152 Herodotus Book 8 Xerxes' War 153 nessed two gigantic soldiers helping to cut down the fleeing invaders—gods safety by fleeing to their own cities. While the Peloponnesian com­ fighting in human form, an apparition straight out of the poetry of Homer. manders were advocating this course, an Athenian messenger arrived The city of Athens, meanwhile, knew better than to expect help from mir­ and reported that the barbarians had arrived in Attica and were burn­ acles and soon learned that they could also expect none from the Spartan- ing the whole region. led Greek army. There were no readily defensible barriers between Boeotia [8.56] When the Greeks heard the report that the Persians had and Attica, and in any case the Spartans were disinclined to run risks now seized the Athenian acropolis, they were thrown into confusion, and that they had lost Leonidas and the three hundred at Thermopylae. They led some did not wait for a vote on their proposed strategy but dashed for the joint Greek army straight to the Isthmus of Corinth, where there was a fair chance of defending the Peloponnese (Sparta's own backyard) but none their ships and hoisted sail as if to start out at once. But the others, at all of protectingAttica. Athens knew now that it could not avoid a full Per­ who stayed at the council meeting, passed the proposal to stage their sian assault and at this point, according to Herodotus, began evacuating its sea battle at the Isthmus. Then night fell and they broke up the coun­ people and property to the islands of Salamis and Aegina and the town of cil meeting and returned to their ships. Troezen in the Peloponnese. (A recently discovered inscription called the [8.57] When Themistocles arrived at his ship, a certain Athenian Troezen Decree gives evidence that the evacuation had in fact begun well named Mnesiphilus asked him what strategy had been adopted. When before this, but no one knows whether it is genuine.) A few thousand stal­ he learned that the course was set for the Isthmus and a defense of the warts remained in the city, perhaps trusting that the "wooden wall" oracle Peloponnese, Mnesiphilus said: "But once you sail away from Salamis, referred to the acropolis and not the navy after all. When the Persians ar­ you will no longer be fighting for a united homeland; each contingent rived (early September 480), they quickly smashed this desperate band of will peel off and return to its own city, and not even Eurybiades—not holdouts and put the now-empty acropolis to the torch. anyone!—will stop the fleet from splitting apart. Greece will be Athens itself had fallen into Persian hands, but its people had become "a wrecked by bad strategy. If in any way you can, go and try to reverse city on the sea." The refugees at Salamis were soon joined by the retreating this decision; perhaps you can persuade Eurybiades to change plans Greek navy, which itself had roughly 200 Athenian ships and therefore and stay right here." This idea greatly pleased Themistocles, and with­ 40,000 Athenians. Themistocles had engineered this retreat to Salamis so that the navy could be used to defend the refugees and, if possible, fight to out even making a reply he went off to Eurybiades' ship. reclaim the city of Athens itself. But command of the allied fleet was not in [8.58] When he got there, he told Eurybiades he wanted to dis­ his hands; Athens had agreed at the start of the war to allow Sparta to lead cuss something of common concern, and Eurybiades invited him to both land and sea forces. And the Spartan admiral, Eurybiades, inclined to­ come on board. There Themistocles sat down and repeated every­ ward the Peloponnesian defense strategy, which meant abandoning Attica thing he had heard Mnesiphilus say (though pretending the argu­ as well as Salamis and taking the navy to the Isthmus of Corinth. The con­ ments were his own) and added much more besides. Finally he flict between Peloponnesian and Athenian war goals broke out into the open persuaded Eurybiades to disembark and summon all the command­ in a series of urgent meetings of the Greek naval commanders at Salamis, ers, once again, to a council. superbly dramatized by Herodotus as part of his inquiry into how the Greek "nation" had united under one banner. [8.59] The council met, and before Eurybiades even had time to explain why he had recalled them, Themistocles broke into a long and passionate speech. As he was speaking, he was interrupted by [8.49]52 The commanders of the various allied naval contingents met Adeimantus, the Corinthian commander. "Themistocles," he said, "at to make plans, and Eurybiades asked for recommendations as to the games, those who start the race before the signal are whipped." where would be the most suitable place for a seafight in all the terri­ "Yes," said the other, defending himself, "but those who are left behind tory still under Greek control (Attica he excluded as being already lost do not win the crown." to the enemy). The majority opinion was for sailing to the Isthmus [8.60] Thus he gave the Corinthian a mild answer—for the mo­ and fighting to save the Peloponnese; the reasoning was that if they ment.53 Turning then to Eurybiades, he used none of his previous ar- were defeated at Salamis they would be bottled up on an island with no possibility of rescue, whereas at the Isthmus they could always find 53. Later (8.61) the polemics between these two will grow harsher. As a Pelo­ ponnesian state, an oligarchy, and a long-standing commercial rival of Athens, 52. From here through chapter 58 were translated by the editor. Corinth had little love for democratic upstarts like Themistocles. i I Xerxes' War 155 154 Herodotus Book 8 man's part; if not, you will be the ruin of Greece. In this war every­ guments—that if they left Salamis their force was likely to disperse— thing depends on our ships. Be persuaded by me. If not, we will for he deemed it unseemly to accuse any of the allies to their face. In­ take our families on board and make for Siris in Italy.55 It has long stead, he adopted another line and said: "It now lies with you to save been ours, and oracles foretell that we must colonize it some day. Greece, if you will hearken to me and engage the enemy here, and When you are deprived of allies such as we are, you will remember disregard the suggestions that we should withdraw to the Isthmus. my words." Compare the two situations: At the Isthmus you will be fighting in the open sea, very much to our disadvantage with our heavier ships and [8.63] At these words of Themistocles, Eurybiades changed his smaller numbers. Then again, even if we are victorious, you will have mind, mainly, in my opinion, through fear that the Athenians would lost Salamis, Megara, and Aegina. Furthermore, if their fleet advances desert the fleet if he withdrew to the Isthmus; for without the Athe­ south, so will their army, and you will be drawing them to the Pelo­ nians the remainder of the fleet would be no match for the enemy. So ponnese, thus imperiling the whole of Greece. he came to the decision to remain where they were and fight it out. "Now if you do as I suggest, you will secure the following advan­ [8.74] Meanwhile, the Greeks at the Isthmus toiled away as if tages. In the first place, we shall be fighting in narrow waters with fewer they had no confidence in success at sea and realized that everything ships against many, with a good chance of coming off best. Fighting in was at stake. The news of their activities caused great alarm at Salamis; narrow waters favors us, as fighting in the open sea favors them. Sec­ they feared not so much for themselves as for the Peloponnese. At ondly, Salamis, where we have lodged our wives and children, will be first they talked among themselves secretly, expressing amazement at preserved. And then there is this further consideration—for you a con­ Eurybiades' folly. Then this undercurrent broke out into the open, sideration of the greatest importance—that by fighting here you will and another council was called. They went over the old ground again: be defending the Peloponnese just as well as by fighting at the Isthmus; Some maintained that they should withdraw to the Peloponnese and and, if you act thus wisely, you will not be drawing the enemy on to the fight for that, and not stay to fight for land already lost, whereas the Peloponnese. If things turn out as I expect and we beat them at sea, Athenians, Aeginetans, and Megarians urged that they should stay they will not attack you at the Isthmus nor will they advance beyond and fight where they were. Attica; they will retreat in disorder, and we shall gain by retaining [8.75] Then Themistocles, seeing that the Peloponnesians Megara, Aegina, and Salamis, where the oracle foretold victory for us. would carry the vote against him, quietly left the meeting and sent a When men take counsel reasonably, they generally meet with success; man in a boat to the Persian fleet, instructing him what to say. This but if they reject reason, the god is unlikely to foster human designs." man was Sicinnus, one of Themistocles' household slaves and tutor to [8.61] When Themistocles had thus spoken, Adeimantus again his children.