Book 8
This time Themistocles said many things against him and the Corinthians, declaring that so long as they had two hundred manned ships, the Athenians had both a city and a land greater than theirs, and that none of the Hellenes could repel them if they attacked.
Next he turned his argument to Eurybiades, saying more vehemently than before, “If you remain here, you will be an noble man. If not, you will ruin Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. All our strength for war is in our ships, so listen to me.
If you do not do this, we will immediately gather up our households and travel to +Siris [15.6333,40.0667] (Perseus) Siris in Italy [12.833,42.833] (nation), Europe Italy, which has been ours since ancient times, and the prophecies say we must found a colony there. You will remember these words when you are without such allies.”
When Themistocles said this, Eurybiades changed his mind. I think he did so chiefly out of fear that the Athenians might desert them if they set sail for the Isthmus. If the Athenians left, the rest would be no match for the enemy, so he made the choice to remain there and fight.
After this skirmish of words, since Eurybiades had so resolved, the men at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis prepared to fight where they were. At sunrise on the next day there was an earthquake on land and sea,
and they resolved to pray to the gods and summon the sons of Aeacus as allies. When they had so resolved, they did as follows: they prayed to all the gods, called Ajax and Telamon to come straight from Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, and sent a ship to +Aegina [23.433,37.75] (inhabited place), Aegina, Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Aegina for Aeacus and his sons.
Dicaeus son of Theocydes, an Athenian exile who had become important among the Medes, said that at the time when the land of Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica was being laid waste by Xerxes' army and there were no Athenians in the country, he was with Demaratus the Lacedaemonian on the Thriasian plain and saw advancing from +Eleusis [23.5583,38.0417] (Perseus) Eleusis a cloud of dust as if raised by the feet of about thirty thousand men. They marvelled at what men might be raising such a cloud of dust and immediately heard a cry. The cry seemed to be the “Iacchus” of the mysteries,
and when Demaratus, ignorant of the rites of +Eleusis [23.5583,38.0417] (Perseus) Eleusis, asked him what was making this sound, Dicaeus said, “Demaratus, there is no way that some great disaster will not befall the king's army. Since Attica [23.5,38.83] (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Attica is deserted, it is obvious that this voice is divine and comes from +Eleusis [23.5583,38.0417] (Perseus) Eleusis to help the Athenians and their allies.
If it descends upon the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, the king himself and his army on the mainland will be endangered. If, however, it turns towards the ships at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, the king will be in danger of losing his fleet.
Every year the Athenians observe this festival for the Mother and the Maiden, and any Athenian or other Hellene who wishes is initiated. The voice which you hear is the ‘Iacchus’ they cry at this festival.” To this Demaratus replied, “Keep silent and tell this to no one else.
If these words of yours are reported to the king, you will lose your head, and neither I nor any other man will be able to save you, so be silent. The gods will see to the army.”
Thus he advised, and after the dust and the cry came a cloud, which rose aloft and floated away towards Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis to the camp of the Hellenes. In this way they understood that Xerxes' fleet was going to be destroyed. Dicaeus son of Theocydes used to say this, appealing to Demaratus and others as witnesses.
When those stationed with Xerxes' fleet had been to see the Laconian disaster at +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae, they crossed over from +Trachis [22.55,38.8] (Perseus) Trachis to Histiaea, waited three days, and then sailed through the Euripus, and in three more days they were at Phalerum, the port of Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens. I think no less a number invaded Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens by land and sea than came to Sepias and +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae.
Those killed by the storm, at +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae, and in the naval battles at +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium, I offset with those who did not yet follow the king: the Melians and Dorians and Locrians and the whole force of Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia except the Thespians and Plataeans; and the Carystians and Andrians and Teneans and all the rest of the islanders, except the five cities whose names I previously mentioned. The farther into Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas the Persian advanced, the more nations followed him.
All these came to Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens except the Parians. The Parians stayed behind in Cythnus watching to see which way the war turned out. When the rest of them reached Phalerum, Xerxes himself went down to the ships, wishing to mix with the sailors and hear their opinions.
He came and sat on his throne, and present at his summons were the tyrants of all the peoples and the company leaders from the fleet. They sat according to the honor which the king had granted each of them, first the king of +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon, then the king of +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre, then the rest. When they sat in order one after another, Xerxes sent Mardonius to test each by asking if they should fight at sea.
Mardonius went about questioning them, starting with the Sidonian, and all the others were unanimous, advising to fight at sea, but Artemisia said,
“Tell the king, Mardonius, that I, who neither was most cowardly in the sea battles off +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea nor performed the least feats of arms, say this: ‘Master, it is just for me to declare my real opinion, what I consider to be best for your cause. And I say to you this: spare your ships, and do not fight at sea. Their men are as much stronger than your men by sea as men are stronger than women.
Why is it so necessary for you to risk everything by fighting at sea? Do you not possess Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, for which you set out on this march, and do you not have the rest of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas? No one stands in your way. Those who opposed you have received what they deserved.
I will tell you how I think the affairs of your enemies will turn out: If you do not hurry to fight at sea, but keep your ships here and stay near land, or even advance into the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, then, my lord, you will easily accomplish what you had in mind on coming here.
The Hellenes are not able to hold out against you for a long time, but you will scatter them, and they will each flee to their own cities. I have learned that they have no food on this island, and it is not likely, if you lead your army against the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, that those of them who have come from there will sit still, nor will they care to fight at sea for Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens.
But if you hurry to fight at sea immediately, I fear that your fleet if reduced to cowardice may also injure your army on land. In addition, my King, take this to heart: Good people's slaves tend to be base, and the slaves of the base tend to be good. You, who are best among men, have base slaves, who are accounted your allies, the Egyptians and Cyprians and Cilicians and Pamphylians, who are of no use at all.’”
When she said this to Mardonius, all who were well disposed towards Artemisia lamented her words, thinking she would suffer some ill from the king because she advised against fighting at sea. Those who were jealous and envied her, because she was given honor among the chief of all the allies, were glad at her answer, thinking she would be killed.
But when the counsels were reported to Xerxes, he was greatly pleased by Artemisia's opinion. Even before this he had considered her of excellent character, and now he praised her much more highly. Still he ordered that the majority be obeyed, for he believed that at +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea they had purposely fought badly because he was not there. This time he had made preparations to see the battle in person.
When the command to put out to sea was given, they set sail for Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and were calmly marshalled in line. There was not enough daylight left for them to fight, since night came on, so they made preparations for the next day.
Fear and dread possessed the Hellenes, especially those from the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese. They were afraid because they were stationed in Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and were about to fight at sea on behalf of the land of the Athenians, and if they were defeated they would be trapped on an island and besieged, leaving their own land unguarded.
That very night the land army of the barbarians began marching to the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese. Yet every possible device had been used to prevent the barbarians from invading by the mainland. As soon as the Peloponnesians learned that Leonidas and his men at +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae were dead, they ran together from their cities and took up their position at the Isthmus. Their general was Cleombrotus son of Anaxandrides, the brother of Leonidas.
When they were in position at the Isthmus, they demolished the Scironian road and then, after resolving in council, built a wall across the Isthmus. Since there were many tens of thousands and everyone worked, the task was completed, as they brought in stones and bricks and logs and baskets full of sand. At no moment of the day or night did those who had marched out there rest from their work.
These were the Hellenes who marched out in a body to the Isthmus: the Lacedaemonians and all the Arcadians, the Eleans and Corinthians and Sicyonians and Epidaurians and Phliasians and Troezenians and Hermioneans. These were the ones who marched out and feared for Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas in her peril. The rest of the Peloponnesians cared nothing, though the Olympian and Carnean festivals were now past.
Seven nations inhabit the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese. Two of these are aboriginal and are now settled in the land where they lived in the old days, the Arcadians and Cynurians. One nation, the Achaean, has never left the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese, but it has left its own country and inhabits another nation's land.
The four remaining nations of the seven are immigrants, the Dorians and Aetolians and Dryopians and Lemnians. The Dorians have many famous cities, the Aetolians only +Elis [21.4,37.8833] (Perseus) Elis, the Dryopians Hermione and +Asine [22.8833,37.525] (Perseus) Asine near Laconian Cardamyle, the Lemnians all the Paroreatae.
The Cynurians are aboriginal and seem to be the only Ionians, but they have been Dorianized by time and by Argive rule. They are the Orneatae and the perioikoi. All the remaining cities of these seven nations, except those I enumerated, stayed neutral. If I may speak freely, by staying neutral they medized.
Those at the Isthmus were involved in so great a labor, since all they had was at stake and they did not expect the ships to win distinction. Those at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis heard of their labors but still were full of dread, fearing not for themselves but for the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese.
For a time each man talked quietly to his neighbor, wondering at Eurybiades' folly, but finally it came out into the open. They held an assembly and talked at length on the same matters as before: some said they must sail away to the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese and risk battle for that country, not stay and fight for a captured land; but the Athenians and Aeginetans and Megarians said they must stay and defend themselves.
When the Peloponnesians were outvoting him, Themistocles secretly left the assembly, and sent a man by boat to the Median fleet after ordering him what to say. His name was Sicinnus, and he was Themistocles' servant and his sons' attendant. Later Themistocles enrolled him as a Thespian, when the Thespians were adopting citizens, and made him wealthy with money.
He now came by boat and said to the generals of the barbarians, “The Athenian general has sent me without the knowledge of the other Hellenes. He is on the king's side and prefers that your affairs prevail, not the Hellenes'. I am to tell you that the Hellenes are terrified and plan flight, and you can now perform the finest deed of all if you do not allow them to escape.
They do not all have the same intent, and they will no longer oppose you. Instead you will see them fighting against themselves, those who are on your side against those who are not.” After indicating this to them he departed.
Finding the message credible, they first landed many of the Persians on the islet of Psyttalea, which lies between Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and the mainland. When it was midnight, they brought their western wing in a circle towards Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis, and those stationed at +Kea [24.366,37.566] (island), Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Ceos and Cynosura also put out to sea, occupying all the passage as far as Munychia with their ships.
They launched their ships in this way so that the Hellenes would have no escape: they would be trapped at Salamis (island), Attica, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, EuropeSalamis and pay the penalty for the battles at +Artemisium [23.2417,39.0083] (Perseus) Artemisium. The purpose of their landing Persians on the islet called Psyttalea was this: when the battle took place, it was chiefly there that the men and wrecks would be washed ashore, for the island lay in the path of the impending battle. The Persians would be able to save some of those who washed up and kill the others.
They did this in silence for fear that their enemies hear, making their preparations at night without sleep.