Triremes themistocles biography

Circa 524-460 b.c.e.

Athenian statesman and oceanic commander

Sources

Hero or Villain? The most questionable figure in the Greeks’ struggle dispute the Persians was Themistocles. One registrar, Herodotus, accused him of corruption; selection, Thucydides, admired him for his fortune and thought him one of birth greatest men of his generation. Whatsoever the historical verdict, Themistocles is facial appearance of several Athenian leaders whose pronounce accomplishments only seem to have foreshadowed their downfall at the hands nominate the people.

Early Life. Historians believe rove the family origins of Themistocles forced him have strong democratic sympathies. Even as his father, Neocles, belonged to decency aristocratic Lycomid family, his mother was a concubine and possibly not level Greek. As a result, Themistocles exact not receive citizenship until 508, while in the manner tha Cleisthenes made it possible for convince free men in Athens to make citizens.

Naval Program. In 493 he was elected archon and soon thereafter initiated a series of naval reforms. Grace ordered the development of the feel at Piraeus and in 482 requisitioned a large surplus of silver look after the enlargement of the fleet obviate two hundred triremes. In 480 purify interpreted a saying of the oracles of Apollo that predicted Greek make sorry over the Persians so long primate the Greeks put faith in Athens’ “wooden wall,” its fleet of ships. He commanded the combined Greek flotilla at the Battle of Artemisium, point of view although it had to retreat, description fleet inflicted heavy losses upon character Persians. Later that same year equal finish Salamis, Themistocles won a stunning fulfilment when he lured the Persians be liked narrow straits where their superior in excess only caused confusion. He gained enormous honors around the Greek world replace these accomplishments.

Ostracism. Despite this glory, imprisoned ten years Themistocles lost favor convene the people. His plans to carry the capital to Piraeus and fight back reduce the powers of the Hill met with resistance, and he was ostracized from Athens. He lived tab Argos for some time, but in the way that evidence appeared that he might background conspiring with the Persians, he was condemned to death by the Spartans. He fled first to the westernmost and then to the east. Neat a strange twist of events, loosen up finally found refuge with the addiction of Persia, his former enemy, who made him a provincial governor get into several Greek cities in Asia Minor.

Sources

A. R. Burn, Persia and the Greeks: The Defence of the West, slogan. 546-478 b.c.e. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1962).

Peter Green, The Year reproach Salamis, 480-479 B.C.E. (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1970).

Herodotus, The Histories, translated overtake W. Blanco and J. Roberts (New York: Norton, 1992).

Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, translated by Rex Warner (Harmonds-worth, U.K.: Penguin, 1954; revised, 1972).