Themistocles: The Hero of the Persian War
The true hero of the Persian War was Themistocles, the forward-thinking Athenian politician and military leader who convinced Athenians to build a massive naval force following the Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.), a decision that saved the Greek people.
The Persian War, a conflict between the Greek city-states and arguably the most dominant empire of its time, the Persian Empire, is one of the most famous wars of the ancient world.
This is evident from its long-standing presence in history finding its way into pop culture and being commemorated for all of time in films such as 300 and 300: Rise of an Empire. Although these films are wrapped in fictional narratives they do present the audience with the stories of two of the most impactful and important figures of the war, the Spartan king Leonidas, and the Athenian statesman Themistocles.
Leonidas is one of the most renowned figures in all of history for his bravery and selfless sacrifice at the Battle of Thermopylae in an attempt to slow the advancement of the Persian army. Leonida’s acts of bravery are commendable, however, they did very little to prevent the inevitable.
The true hero of the Persian War is Themistocles, the forward-thinking Athenian politician and military leader who convinced Athenians to build a massive naval force following the Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.), a decision that saved the Greek people at the Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.), instilled a sense of doubt into the mind of Xerxes sending him back to Persia and exposed the weak spot of the Persian advance, its needed navy to supply its massive army.
Building a Navy
The Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.) was a life-changing event for Themistocles and an inspirational one at that. The young Themistocles admired the valor of Miltiades, the commanding general of the battle, and the respect bestowed upon him as a result of his defeat of the Persians, providing an example of what he strived to become.
In his time of reflection, the forward-thinking Athenian statesman devised a plan for the betterment of the protection of his people that would prove to return its investment tenfold. While others were in celebration thinking the defeat of the Persians was to be longstanding, Themistocles knew otherwise and anointed himself to be the champion of all Hellas and put his city into training for the evil that was yet to come.[1]
Being tactful in his doings, Themistocles was also able to convince the Athenian citizens to invest their shared silver mine revenue into the production of a massive navy of triremes, not by instilling fear of the return of Darius or the Persians but by using the local threat of the Aegina who controlled the sea by the use of their own number of ships.[2] Themistocles foresightedness proved to be a crucial element in the defense of the Greek people when his long thought prediction of the return of the Persians came true.
The Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.)
Themistocles’s prediction of the Persian return proved true after ten years of preparation and a change of leadership when Xerxes the son of Darius ascended to the throne following his father’s death.
Xerxes shared all of the same wrath for the Greek people as his father did and after pushing through Leonidas’s defense at Thermopylae he set his sights on Athens. In learning of this defeat, the Greek fleet who was engaged nearby at Artemisium retired to the Island of Salamis where they transported the Athenian people to take refuge prior to the Persians marching upon Athens and burning the city.[3]
What followed was the true test of Themistocles’s preparation and his leadership prowess. The capture of Athens instilled a sense of great fear into the Greek navy stationed on the coast of Salamis, so much so that they planned to retreat to the Isthmus of Corinth believing it would yield a better defense to face the Persians.[4]
Themistocles knew this was a disastrous decision stating, “These people, if they really do remove their ships from Salamis, then they will no longer be fighting a sea battle for the fatherland of anyone; for each shall betake himself to his own city, and neither Eurybiades nor any other man shall be able to restrain him; and Hellas shall be destroyed by a lack of good counsel.”[5]
Themistocles also knew this meant the enslavement of his Athenian people in refuge on the Island of Salamis who would be rendered defenseless if the combined navy fled. In response, Themistocles requested an assembly of leaders who before he presented his case, vocalized his cries and reasonings to stand against the Persians here with the opportunity that presented itself in the form of congested waters that gave them the upper hand.[6]
When this wasn’t reassuring enough, Themistocles stood boldly and threatened to remove his people entirely and head for Siris in Italy stating “Left bereft of such allies, you will remember my words.”[7] These words proved to be convincing enough for the Greeks to stay and fight at the Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.) in which they delivered a daunting defeat to the Persian navy.
Xerxes Departure
Following the defeat at the Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.), Xerxes departed from Greece to return home to Persia leaving his army commander Mardonius with a sizable army to continue in the pursuit of conquering Greece.
It was during this time that Themistocles and the Athenian people faced perhaps his hardest decision of the war. Mardonius aroused the Athenians with temptation by sending a Macedonian man by the name of Alexander to speak on his behalf bidding for an alliance, in short stating, “all trespasses which the Athenians have committed against me I freely forgive… restore them their territory and let them choose for themselves whatever land they like… let them dwell therein as free people… build up likewise all their temples which I burned, if on these terms they will consent to enter into a league with me.”[8]
The Athenians would decline Mardonius’s offer of an alliance going so far as to say, “So long as the sun keeps his present course, we will never join an alliance with Xerxes… Thou art the guest and friend of our nation — we would not that thou shouldst receive hurt at our hands.”[9]
Because of this strength in a time of temptation, Themistocles would continue to contribute to the Greek people and helped to secure a victory in the final naval battle of the war the Battle of Mycale.
Those who favor Leonidas as the true hero of the Persian War do so with little evidence to stand upon. Leonidas’s acts of selfless service and bravery along with the men who stood beside him in their final hours are commendable but serve little purpose in the longevity of the war.
Leonidas and his small detachment in comparison to the Persian army did little but serve as a roadblock that bought mere days for what was inevitably to happen. Regardless of whether they were present or not the Persian army with its sheer size was destined to march upon mainland Greece and seize Athens until they could be contested by a larger and better-strategized force.
The Persian War is one of the most renowned wars in all of history producing two important figures whose legacies survive the ages. With these two, the Spartan king Leonidas and the Athenian statesman Themistocles only one stands as the true hero of the war.
Themistocles’ foresightedness and persistent advocacy for the safety of the Athenians and Greek people earn him the title of hero. He saw concern while others sought to celebrate, amassed a formidable naval force worthy of standing against the superior-sized Persian Empire, and through his efforts he saved the sanctity of Greek life.
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Bibliography
Herodotus, and George Rawlinson. “Book 8 — Urania.” Essay. In The Persian Wars by Herodotus, edited by Bruce J. Butterfield. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.parstimes.com/history/herodotus/persian_wars/urania.html.
Herodotus, and Mark Mueller. “Tales from Herodotus XVI. The Battle of Salamis, 480 B.C.” μεταφραστής, -οῦ, ὁ: translator, September 29, 2012. https://metaphrastes.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/tales-from-herodotus-xvi-the-battle-of-salamis-480-b-c/.
Plutarch. “The Life of Themistocles.” Essay. In The Parallel Lives 2, The Loeb Classical Library Editioned. Vol. 2, 1914. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Themistocles*.html.
[1] Plutarch, “The Life of Themistocles,” essay, in The Parallel Lives, The Loeb Classical Library Edition, vol. 2, 1914, https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Themistocles*.html.
[2] Plutarch, “The Life of Themistocles.”
[3] Herodotus and Mark Mueller, “Tales from Herodotus XVI. The Battle of Salamis, 480 B.C.,” μεταφραστής, -οῦ, ὁ: translator, September 29, 2012, https://metaphrastes.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/tales-from-herodotus-xvi-the-battle-of-salamis-480-b-c/.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Herodotus and George Rawlinson, “Book 8 — Urania,” essay, in The Persian Wars by Herodotus, ed. Bruce J. Butterfield, accessed September 30, 2023, https://www.parstimes.com/history/herodotus/persian_wars/urania.html.
[9] Herodotus and George Rawlinson, “Book 8 — Urania.”
