A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

THEMISTOCLES. THEMISTOCLES. 1027
of Thellistocles saved Greece. Either at this time wooden walls, and Themistocles, who may have
or somewhat later he persuaded the Athenians to suggested the answer of the oracle, also gave it an
pass a decree that twenty new ships should be interpretation, saying that they must take refuge
built every year. in their fleet. Accordingly he recommended that
When news arrived of the immense armament Athens should be left to the care of its tutelary
of Xerxes, the Athenians deliberated about choosing deity, and that the women, children, and infirm
a commander. Themistocles had no rival atAthens persons should be removed to Salamis, Aegina, and
except Epicydes, who was strong with his tongue, Troezen, which was done. The people of Troezen
but weak in spirit. Themistocles, fearing that received most hospitably the fugitives, and provided
matters would go ill if this incompetent man was for their maintenance at the public expense. The
elected commander-in-chief, bought off his opposition united fleet of the Greeks was now assembled at
and was elected himself (Plut. T/ieinist. 6). There Salamis, consisting both of ships from Artelllisiunr
can be no doubt that Themistocles was ambitious to and the navy which was stationed at Troezen; in
have the command, and his ambition was justified al' three hundred and seventy-eight ships, besides
by his talents. A body of men was sent by sea to penteconters (Herod. viii. 48). Ill the mean time
Alus in Achaea, whence they marched to the pass the Persian army advanced through Boeotia, and
of Tempe, under the command of Thelllistocles and entered Attica, destroying all before them. Athens
Euaenetos, a Spartan, to make a stand against the also was occupied by them, and the Acropolis was
army of Xerxes; but after a few days this force burnt. The Greek confederates assembled at Saretreated to their ships in alarm before Xerxes had lamis were alarmed, and many of them were
crossed over to Europe from Abydos (Herod. vii. preparing to escape in their vessels. In this
173; Plut. Tihenzist. 7). The Thessalians being thus emergency Mlnesiphilus, a friend of Themistocles,
deserted, joined the Persians, and all Greece as far hearing from him that the Greeks had resolved ill
south as Boeotia also went over to them. Upon council to withdraw to the Isthmus, and fight a
this the Greek confederates held a council at the naval battle there, urged him to prevent so fatal a
isthmus of Corinth, in which it was resolved to step, and to induce Eurybiades to stay. Themismake a stand against the Persians at Thermopylae, tocles, who was of the same opinion as Mnesiphilus,
and to send the fleet to Artemisium on the north- prevailed on Eurybiades to hold a fresh council of
west coast of Euboea, where it could watch the war, in which Themistocles showed the conseoperations of the forces at Thermopylae. Themis- quences of the intended movement. Adimantus
tocles showed his magnlanimnity by offering to serve the Corinthian insolently told Themistocles to be
under Eurybiades, the Spartan, though the Athe- silent, and said that a lluan who had no city ought
nians furnished a greater number of ships than the not to speak in the council. Themistocles rated
Spartans. The Persian fleet sustained great loss him soundly and his countrymen of Corinth too;
on the coast of Thessaly from bad weather (Herod. and added, that the Athenians had a larger country
vii. 190), but at last it reached Aphetae. Eury- and city than the Corinthians, inasmuch as they
biades being alarmed at the approach of this great had two hundred vessels, and that no Greek stale
force meditated a retreat to Southern Greece (He- could resist such a force if attacked by it. Then
rod. viii. 4; Plut. Themnist. 7); but the Euboeans, turning to Eurybiades, he told him that if he did
who were afraid of being deserted at this critical not stay there, he would cause the ruin of Greece,
time, before they should be able to put their women for that all the power of the Greeks was in their
and children in a place of safety, gave Themistocles fleet; and that if they would not fight at Salamis,
thirty talents, part of which he gave to Eurybiades the Athenians would sail off to Italy, and tIhe
and to Adimnantus, the Corinthian commander, and Greeks being left alone would then remember what
thus induced them to stay and hazard a battle. he had said. Eurybiades at last yielded, and it
The Greeks had the advantage in the naval engage- was determined to stay at Salamis.
ments off Artemisium, and the Persianl fleet was On the arrival of the huge armament of Xerxes,
damaged by another storm; but the Greek fleet consisting of twelve hundred vessels, in the Saronic
also suffered in the battle, and half of the Athenian gulf, the fears of the Greeks were renewed, and a
ships were disabled (Herod. viii. 18). The fights fresh council was held, in which it was proposed
off Artemisium took place on the same days on by the rest of the Greeks to sail off to the Pelowhich Leonidas and his little band fought with the ponnesus, while the Athenians, Aeginetue, and
Persians at Thermopylae. The Greek fleet retired people of Megaris, still urged that they should keep
to Salamis opposite the south-western coast of their position (Herod. viii. 74). Them!istocles,
Attica. Before leaving Artemisium Themlistocles however, frustrated the plan of the dissentient
cut oil the rocks and on pieces of stone an address Greeks. He sent a faith ul slave, named Sicinnus,
to the Ioniains, who were in the fleet of Xerxes, in a boat to the Persian commanders, with a Ineshoping that either the Iomlians might be detached sage to this effect: that the Athenian commander,
from the cause of Xerxes, if what he had written without the knowledge of the other commanders,
should not become known to the king, or that if inasmuch as he wished success to the king's cause,
the king should be informed of what was written, had sent him to say that the Greeks were alarmed,
he might suspect the fidelity of the Ionians and and intended to make their escape, and that the
not let them engage in the sea-fights. (Herod. viii. Persians had now the opportunity of accomplishing
22.) a noble enterprise, if they would only cut off the
It was the plan of the Peloponnesians to retire retreat of the Greeks. The Persians believed what
within the peninsula, and to build a wall across the they were told, and took their measures accordingly.
isthmus, and the fleet had withdrawn to Salalnis only They landed a large force on Psyttaleia, a little
at the entreaty of the Athenlianls to allow the mi islanld in the channel which separates Salamis from
time to remove their women and children fiomll the Attic coast, and about midnight the Persian
Attica. An answer of the oracle of Delphi had fleet occupied the whole of the channel uetweemn
advised the Athenians to defend themselves with Salamis and the maiilland as far as Munychia,
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