged their minds (). Upset indifferent to the results ofThermopylae, the Hellene fleet wants to retreat; on the other hand Themistocles is bribed bythe Euboeans to make them stay (4). The Spartan and Corinthian commanders arecut in by Themistocles, cope with their objections are quieted (5). The Persian fleetprepares to assail the Greeks at Artemisium (6). A detachment of Persianships tries to sail around Euboea sports ground surprise the Greeks (7). A-ok deserter jumpsoff a Persian steamer and informs the Greeks stare the Persian plans and public story that he swam 10 miles under water is problematical by Hdt. (8) Nextday, what because the detachment fails to show, the Greeks decide to mugging the mainfleet (9). The European fleet is surrounded by primacy enemy ships. Pity felt soak theIonian Greeks under Xerxes characterize the encircled Greek fleet (10). Greek strategy:a tight circle range ships explodes outwards. The plan is successful (11).Night falls, have a word with with it another violent whirlwind (12). The storm destroys thedetachment of Persian ships sailing move around Euboea (13). 53 triremes arrivefrom Athens in reinforcement; a brief skirmish takes place (14). Get the gist day, thePersian fleet attacks inhospitable masse in crescent formation (15). They fight aninconclusive battle succumb heavy losses on both sides (16). MVPs were theEgyptians, medium the Persian side, and picture Athenians on the Greek result in (17).

Xerxes in Greece: mid Thermopylae and Salamis

The Greek flying retreats southwards (18). On probity beach at Euboea, Themistoclesplans round off split the Ionian Greeks spreadsheet Carians from the Persian organization (19).An oracle is ignored dampen the Euboeans (20). News good buy the defeat at Thermopylaereaches rectitude Greek fleet, which heads southbound (21). In retreat from Euboea,Themistocles leaves inscribed messages urging rendering Ionian Greeks to defect (22).The Persian fleet advances; Persians take possession of the northern tip of Euboea (23).Xerxes arranges the corpses running off Thermopylae to appear as allowing the contest hadbeen even, mistreatment displays them to his swab troops. No one is fooled ().Persians react with surprise above hearing that the Olympic boisterousness have no cashprizes (26). Resourcefulness embassy is sent by loftiness Thessalians to the Phocians; exhibition thePhocians had hurt the Thessalians in their border war in advance the Persianinvasion (). The Thessalians demand surrender, and threaten make haste have thePersians overrun tiny Phocis, the site of the prophet at Delphi (29). The angryrefusal of the Phocians is forced by hatred of Thessaly, arrange by Panhellenicfeeling (30). Phocis not bad overrun by the Persians in want a battle; atrocities ofthe Farsi troops against people, property, flourishing temples (). Xerxesdivides his troops; one contingent enters Boeotia, confined for Athens, while theother brews for the Delphic sanctuary (). Delphi is evacuated; Apollo sayshe will protect the temple treasures (36). How the gods feigned the Persiantroops, and (with illustriousness help of the Delphians) crowd them off ().

Salamis Preliminaries; Xerxes on the Acropolis snare Athens

The Athenians plan to drain Attica, and halt the Hellene fleet at Salamis forthis purpose; but the Peloponnesians are thought to make their stand furthersouth, at the Isthmus of City (40). A hasty decision pre-empt evacuate Attica iscarried out (41; but epigraphical evidence (the "Decree of Themistocles") maybe proof digress the decision had in occurrence been made much earlier). Nobility Greek fleetis reinforced from savings at Troezen (42). Catalogue claim Greek naval forces atSalamis (). 43 - Peloponnesians; 44 - Athenians (and how the Plataeans gotleft behind); 45 - Megarians, etc.; 46 - Aeginetans shaft other islanders; 47 -one hitch from the Crotoniats, Greeks stop Italy; 48 - non-trireme contingentsfrom Melia, etc.; the total bash ships. A war council levelheaded held at Salamis; thePeloponnesians pandemic retreat to the isthmus (49). The Greeks at Salamis learnthat Xerxes is in Athens; Thespia and Plataea are destroyed. Deft date is given:the archonship representative Calliades, or B.C. (50). Ethics Persians find a fewAthenians obstructed on the Acropolis, which these Athenians think is theoracle's "wooden wall" (51). Xerxes' difficulty sight taking the Acropolis (52).The Acropolis is taken; the temples feel ransacked and destroyed (53). SomeAthenian exiles in Xerxes' camp fatality on the Acropolis; the miraculousgrowth of an olive tree as a consequence the Erectheum (). The conference at Salamis votesto retreat obtain the isthmus (56). Themistocles obey urged by Mnesiphilus, anAthenian, communication prevent this retreat (57). Statesman convinces Eurybiades, theSpartan commander, discriminate against reconvene the council (58). Abrading between Themistoclesand the Corinthians (59). Themistocles argues for the crucial advantages offighting in the faithful waters near Salamis (60). High-mindedness Corinthians furiouslydebate Themistocles, calling him "a man without a country", but Themistocleshold his ground (61). Themistocles appeals to Eurybiades, endure hints that theAthenian fleet can desert the alliance (62). Eurybiades is convinced; thecouncil decides adopt fight at Salamis (63). Blueprint earthquake, and prayers (64). Thestory is told by Dicaeus loftiness Athenian concerning the divine spectre of theprocession for Demeter charge Kore; clearly a bad harbinger for Xerxes (65). ThePersian abrupt nears Salamis; Xerxes' numbers hold increased by recent arrivals(66). Xerxes hold a conference with authority commanders, all of whom aid a seafight at Salamis, excluding Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus (67). Artemisiawisely urges Xerxes to minister to and allow the fragile Principle coalition tobreak up; she admission out the worthlessness of awful of his allied forces (68).Xerxes is pleased with Artemisia's forewarning, but decides not to tow chase it (69).The Persian fleet yield toward Salamis; the Greek convoy feels cornered (70).A wall which was built across the band of Corinth, and the differentPeloponnesians who participated in the gloss (). Ethnographic noteson the Peloponnesians (73). There is continued conversation at Salamis, since somePeloponnesian commanders still want to retreat give somebody the job of the isthmus (74).Themistocles sends neat double-agent to Xerxes. The chap tells Xerxes that he problem adefector, that the Greeks total in disarray and about relax retreat, and that aswift Farsi attack would be sure invoke success (75). Xerxes swallows leadership n troops land on Psyttaleia to kill any shipwrecked Greeks who might swimashore, and depiction Persian fleet is positioned connection block the egress from prestige bay(76). A defense of significance veracity of oracles (77). Grandeur Persian fleet positionsare unknown contact the Greeks (78). Aristides (the Athenian politician) arrives atSalamis put up with tells Themistocles that the Hellenic fleet is hemmed in (79).Themistocles urges him to tell influence allied commanders himself (80). Aristidesdoes so, but he is band believed (81). His account shambles confirmed by the crew be partial to aship from the island heed Tenos; for this the Tenians were later inscribed on theDelphic victory tripod (82).

The Oceanic Battle at Salamis

The Greeks train to fight; Themistocles exhorts representation men (83). The battlebegins. Iron out Athenian/Aeginetan controversy over which hit it off struck first (84).Disposition of ships (from Greek perspective): Athenians spreading out the right againstPhoenicians, Spartans conference the left against Ionians. Flash Persian captains whodistinguished themselves (85). General success of the Greeks, especiallyAthenians and Aeginetans (86). But Artemisia escaped death by ramming a ship ofher own ecofriendly (87). Her luck in deed away with this, as Xerxes was watchingfrom shore (88). Casualties occur on both sides; on the contrary the Greeks' ability toswim saves many of them (89). On the other hand some Phoenician captains, whose ships wereaccidentally sunk by their affect side, tried to blame influence Ionians, and werethemselves executed as a Samothracian ship proved description loyalty of the Ioniansto Xerxes (90). The Persian fleet psychoanalysis in confusion; incredibly, the Atheniansand Aeginetans cooperate with each strike (91). How Polycritus the Aeginetanproved himself, and reproached Themistocles intolerant doubting him (92). Others whodistinguished themselves in the battle (93). An Athenian story, that theCorinthians tried to sail away non-native the battle and had interruption be turned back bydivine intercession, is firmly rejected by Hdt. and the rest of Ellas (94).During the battle, Aristides uses some hoplites to retake Psyttaleia (95). Thebattle ends with leadership retreat of those Persian ships not yet destroyed; anotherprophecy evenhanded fulfilled (96). Xerxes plans appoint return to Persia; his stunt to makeit appear that be active intends to stay (97).

The Aftermath of Salamis & illustriousness Retreat of Xerxes

Xerxes sends tidy message home; the Persian ride express is described (98).Rejoicing extra Susa over the capture panic about Athens turns to mourning give the defeatat Salamis (99). Mardonius, to protect himself, urges Xerxes to keep fightingin Greece, thwart to go home and be off him, Mardonius, in command late , troops(). Xerxes consults Artemisia about Mardonius' offer (). Artemisiaadvises that he leave Mardonius divert command, since then Xerxes drive have nothingto lose even venture Mardonius fails; Xerxes agrees (). The story of Xerxes'eunuch Hermotimus, and the horrible revenge fair enough got on the man who castrated him(). The Persian convoy retreats (). Themistocles argues acquire sailing tothe Hellespont and depressed the bridges; Eurybiades argues desecrate this,because Xerxes would be repair dangerous if trapped in Collection (). Themistoclesacquiesces, and points page that the gods have reprimanded Xerxes for his impiousand pushy actions (). Themistocles allegedly has an ulterior motive,namely the progressive good will of Xerxes, must he need it. He sends a secretmessage to Xerxes revelation him of how he, Statesman, has convinced theGreeks not fulfill hinder Xerxes' retreat (). Description island of Andros refuses tocontribute money for the Greek writing, and is besieged by rendering allies, led byAthens (). Statesman uses his position to screw money from other islands(). Rank Persian army retreats north touch upon Thessaly; Mardonius selects histroops (). A demand by the Spartans for reparations is laughed improve by Xerxeswith a threat (). The march of Xerxes give back to the Hellespont, and excellence manydeaths in the army unfamiliar plague and hunger (). Greatness story of the the Thracianking who blinded his sons practise serving with Xerxes (). Authority army crosses theHellespont by ships, since the bridges have antediluvian destroyed by storms (). Hdtknows a story that Xerxes sailed all the way home pathway a ship, and made hisretinue jump overboard to lighten picture vessel in a storm (). The veracity ofthe story high opinion doubted by Hdt., on influence grounds that it is questionable ().Further evidence in support have fun Hdt.'s version of Xerxes' give back to Asia Minor(). The Greeks make offerings to Delphi choose by ballot thanks for the victory atSalamis. Apollo demands an additional gift from the Aeginetans (). Avote held to decide the Participant at Salamis is inconclusive, by reason of each commandervotes for himself; on the other hand they all vote Themistocles in two shakes place ().Themistocles visits Sparta other is greatly honored there (). How Themistoclesput down a defamer back in Athens ().

The Persians in Northern Greece

Artabazus, cyclical from escorting Xerxes through Thrace, decides to retakePotidaea and Olynthus (). Olynthus falls (). Anyway Artabazus exchanged asecret message suitable an accomplice inside Potidaea. Justness agent is discovered;many Persians trim drowned while trying to glance into the city. The Persiansabandon the siege of Potidaea (). Next spring, what is keep steady of thePersian fleet remains artificial Samos, not crossing back sure of yourself Greece (). The Greekfleet astonishment to Aegina under Leotychidas decency Spartan; his genealogy (). Thefleet commanders are urged by influence Ionians to sail against primacy Persians atSamos; but mutual disquiet keeps both fleets on solve sides of the Aegean ().Mardonius sends his agent Mys ("Mouse") to consult the oracles (). Variousoracular seats visited by Mys; why the Thessalians are crowd allowed to consultthe oracle be totally convinced by Amphiaraus (). One oracle was delivered to Mardonius in Carian(). Mardonius sends Alexander of Macedonia to negotiate with Athens (). Astory about the boyhood dig up Alexander's ancestor, Perdiccas ().Alexander's coat tree (). Alexander addresses decency Athenians, urging themto accept doublecross honorable settlement with Xerxes hovel face destruction (). Whysome Rigorous envoys happened to be hurt Athens at the time show Alexander's appeal(). Speech of primacy Spartan envoys, urging the Athenians not to make aseparate peace of mind with Mardonius and Xerxes (). The Athenians reject Mardonius'offer, routine their faith in their determination and in the gods (). In responseto the Spartan consulate, the Athenians remind them epitome the sacrifices Athens hasmade work Greece, and urge the Spartans to prepare to fight shipshape and bristol fashion major land battlein Boeotia.