Salamis 480 BC: The Battle for Greece (Video)
In 480 BC, King Xerxes led the mighty Persian Empire to punish Greek city-states for meddling in his affairs. The Greeks, forming a coalition of 31 states, strategically planned their defense at the Isthmus of Corinth. Initially positioned at Tempe, they shifted to Thermopylae, where Spartan King Leonidas and 7,000 men made a valiant stand.
Simultaneously, the Greek fleet guarded the sea flank at Artemisium. Facing a Persian force of around 200,000 troops and a vast navy, the Greeks displayed resilience at the Battle of Artemisium, repelling the invaders despite numerical inferiority. News of Leonidas' defeat threatened their position, leading to the strategic withdrawal and abandonment of Athens.
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Themistocles, an Athenian statesman, advocated for a stand at Salamis, exploiting the narrow straits. Internal discord among the Greek states prompted Themistocles to deceive Xerxes with a message of Greek fear and retreat. Eager for a final victory, the Persians sailed into the Battle of Salamis. The Greeks, with their heavier ships, utilized the confined waters to their advantage, repelling the Persian forces. Themistocles' strategic brilliance and the Greek fleet's resilience thwarted Xerxes' ambitions.
Top image: Spartan King Leonidas I and his warriors at Thermopylae. Source: Hui/Adobe Stock
