An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. Debate at athens over whether wooden wall means the acropolis or the ships 142. Ospreys study of a crucial battle of the grercopersian wars 499449 bc. Dec 23, 2015 the battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece. Salamis according to herodotus page 2 waterblogged. After reading about the greek defeat at the land battle of thermopylae in book 7. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae. Histories book 8 the battle of salamis summary course hero. The battle of thermopylae the histories of herodotus excerpt.
It was fought between the citizens of athens, aided by plataea, and a persian force commanded by datis and artaphernes. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors. The passage, from book i of his histories, is interesting in the way herodotus contrasts the behavior and values of the persians. Herodotus histories book 4 melpomene, part 1 duration. Herodotus presents the battle as though it occurred directly after the capture of athens, but nowhere. This is a publication of the researches of herodotus of halicarnassus, made in order that the actions of men may not be effaced by time, and that the great and wondrous deeds displayed both by greeks and barbarians may not be deprived of renown. The battle of salamis was a great victory for the greek navy and, in combination with a victory by the greek army at the battle of plataea the next year, led to the complete defeat of the persians. Herodotuss history is an account of the grecopersian wars 499479 bce and the story of the growth and organization of the persian empire. The histories, herodotus the histories of herodotus is the founding work of history in western literature. The history of herodotus macaulaybook viii wikisource.
Book eight battle of artemision, athens abandoned, battle of salamis 1 the fleet consisted of the following greek contingents. Herodotus 484425 bce the greek historian who wrote extensively on the persian empire, here describes persian customs as they would have been practiced around the year 430 bce at susa and other persian communities. Herodotus spent his entire life working on just one project. She had her enemies, which herodotus mentioned when she spoke before salamis. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a.
The battle of salamis the histories of herodotus excerpt. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. As it is explained in the notes and introduction, much of his account has been reaffirmed by modern historical and. The athenian playwright aeschylus, who participated in the battle, wrote a play about it in 472 bc the persians. Empires of ancient persia explained in 10 minutes history of. These are the forces which came to artemisium for battle, and i have now. During that time the persian land army marches to attica. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. The persian king xerxes was also eager for a decisive battle. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 8 the battle of salamis summary. Mar 15, 2019 herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. Summary of and historical commentary on the histories of herodotus.
And it so fell out that these seabattles were fought through the same days as the landbattles at thermopylae. 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. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at plataea and mycale. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that. 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. A second more favorable oracle mentions the wooden wall 141.
Because the battle of salamis saved greece from being absorbed into the persian empire, it essentially ensured the emergence of western civilization as a major force in the world. Salamis was not such a battle and artemisia seemed to know when to flee at all costs, receiving no criticism from herodotus. Among the most influential ancient greek figures is the father of history, herodotus of halicarnassus, who chronicled the history of the persian wars. Herodotus is mistaken about the date of the olympic games. 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, made during my residence in athens as director of the american school of classical studies in 18821883. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian.
To depart now, after the aim of the campaign has been fulfilled, carries no dishonor to xerxes. Herodotus, the histories, book 1, chapter 1, section 0. So soon as it was decided to give battle, the ships were pushed off and headed for salamis, rvb t v laxapva. In order to discern the month in which the battle occurred, herodotus again gives the information needed to pinpoint the battle dates. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek city states under. Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. Thermopylae battle 480 tour herodotus history private tour. It is difficult to explain exactly what eventually brought about the battle, assuming that. Herodotus account of the battle of plataea 243 of his campaign. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint.
In spite of the groundbreaking work of herodotus, a new book, focusing on the battle of salamis, is certainly in order. These are interesting considerations which we cannot lightly put aside, 8 and it is. This study guide for herodotuss histories offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Where gypsy vampire masochist hippies and lycanthropes can dwell side by side in harmony. Salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at thermopylae and. And when night came, they scattered from the assembly and boarded their ships. The artemisia of herodotus was complex historian on the. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. On the first day after the battles at thermopylae and artemisium, xerxes marines visit. Western civilization february 8, 2009 the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories the battle of thermopylae, which herodotus recorded in his writing the histories, was one of the most arduous and notable battles of western history.
While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under. According to herodotus, queen artemisia of caria pointed this out to xerxes in the runup to salamis. Feb 08, 2017 salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. 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. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea. The heroic battles near athens at marathon 490 bce, thermopylae, 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. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. Greek, ancient to 1453, 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 which resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered greeks. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. Sources conflict on the sizes of the opposing fleets.
Herodotus the persian wars godleybook viii wikisource, the. In the cramped conditions of the straits, the great persian numbers were an active hindrance. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece. The greeks at salamis learn that xerxes is in athens. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories.
The pivotal event of the history is the battle of marathon 490 bce, where the persians were defeated by the greeks. On herodotuss and aeschyluss accounts of the battle of salamis. In the narrow strait between the island of salamis and the greek mainland, a heavily outnumbered greek navy defeated the persian armada in a brilliant victory that is still studied today. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. To expand on the previous authors post, the citation for the xerxes quote regarding artemisia is wrong.
Mache tou marathonos took place in 490 bc during the first persian invasion of greece. Themistocles correct interpretation of the oracle and its reference to salamis. It happened in september 480 bc in the straits between the mainland and salamis island. The following is a concise summary of book viii provided by. Apr, 2015 salamis was not such a battle and artemisia seemed to know when to flee at all costs, receiving no criticism from herodotus.
Part of a complete english translation of herodotus. The subsequent naval battles at artemisium and salamis, and the burning of athens, are the focus of book 8. Salamis a battle that defined history for centuries to come. Jan 18, 2012 herodotus 484425 bce the greek historian who wrote extensively on the persian empire, here describes persian customs as they would have been practiced around the year 430 bce at susa and other persian communities. The hellenes 1 in salamis, when it was reported to them how things were around the acropolis of athens, came to great tumult such that some of the generals fell upon their ships and raised the sails to run away. 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. In particular, passage eightysix describes the practice of an ancient ritual that has fascinated people for millennia. Thus, artemisia was fearless in speaking her mind and brave in battle, but still a survivor in the latter. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals. She fought at salamis on behalf of the persians, but seemed to change allegiances as the situation demanded. The speakers mostly advised that the fleet should sail away to the isthmus, and there give battle in defence of the peloponnese. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages.
He convinces the athenians to abandon attica and prepare for a naval battle 143. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. Summary of herodotus this is a chapterbychapter summary, with occasional notes, of the histories of herodotus, based mostly on the translation by peter greene 1987, with occasional reference to translations by a. A decade later the persians, led by xerxes, returned but were decisively defeated at the battle of plataea in 479 bce. Dec, 2007 this battle forms the centrepiece of book viii of herodotus histories. Herodotus was born in the greek colony while under persian occupation and would remain so for roughly half of his life. The athenians provided 127 ships, with crews of plataeans as well as athenians.
The naval campaign that saved greece william shepherd, peter dennis on. The passage, from book i of his histories, is interesting in the way herodotus contrasts the behavior and values of the persians with those. The battle of salamis, by barry strauss indepthinfo. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. There the greeks, sparked by fear and indecisiveness, conduct successive discussions about the most suitable location to face the persian invaders. The greek alliance, on the verge of fracturing, is convinced by the athenian general themistocles to engage the persian fleet and wins a decisive victory at salamis, an island south of athens. The battle of salamis was a naval battle between an alliance of greek citystates and the achaemenid empire of persia. Full text of a commentary on herodotus internet archive.
Nine days pass between the end of the fighting at artemisium and the arrival of the persian fleet at the bay of phalerum in attica 8. In book vii herodotus also talks of the solar eclipse that occurred at the crossing of the hellespont, and how the persian magi explained the event to. Dec 05, 2015 the battle of thermopylae was the initial engagement between the persian empire and the confederation of greek citystates led by sparta during the second persian invasion of greece in 480 bc. But he also claims that those losses had been replaced by the time of salamis, and the persian fleet still stood at 1,200. Herodotus vii only recounts the battle of thermopolye, not the battle of salamis. In book vii herodotus also talks of the solar eclipse that occurred at the crossing of the hellespont, and how the persian magi explained the event to xerxes. Artemisia suggested that fighting at sea was an unnecessary risk, recommending instead. Battle of salamis simple english wikipedia, the free. 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. 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. 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. However, it was strategically not necessary for the persians to actually fight this battle at salamis. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek index. Written in 440 bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in western asia, northern africa and greece at that time.
Herodotus relates over a century of persian expansion, including the egyptian and other conquests, from about 600 bc, and of persian conflict with the greeks, culminating in his compatriots victories at salamis and platea. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. Herodotus wrote and compiled a history of the wars of the grecians and persians of the fifth century b. The battle was the culmination of the first attempt by persia, under king darius i. On herodotus s 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.
Herodotus reports that the persians earlier had lost up to 400 triremes during a storm off the coast of magnesia and perhaps another 50 at the battle of artemisium. In this battle only one of the greeks who fought on the side of the king deserted and. 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. 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. The essential features of herodotus s account may be discussed in the chronological order as he gives them.