It was won by the greeks whom were much better at sea battle than the persians who were used to fighting on land. The battle of salamis 7 f number the events in order from 1first to 5last. Of all ancient greek battles, salamis has been the. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. Strauss draws heavily upon herodotus and aeschylus. The battle occurs in much the same way in both accounts.
Battle of salamis project gutenberg selfpublishing. The battle of salamis, by barry strauss indepthinfo. There are many agreements between their accounts of salamis which demonstrate herodotus use of the persians. He cannot deceive artaphrenes, who compares him to the maker of a shoe that aristagoras has put on. It marked the highpoint of the second persian invasion of greece, which had begun that spring.
Xerxes lost confidence, supplies were low, and there was no hope of a quick victory over the greeks. The battle of salamis was fought in september 480 bc during the persian wars 499 to 449 bc. Opponents temistocle 530 bc 461 bc themistocles was born in athens between 520 and 530 bc, from a noble family. Urania,87when the affairs of the king had come to great confusion, at this. Book 1 clio book 2 euterpe book 3 thalia book 4 melpomene book 5 terpsichore book 6 erato book 7 polymnia book 8 urania book 9 calliope. The athenians had fled to salamis after the battle of thermopylae in august, 480 bc, while the persians occupied and burned their city. After some careful source work, detecting bias, exaggeration and other historiographical questions, they were asked to write a written account of the battle.
The greek strategy at the battle of salamis 480 bce. Feb 08, 2017 salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. The battle of salamis 23 or 24 september 480 bc was the decisive battle of xerxess invasion of greece, and was a major greek naval victory that left the persian army dangerously isolated in southern greece. The persian ships did not have much room to move which created confusion. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae. The grecopersian wars concluded a year later in the battle of plataea and the battle of mycale. Indepth analysis, coupled with florid storytelling based partly on new archeological evidence would be a great addition to the bookshelves of. This account of the battle of salamis by a history professor who is an expert on naval warfare with a gift for vivid narrative brings it, in all its suspense, its complications, its surprises and its cast of extraordinary characters, to fervent and turbulent life. Suffice it to say that as soon as the news of leonidass death reached the.
Xerxes chose a battlefield in the worst possible posi. The battle of salamis 77 munro, of oxford, who refers to my article and agrees with its general conclusions, while he rejects the opposing view as he deems it of herodotus. Naumachia tes salaminos was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under themistocles, and the persian empire under king xerxes in 480 bc. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. Herodotus is mistaken about the date of the olympic games. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. Herodotus recounts that, according to the athenians, as the battle began the corinthians hoisted their sails and began sailing away from the battle, northwards up the straits. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that. View more articles from transactions of the american philological association 18691896.
These are the forces which came to artemisium for battle, and i have now shown. As the persians approached, the greek ships rammed them. Artemisium this was the location of a pivotal naval battle in the second persian invasion of greece. On herodotus s and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis is an article from transactions of the american philological association 18691896, volume 8 view more articles from transactions of the american philological association. The internet ascii source was a translation of herodotus by george rawlinson. Salamis according to herodotus page 2 waterblogged. Herodotus and aeschylus essay, salamis hero course hero. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis ernest gottlieb sihler on. The battle of salamis meant the end of the years campaign. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which covers territories of the persian empire. Battle of salamis the great battles of history ars bellica. It is extremely difficult to date the events of the summer of 480, but all reconstructions by modern scholars assume that the games ended shortly before or most probably during the two battles on august 20 or september 18. At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. On herodotus s and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis ernest gottlieb sihler on.
In the spring of 480 xerxes led 180,000 soldiers over a pontoon bridge across the hellespont bc, persias king and invaded greece. In the aftermath of the battle the persians retreated back to thessaly, and xerxes returned home with most of the army leaving a sizable force to continue the campaign in the following. Histories book 8 the battle of salamis summary course hero. In this article we present an alternative interpretation of herodotus story by using the information derived from an. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of.
The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under. In the year 492493 he was elected archon for the democratic partys, expression of maritime business groups worried by the persian repression of the ionian revolt, and immediately transformed the military port of piraeus in athens, despite the opposition of landowners, that were. In this battle only one of the greeks who fought on the side of the king deserted and. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. View this articles jstor metadata you may also retrieve all of this items metadata in json at the following. On herodotus s and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis is an article from transactions of the american philological association 18691896, volume 8. Jun 29, 2004 the battle of salamis was the first popular book written by strauss, and it well deserves the praise often heaped on it. The naval encounter that saved greece and western civilization is geared for the more general reader. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
In the narrow strait between the island of salamis and the greek mainland, a heavily outnumbered greek navy defeated the persian armada in a brilliant victory that is still studied today. Salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. One of the great naval battles in history, salamis saw the outnumbered greeks best a larger persian fleet. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek city states under. Dec 23, 2015 the battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece.
The main weapon of the trireme was a spur in oak bow, placed on the extension of the keel, sometimes in laminate bronze. Xerxes left twothirds of his forces in garrison in central and northern greece and marched the remainder to sardis. The modern library version is very similiar, but it reflects editor updates. This great technological advancement was first documented c. The athenians try to convince the other greeks to marshal their naval strength at salamis. As part of their assessable work, my senior students were asked to look at herodotus, plutarch and aeschylus accounts of the battle of salamis. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. In spite of the groundbreaking work of herodotus, a new book, focusing on the battle of salamis, is certainly in order. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce. Herodotus and aeschylus comparing herodotus history and aeschylus the persians shows that while herodotus used aeschylus as a source, he also had access to other, more accurate sources for the battle of salamis. All the warships engaged in the battle of salamis were vessels of this type.
Herodotus and the persian wars the second persian war 481479 bce the battle of salamis 480 bce in the narrows between the island of salamis and the mainland persian battlecruisers cannot maneuver but smaller triremes can xerxes panics and flees back to persepolis leaves his general mardonius to finish off the greeks. Thus, as herodotus says that a few days after the battle of salamis xerxes withdrew from attica 8. Salamis an island just southeast of athens was, of course, barry strauss is a master of the you are there style of popular historical writing. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts of the aegean sea and the mainland of greece. Herodotus, the histories perseus online version aeschylus, extract from the persians. He is known for having written the book the histories greek. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. The battle of salamis was a great victory for the greek navy and, in combination with a victory by the greek army at the battle of plataea the next year, led to the complete defeat of the persians. Until v century war fleets were formed by ships with 50 oars, 25 per side, called pentecontori, held in a small number of units, not fast and not. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts. Herodotus portrays her as a good fighter who is able to maneuver her ship away from the greek ships and escape death. Firstrate military and political history, focusing on a critically important battle of the ancient past.
It resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered greeks. He ordered the fleet to return to the hellespont to protect his bridge, and the army to abandon attica and go into winter quarters. Herodotus presents the battle as though it occurred directly after the capture of athens, but nowhere explicitly states as much. Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. Battle of salamis simple english wikipedia, the free.
Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians. Xerxes is amazed by her abilities and states that, my men have turned into women, my women into men book 8. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis is an article from transactions of the american philological association 18691896, volume 8 view more articles from transactions of the american philological association 18691896. It happened in september 480 bc in the straits between the mainland and salamis island. The battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. The greek fleet joined them there in august after the indecisive battle of artemisium. An overview of the battle of salamis with appropriate framing ionian revolt to artemisiumthermopylae through the persian retreat. While his extensive notes and source discussion at the end of the book lists works discussing the accuracy of these accounts, there is little discussion in the. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. However, herodotus narration seems to contain several unrealistic elements which raise doubts about the actual strategy of the greek alliance. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. The speakers mostly advised that the fleet should sail away to the isthmus, and there give battle in defence of the peloponnese.
On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis. Jan 21, 2020 the battle of salamis was fought in september 480 bc during the persian wars 499 to 449 bc. Thanks to their efforts, the greek fleet swells to almost 400 ships. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. One of the great naval battles in history, salamis saw the outnumbered greeks best a. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at thermopylae and. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. Herodotus here holds up the story of the battle of salamis for a bit to describe the defences of the isthmus of corinth, the details of which we will reluctantly pass by 6. The naval encounter that saved greeceand western civilization. The battle of salamis the battle of salamis was a naval battle that happened in 480 b. She is the only woman who shows up in the histories who plays a significant role during the persian wars. The greek triumph at salamis stopped the advancing persians and saved the first democracy in history.
The history of the second persian war as presented in most of the modern literature is solely based on herodotus histories. He tells the story of the persian invasion of greece in 490 bc and the decisive naval battle at salamis with an easy style focused on character development. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. Herodotus7and8and9 daniel levine university of arkansas. The battle of salamis as part of their assessable work, my senior students were asked to look at herodotus, plutarch and aeschylus accounts of the battle of salamis. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. Indepth analysis, coupled with florid storytelling based partly on new archeological evidence would be a great addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in ancient history. A large number died of pestilence and dysentery on the way. The trireme trieres was an ancient battle ship primarily used by mediterranean empires including the greeks, persians, and romans. Part of a complete english translation of herodotus. The spartans wanted to return to the peloponnese, seal off the isthmus of corinth with a wall, and prevent the persians from defeating them on land, but the. The battle of salamis goodreads meet your next favorite book. The battle of salamis was a naval battle between an alliance of greek citystates and the achaemenid empire of persia.
Accompanied by 1,207 warships and 3,000 transports, xerxes intended to destroy athens to avenge the defeat of the persian army at marathon a decade. The battle of salamis the histories of herodotus excerpt. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. The greek navy moved back to the straits of salamis and formed a ushape. Salamis a battle that defined history for centuries to come. The battle lasted only a few hours, but the slaughter went on until nightfall.