It resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered greeks. Stratagems book 8, 53 artemisia, in the naval battle at salamis, found that the persians were defeated, and she herself was near to falling into the hands of the greeks. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. The athenians try to convince the other greeks to marshal their naval strength at salamis. One can only wonder what the world would have been like if the nascent greek democracy and high classical culture had been nipped in the bud by. Greek tacticsorganization in the roaring waters near salamis, the greek fleet laid anchor, as the persian fleet arrived and closed off the greek retreat, keeping them in straights between salamis and attica. The heroic battles near athens at marathon 490 bce, thermopylae, salamis, and finally plataea 479 bce were classical greeks crowning military achievements, and herodotus was determined to record these great deeds for future generations particularly in view of the ignominious and disastrous peloponnesian wars that followed. This battle forms the centrepiece of book viii of herodotus histories. Suffice it to say that as soon as the news of leonidass death reached the peloponnesians, their armies, commanded by cleombrotus, leonidass brother, marched immediately to the isthmus and they were now engaged in building a defensive wall across it. Athens put aside its pride and let sparta lead the army and the fleet, even though themistokles practically usurped the fleet commanders role. 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.
As it has survived, the history is divided into nine books the division is not the authors. Herodotus, in the eighth book of histories entitled urania, and polyaenus, in the eighth book of his work stratagems, mention him damasithymos was an ally of xerxes i at the second persian invasion of greece. Artemisias reasons for ramming a friendly ship are unknown, as herodotus acknowledges, but they give him the chance to unfold a punchline that reveals something of greek expectations of gender roles. Herodotuss history is an account of the grecopersian wars 499479 bce and the story of the growth and organization of the persian empire. Strauss draws heavily upon herodotus and aeschylus.
Ten years after the defeat of the persians at marathon in 490 b. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Part of a complete english translation of herodotus. Feb 08, 2017 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. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 8 the battle of salamis summary. One of the great naval battles in history, salamis saw the outnumbered greeks best a.
While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Herodotus describes the contingents and their numbers. 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. Histories 8 by herodotus meet your next favorite book. He fought at the naval battle of artemisium and the naval battle of salamis. The greeks had recently lost the battle of thermopylae and drawn the naval battle at artemision, both in august 480 bce, as king xerxes i r.
The athenians asked for this because they wanted to evacuate their children to salamis with the persian army threatening attica. Publishers weekly jun 1, 2004 this engaging and informative account of the 480 b. Farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. Probably about the time of that battle, cleombrotus was at the isthmus, constructing the defences there hdt. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Barry strauss is a worldclass academic classicist, but the battle of salamis. Salamis according to herodotus on feb 8, 2017 jul 5, 2019 by arwen1968 in best stories of herodotus, maritime history salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. He therefore decided to remain, and give battle at salamis. The naval encounter that saved greece and western civilization is geared for the more general reader.
View more articles from transactions of the american philological association 18691896. A decade later the persians, led by xerxes, returned but were decisively defeated at the battle of plataea in 479 bce. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under. Herodotus covers the empires geography, social structure, and history before describing the events which led to xerxes invasion of greece and the greek citystates uniting to defeat his army. Herodotus is mistaken about the date of the olympic games. Herodotus counts by generations, for example the kings of the mermnads dynasty, ruling from c. N the course of book 8 of herodotus histories and after the battle at artemisium, the greek fleet puts in at salamis.
The battle of salamis was a naval battle between greek and persian forces in the saronic gulf, greece in september 480 bce. In spite of the groundbreaking work of herodotus, a new book, focusing on the battle of salamis, is certainly in order. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek, tr. Herodotus s subject in his history is the wars between greece and persia 499479 bce and their preliminaries.
Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle. Books viix contain the history of the wars, culminating in an account of the. Posted on april 5, 2017 by jgood book eight centers on the battle of salamis. There the greeks, sparked by fear and indecisiveness, conduct successive discussions about. Synopsis 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. Mar 15, 2019 herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Damasithymos was an ally of xerxes i at the second persian invasion of greece. 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. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors. Translated from tales from herodotus farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. Herodotus, the histories, book 1, chapter 1, section 0. At some point while building the wall, he considered giving chase to the persian army. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. The pivotal event of the history is the battle of marathon 490 bce, where the persians were defeated by the greeks.
The greek commander was the admiral of the small spartan squadron, a man named eurybiades. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis. The greeks at salamis learn that xerxes is in athens. At that time he made answer mildly to the corinthian.
The book also illuminates greek views of themselves and of peoples from the east, the 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. Salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. Thanks to their efforts, the greek fleet swells to almost 400 ships. At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. Urania,87when the affairs of the king had come to great confusion, at this. Artemisias exploits in the battle of salamis are more famous than most because herodotus says that he cannot relay many other exploits but hers. Thus it came to pass that the greeks stayed at euboea and there gave battle to. And now, the different chiefs, notwithstanding their skirmish of words. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. This is tactically used by themistocles who tries to convince xerxes that he was the one who let him go. Chapter summary for herodotus s histories, book 9 the battle of plataea summary.
Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions. Book seven of herodotus histories ended with a greek defeat, but in book eight we will hear about greek successes. Histories book 9 the battle of plataea summary course hero. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at thermopylae and. He fought at the naval battle of artemisium and the naval battle of salamis in 480 bc. He orders a causeway to be built heading toward salamis, but this is a ru. In this battle only one of the greeks who fought on the side of the king. Summary of and historical commentary on the histories of herodotus.
Books iv describe the background to the grecopersian wars. The battle of salamis was fought in september 480 bc during the persian wars 499 to 449 bc. 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. Histories book 8 the battle of salamis summary course hero. His land forces marched down the northern coasts of the aegean sea and down into greece by way of.
Feb 08, 2017 salamis according to herodotus on feb 8, 2017 jul 5, 2019 by arwen1968 in best stories of herodotus, maritime history salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. Divided by later editors into nine books named after the muses, the history traces the growth of the persian empire, starting with croesus of lydia, though cyrus and xerxes. Filled with the sights, sounds, and scent of battle, the battle of salamis is a stirring work of history. Herodotus presents the battle as though it occurred directly after the capture of athens, but nowhere explicitly states as much.
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. Sep 16, 2010 on one level, the cooperation herodotus seems to pine for did happen. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle off salamis. 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. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of. 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. The speakers mostly advised that the fleet should sail away to the isthmus, and there give battle in defence of the peloponnese. Herodotus, in the seventh and eighth books of his histories entitled polymnia book vii and urania book viii, and polyaenus, in the eighth book of his work stratagems, mention him damasithymus was an ally of xerxes i at the second persian invasion of greece. The battle of salamis, by barry strauss indepthinfo. Artemisias good fortune at the battle of salamis introduction. In that battle antidorus of lemnos, the only one of the greeks siding with the persian, deserted to the greeks, and for that the athenians gave him land in salamis.
She ordered the persian colours to be taken down, and the master of the ship to bear down upon, and attack a persian vessel, that was passing by her. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek city states under. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae the. Gyges, ardys, sadyattes ii, alyattes and finally, his son croesus who we look at in some detail.
When the priestess interpreted the significance of this, the athenians were all the more eager to abandon the city since the goddess had deserted the acropolis. The history of herodotus by herodotus the internet classics archive. 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. 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. Our chief sources of knowledlge concerning the battle of salamis are aeschylus, persians, 345 ff. 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. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek index.
The battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. Themistocles put the story into their the priests mouths. The battle of salamis can be dated with a high degree of certainty. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals. Dec 23, 2015 the battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. At the same time, the peloponnesians were building a wall to prevent the advance of the persian army. Herodotus, in the eighth book of histories entitled urania, and polyaenus, in the eighth book of his work stratagems, mention him. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention.
Aegina set aside its longstanding feud with athens and proved to be one of the stars during the battle at salamis. View this articles jstor metadata you may also retrieve all of this items metadata in json at the following. The battle of salamis the histories of herodotus excerpt. 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. Thoughts on book eight of the histories of herodotus first.
Thoughts on book eight of the histories of herodotus. Salamis a battle that defined history for centuries to come. An overview of the battle of salamis with appropriate framing ionian revolt to artemisiumthermopylae through the persian retreat. He fought at the naval battle of artemisium and the naval battle of salamis at 480 bc. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Another rift occurs between the athenians and spartans over the conclusion of the battle since the athenians wanted to pursue xerxes. Salamis according to herodotus page 2 waterblogged. Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an enormous scale by both land and sea. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. On one level, the cooperation herodotus seems to pine for did happen.
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