If history can be seen as a teacher for the present, this is it. 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. Herodotus, the histories perseus online version aeschylus, extract from the persians. Following up their naval victory at the battle of salamis in september 480 bce against the same enemy, the greeks again defeated an invading army sent by the persian ruler xerxes i r. Translated from tales from herodotus farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point.
Salamis according to herodotus on feb 8, 2017 jul 5, 2019 by arwen1968 in best stories of herodotus, maritime history. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae the. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle off salamis. Battle of salamis, 480 bc, battle in the grecopersian wars in which a greek fleet defeated much larger persian naval forces in the straits at salamis, between the island of salamis and the athenian portcity of piraeus. Why did pheidippides run the 26 miles and 385 yards or 42. Praise for the battle salamis a ripping yarn of a world at the brink of annihilation and of the heroes and fools who brought it back from the edge. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. When you get as far as the battle of salamis in book viii of herodotus, you cant help noticing that his account of the battle. The naval encounter that saved greeceand western civilization.
There the greeks, sparked by fear and indecisiveness, conduct successive discussions about. Battle of salamis, naval battle between the greek city states and persia, fought in september, 480 bc battle of salamis in cyprus 450 bc was a simultaneous land and sea battle of the greco persian wars. 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. The battle of salamis was a naval battle between greek and persian forces in the saronic gulf, greece in september 480 bce. The battle was fought in the straits between the mainland and salamis, an island in the saronic gulf near athens, and marked the highpoint of the second persian invasion of greece. So information that appears in another source can be considered even when herodotus does not mention it. With a solid and clear understanding of ancient greek civilization, warfare and naval history, he brings the battle of salamis alive in the context of the grecopersian war of 480479 b. Herodotus c480c425 is the father of history and his histories are the first piece of western historical writing.
The author does an excellent job of reconstructing the actual battle and providing insights into key characters. So information that appears in another source can be. Herodotus the histories, book 8, urania 4096 naval battle. The greek triumph at salamis stopped the advancing persians and. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. An account of the persian war on greece, including the naval battle at salamis, the battle with athens at marathon, and with sparta at thermopylae herodotus on. Barry strauss, professor of history and classics at cornell university, is a leading expert on ancient military history. Battle of salamis simple english wikipedia, the free.
An overview of the battle of salamis with appropriate framing ionian revolt to artemisiumthermopylae through the persian retreat. The battle of salamis by barry strauss is an enjoyable read that relies primarily on herodotuss histories in retelling the battle of salamis in 480 bc. It happened in september 480 bc in the straits between the mainland and salamis island. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. Athenians on the right against phoenicians, spartans on the left against ionians. Herodotus portrays the conflict as one between the forces of slavery the persians on the one hand, and freedom the athenians and the confederacy of greek citystates which united against the invaders on the other. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. Although the persian host had suffered setbacks, delays and even minor reversals at thermopylae and. Barry strauss has written one of the best books of 2004. When you get as far as the battle of salamis in book viii of herodotus. The battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece.
Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. Prior to the battle, xerxes, ruler of persia, had won battles in artemisium, thermopylae, and most notably, athens, which he captured in. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals. Some subsequent ancient historians, despite following in his footsteps, criticised herodotus, starting with thucydides. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. The histories was at some point divided into the nine books that appear in modern editions, conventionally named after the nine. Suffice it to say that as soon as the news of leonidass death reached the peloponnesians, their armies, commanded by cleombrotus, leonidass brother, marched. Herodotus presents the battle as though it occurred directly after the capture of athens, but nowhere explicitly states as much. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. Herodotus and thucydides and plutarch have bequeathed to us a treasure.
The naval encounter that saved greece and western civilization is geared for the more general reader. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought by the allied greek citystates and the persian empire in september 480 bc between the island of salamis and the mainland greece wikipedia contributors. 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. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 8 the battle of salamis summary. Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an enormous scale by both land and sea.
He has written or edited several books, including the battle of salamis, the trojan. The battle of salamis by barry strauss is an enjoyable read that relies primarily on herodotus s histories in retelling the battle of salamis in 480 bc. In a more extreme form of this argument, some historians argue that if the greeks had lost at salamis, the ensuing conquest of greece by the persians would have effectively stifled the growth of western civilization as we know it. 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.
Battle of salamis disambiguation battle of salamis may mean. The battle of salamis, by barry strauss indepthinfo. The next four books tell the story of the war itself, from the invasions of greece by persian emperors darius and xerxes to the greek triumphs at salamis, plataea and mycale in 480 and 479 b. His answers to them are extensive, but they do not preserve every last detail of the battle of salamis. The battle of salamis was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek city states under. With a solid and clear understanding of ancient greek civilization, warfare and naval history, he brings the battle of salamis alive in. Sources for the battle of salamis 480 bc stories preschool. Strausss deep scholarship and clear prose bring the men and the era alive. A guide to reading herodotus histories by sean sheehan. The battle of salamis book by barry strauss official. 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. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. Dec 23, 2015 the battle of salamis was the major turning point in the second persian invasion of greece.
Urania,87when the affairs of the king had come to great confusion, at this. Publishers weekly jun 1, 2004 this engaging and informative account of the 480 b. 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. Barry strauss is a worldclass academic classicist, but the battle of 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. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have. A significant number of historians have stated that salamis is one of the most significant battles in human history though the same is often stated of marathon. Filled with the sights, sounds, and scent of battle, the battle of salamis is a stirring work of history. Salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. 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. The battle of salamis was a naval battle between an alliance of greek citystates and the achaemenid empire of persia. 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. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors.
Salamis according to herodotus page 2 waterblogged. An athenianaeginetan controversy over which ship struck first 84. Strauss draws heavily upon herodotus and aeschylus. Jun 29, 2004 an overview of the battle of salamis with appropriate framing ionian revolt to artemisiumthermopylae through the persian retreat. By 480 the persian king xerxes and his army had overrun much of greece, and. Our chief sources of knowledlge concerning the battle of salamis are aeschylus, persians, 345 ff. Ten years after the defeat of the persians at marathon in 490 b. Herodotus and the persian wars the second persian war 481479 bce the battle of salamis 480 bce in the narrows between the island of salamis and the mainland persian battlecruisers cannot maneuver but smaller triremes can xerxes panics and flees back to persepolis leaves his general mardonius to finish off the greeks. Histories book 8 the battle of salamis summary course hero. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. The battle of salamis 23 or 24 september 480 bc was the decisive battle of xerxess invasion of greece, and was a major greek naval victory that left the persian army dangerously isolated in southern greece. 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.
His land forces marched down the northern coasts of the aegean sea and down into greece by way of thessaly. 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. May 11, 20 the battle of plataea was a land battle between greeks and persians near the small town of plataea in boeotia in 479 bce. He has written or edited several books, including the battle of salamis, the trojan war, the spartacus war, masters of command, the death of caesar, and ten caesars. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than. Marathon, thermopylae, and salamis by charles river editors. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than treachery of. Salamis a battle that defined history for centuries to come. It resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered greeks. In this battle only one of the greeks who fought on the side of the king deserted and. Significance of battle of salamis 480 bc stories preschool. Battle of salamis project gutenberg selfpublishing. An account of the persian war on greece, including the naval battle at salamis, the battle with athens at marathon.
In spite of the groundbreaking work of herodotus, a new book, focusing on the battle of salamis, is certainly in order. Feb 08, 2017 salamis an island in the saronic gulf in the aegean sea, opposite mount aigaleo, 16 kilometres west of athens. 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. Thus, as herodotus says that a few days after the battle of salamis xerxes withdrew from attica 8. The athenians act like this, because they do not trust the spartans, who had promised to send an. The battle of salamis the histories of herodotus excerpt.
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