Isthmus, whereupon the Peloponnesians in the fleet once more called a council, still wishing the ships to retire from Salamis. Themistocles, no longer able to dissuade them, secretly sent word to the Persians to close both ends of the Salaminian Strait, and thus the Persians did, under cover of the night. "While the generals were disputing, Aristides... crossed over from Ægina," and called Themistocles out of council, and said, "It is right that we should strive... which of us shall do the greatest service to our country. . . . We are on all sides surrounded by the enemy. Go in, therefore, and acquaint them with this." Themistocles replied, "You... have brought good news... Know, then, that this . . . proceeds from me. For, since the Greeks would not willingly come to an engagement, it was necessary to force them against their will. But do you... announce it to them yourself; for if I tell them, I shall appear to speak from my own invention." Aristides then entered the council, and told them that they were surrounded by the enemy, and must prepare to fight. Themistocles also spoke with rousing eloquence. The poet Eschylus thus describes the battle: "When now the Day, driving white steeds, filled the wide earth with glory, a shout from the Greeks rang forth, greeted Echo like a song, and Echo answered from the island-rock, inspiring. Then terror fell on the Persian ships and tents; not for flight were the Greeks chanting their solemn pæans, but for proud and daring battle. The clanging trumpet fired their line; instant at the word they smote the roaring brine with dashing oars. . . . Then we heard the mighty shout: On, Sons of the Greeks, free your land, your children, and your wives; the temples of the gods and the tombs of your fathers! This day decides for all.' .. At first, ... ". . . Then ship dashed brazen prow at ship. indeed, the strong stream of the Persian fleet withstood the onset; but we were massed within the strait, while they, awkwardly crowding, struck each other with their brazen beaks; ... but the Greeks were skilfully smiting them round about on every side. ... The shores and rugged rocks were lined with dead. . . . Never fell in a single day so many men." STUDY ON 2. Why are the Athenians in greater haste to leave Athens because the goddess has left? What reason is there to think that the Greeks will disperse if once they leave Salamis? What geographical advantage in Salamis? What three different kinds of argument does Themistocles employ to keep the Greeks at Salamis? What spirit is shown by Sparta at this time? Themistocles? Aristides? How do you know which of these men has the greater character for honesty? Who is the real commander at Salamis? What makes him so? What is the point of his sending word to the Persians to close the straits? What does the event of Salamis prove in regard to the policy of Themistocles from 490 to 480? 3. After Salamis, the Greeks divide the booty, dedicating the first fruits of their victory to Delphi. Xerxes hastily returns to Persia, leaving picked forces with Mardonius, with which to "reduce Greece to slavery." After wintering in Thessaly, Mardonius marched into Greece. Before starting, he sent ambassadors to the Athenians, hoping to make them his allies, and promising them forgiveness, the restoration of their lands, and the rebuilding of their temples, if they would but be friendly to the Great King. Sparta, fearing lest Athens might yield, also sent her an embassy, promising aid in case of war. To the Persian messenger, the Athenians replied, "We will defend ourselves in such manner as we are able. But do not attempt to persuade us to come to terms with the barbarians, for we will not be persuaded. Go, then, and tell Mardonius that .. so long as the sun shall continue in the same course as now, we will never make terms with Xerxes, but will go out to oppose him, trusting in the gods, who fight for us." To the Spartans they answered, "There is not so much gold anywhere in the world, nor a country so preeminent in beauty and fertility as to persuade us to side with Persia in enslaving Greece. For there are many and powerful considerations that forbid us to do so, even if we were inclined. First and chief, we must avenge to the uttermost the images and dwellings of the gods now burned and laid in ruins. . . . Secondly, the Grecian race being of the same blood, and of the same language, and having the temples and sacrifices of the gods in common.. for the Athenians to betray these would not be well. Know, therefore . . . that so long as one Athenian is left alive, we will never make terms with Xerxes." Mardonius, receiving this answer, advanced towards Athens. On reaching Thebes, the Thebans advised him not to fight the Greeks, but to "send money to the chief men in each city," and thus "split Greece into parties, and . . . subdue those not on your side." Mardonius, however, did not take this advice, but marched on and met the Greeks in battle at Platea. In this battle the Spartans held one wing, while the Arcadians and the Athenians each claimed the honor of leading the other; the Arcadians because they had always had it, the Athenians because of their deeds, especially at Marathon. But the Athenians left it to the Lacedæmonians, saying, "It is not becoming on such an occasion as this to contend about position. . . . Command us as ready to obey.' . . . And the whole army of Lacedæmonians shouted out that the Athenians were more worthy to lead the wing than the Arcadians." Sacrifices having been offered by either army, the battle began. In this fight Mardonius fell, and the Greek victory was complete. A tenth of the rich spoils was given to Delphi. Thus the army of Xerxes was finally overthrown, and on the same day his fleet was beaten by Greek ships at Mycale. These two battles effectively broke the strength of the Persian. STUDY ON 3. How does Mardonius try to conquer Athens? What makes him naturally suppose this plan would succeed? What three feelings are shown by the Athenians? What do they name as the bonds of Hellenic union? Who puts Greece in the greater danger, the Thebans or Mardonius? Why? What reason have the Thebans to give the advice they do? In the Battle of Platea, what spirit is shown by the Athenians? What proofs have we that war is a religious act among the Greeks? In General. - In what cases in the Persian wars does the Greek action depend on single men? How are these men able to accomplish their will? What is the use of the Battle of Thermopyla? What city of Greece deserves the lead at the close of the wars? Why? What results of Greek organization appear in the Persian wars? (a) at Thermopyla? (b) at Salamis? D. STUDY ON THE ATHENIAN LEADERSHIP (AGE OF PERICLES), 479-431. Chief contemporary sources: Herodotus, Thucydides; the plays of Euripides, Aristophanes, and the other literary remains of the period; the monuments and remains of Athens, notably the Parthenon, the temple erected on the Acropolis in honor of Athene, and the fragments of Parthenon sculpture known as the "Elgin marbles," and now in the British Museum. Other original sources: Plutarch, Xenophon, Aristotle, Plato, and the extant writings of the philosophers, orators, and sophists of the generation succeeding this age. Chief modern authorities: Grote, Curtius, Lloyd. |