The artemisia of herodotus was complex historian on the. Themistocles project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Nov 25, 2016 as an evaluative point, i would like to reinforce herodotus characterization of themistocles. Book 8, the battle of artemisium summary course hero. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. Themistocles had his fleet, and the construction of the piraeus port was nearing completion. Salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. Artemisias good fortune at the battle of salamis introduction. Themistocles account of the battle of salamis ancient generals. 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. The battle of salamis was the first popular book written by strauss, and it well deserves the praise often heaped on it. Ten years after the defeat of the persians at marathon in 490 b. Feb 08, 2017 salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. Themistocles was an extremely well known general and admiral during the persian wars.
Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 8 the battle of artemisium summary. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. Greek, roman, and byzantine studies 53 20 461485 20 vasiliki zali themistocles exhortation before salamis. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisi. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle off salamis. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure. As part of their assessable work, my senior students were asked to look at herodotus, plutarch and aeschylus accounts of the battle of salamis. As a result of subterfuge on the part of themistocles, the persian navy rowed into the straits of salamis and tried to block both entrances. The athenians act like this, because they do not trust the spartans, who had promised to send an. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle. 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. There the greeks, sparked by fear and indecisiveness, conduct successive discussions about. The artemisia of herodotus was complex april, 2015 april 12. By recounting the events thucydides presents in his first book, when themistocles betrays the spartans over the building of the athenian walls, he shows.
The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. After some careful source work, detecting bias, exaggeration and other historiographical questions, they were asked to write a written account of the battle. Thoughts on book eight of the histories of herodotus first. The battle of salamis the aftermath and the macedonians.
Holy salamis, thou shalt destroy the offspring of women, when men scatter the seed, or when they gather the harvest. This chapter shows that thucydides, since he was covering other periods of themistocles life than herodotus, simply did not have the opportunity decisively to refute his predecessors portrait. Themistocles even participated in the battle of marathon, as he was one of the ten generals involved. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the battle of salamis.
Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced. Artemisia of caria also known as artemisia i was the queen of. Farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point.
His histories, which provide an account in nine books of the conflict between the greece and asia from the middle of the sixth century b. Histories book 8 the battle of salamis summary course hero. Dec 23, 2015 the battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. The greek commander was the admiral of the small spartan squadron, a man named eurybiades. The battle of salamis was a naval battle between greek and persian. Xerxess actions indicate that he was keen to finish the conquest of greece in 480 bc, and to do this, he needed a decisive victory over the allied fleet. The book also illuminates greek views of themselves and of peoples from the east, the problematic relationships between different greek states in the face of the invasion, and the role of the divine in history.
Aug 17, 2016 themistocles had his fleet, and the construction of the piraeus port was nearing completion. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval. For other uses, see battle of salamis disambiguation. Herodotus credits themistocles with many of the triumphs that follow.
Themistocles had means to force his allies into battle at salamis. Themistocles account of the battle of salamis ancient. Salamis an island just southeast of athens was, of course, barry. But, as they found that they prevailed nothing, they left him and went to themistocles, the athenian commander. Chapter summary for herodotus s histories, book 8 the battle of salamis summary. Thoughts on book eight of the histories of herodotus. This battle forms the centrepiece of book viii of herodotus. Aug 24, 2012 translated from tales from herodotus farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. It was a constructional development bireme with 50 oars, adding architecturally without increasing its maximum height a line of oars.
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. By recounting the events thucydides presents in his first book, when themistocles betrays the spartans over the building of the athenian walls, he shows that themistocles was a pragmatic, if at times, cynical and expedient leader. N the course of book 8 of herodotus histories and after the battle at artemisium. Sihler, on herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis, transactions of the american philological association 8 1877. During this, aristides came over from egina to salamis.
Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples. Goodwin in 1885 i published an article on the battle of salamis, which was the result of frequent visits to salamis and the attic shores opposite the island. For more than a century thucydides eulogy on themistocles has been interpreted as a classic revision of herodotus, who allegedly defamed the victor of salamis. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at. Salamis according to herodotus page 2 waterblogged. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. The battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. Piraeus history, themistocles and the battle of salamis. The battle of salamis the histories of herodotus excerpt. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors. Themistocles, however, picked out the seaworthiest athenian ships and. This battle forms the centrepiece of book viii of herodotus histories. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals.
Themistocles even participated in the battle of marathon, as he was one of the ten generals involved with the battle and stopping the persians from invading greece. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The athenians asked for this because they wanted to evacuate their children to salamis with the persian army threatening attica. But, as they found that they prevailed nothing, they left him and went to themistocles, the athenian commander, to whom they gave a bribe of thirty talents, on his promise that the fleet should remain. The battle of salamis still plays a role in greek national and european consciousness, because at that time a collection of independently operating citystates achieved a degree of.
Urania,87when the affairs of the king had come to great confusion. Yet shall a day arrive when ye shall meet him in battle. Herodotus the persian wars godleybook viii wikisource, the. Themistocles father, neocles, came of the aristocratic lycomid family and was not poor, but his mother. Sihler, on herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis, transactions of. Now, he would test the resolve and courage of his fellow allies in battle at salamis. 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. Book seven of herodotus histories ended with a greek defeat, but in book eight we will hear about greek successes. Salamis a battle that defined history for centuries to come. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. The greek strategy at the battle of salamis 480 bce. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 8 the battle of salamis summary. If the core of the text is authentic, it proves that themistocles knew quite early that he would set a trap for the invaders at salamis. Themistocles has a tougher time with the other naval leaders, and only convinces them to stay and fight by threatening that the athenians will take their fleet, head.
But, as they found that they prevailed nothing, they left him and went to themistocles, the athenian commander, to whom they gave a bribe of thirty talents, on his promise that the fleet should remain and risk a battle in defence of euboea. The naval encounter that saved greece and western civilization kindle edition by strauss, barry. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek city states under. At the battle of salamis, we encounter firsthand the intellect and courage of themistocles, now the commander of the greek allied fleet. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under. This answer seemed, as indeed it was, gentler than the former one.
Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an enormous scale by both land and sea. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at thermopylae and. At that time he made answer mildly to the corinthian. Battle of salamis part of the grecopersian wars a romantic style painting. These are the forces which came to artemisium for battle, and i have now shown how. The battle of salamis was the first great and unexpected victory of the greeks over the persian forces under xerxes, whose defeat had important consequences for the subsequent history and selfimage of europe. If thermopylae, the inspiring defeat, is the betterknown battle, salamis was an actual victory, won through superior greek tactics, in a venue where greeks feel. If thermopylae, the inspiring defeat, is the betterknown battle, salamis was an actual victory, won through superior greek tactics, in a venue where greeks feel particularly at home. Although themistocles persuaded the other greek admirals to fight at artemisium and salamis, he did so by bribing them at artemisium, and. 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.
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