Themistocles Essay

Themistocles was a man of extraordinary quality who by sheer force of his personality was able to
shape the history of his time and events. He lived from 524 to 459BCE and was an Athenian
politician who was the most influential leader in Athens’s war effort against the Persians.
Themistocles was renowned as a great leader who possessed bravery, courage and intellect.
He also served as Archon in 493 and Strategoi in the numerous battles of Marathon
Thermopylae and Salamis.
Themistocles was an Athenian general whose abilities as a master strategist, and tactician
prevented the Persians from invading mainland Greece. Thucydides describes him as “an
unmistakable natural genius… and deserves our admiration”. It was Themistocles foresight
in realising the threat of future invasions from Persia. Consequently, he vigorously
advocated the advancement of Athenian naval power rather than the land army. His plan to
defend the Greek mainland lay in strengthening the navy, by utilising the silver deposits
from the Laurium mines. Many others especially Aristides were in opposition and were
encouraging the surplus silver to be divided among the citizens. However, he persevered and
by his great rhetoric he was able to convince the Athenians that the Delphi’s oracle advice
of a “wooden wall” was a reference to their ships called triremes.
One hundred triremes were originally built (Herodotus says 200) this was a crucial decision in the
future battles of Artemisium and Salamis as they were mainly achieved by focusing on naval
attacks.
The Greek strategy suggested that they relocate to Thermopylae instead of Vale of Tempe
and Artemisium. He realized the Persian army would suffer disruption to their supply line
and be unable to take advantage of their cavalry strength. The commander of Thermpoylae,
Leonidas king of the Spartans, led a force of 300 Spartans and 7,000 local Greeks to defend
the pass, which allowed the Athenians to evacuate their city.
A naval attack occurred simultaneously in a narrow strait known as Artemisium. The Spartan
general, Eurybiades , kept the Persian fleet occupied, and prevented further Persian
advancement into central Greece. This location was suggested by Themistocles as the
narrow straits was restrictive to the large Persian ships. According to the Troezan
inscriptions it was important to delay the Persian in order to evacuate the women and
children to the island of Troezan. This battle reduced the Persian fleet by half which had
ongoing benefits for Athens.
Themistocles was also instrumental in choosing the site of Salamis for the next
entanglement. He convinced Eurybiades and the other commanders that Salamis would
favour the heavier and smaller Greek triremes as opposed to the open sea which would
favour the Persians superior numbers.
As T. Buckley says “ Themistocles was the architect of the defeat of the Persians by choosing
the scene of the battle” His decision contributed to the victory and prevented the Persian
army into advancing into the Isthmus.
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Themistocles also used psychological strategy against Xeres he knew he was impatient to be
done with the battles he devised a plan to send a messenger, Siccinus ,bearing false
information to Xerxes according to Plutarch “The Greeks are trying to slip away, her urges
the king not to let them escape but to attack” his plans and cunning contributed to the
significant victory at Salamis.
Therefore, Themistocles played a prominent role in the preservation of Greece and the
defeat of Persia. His tactics, advice , strategies and strong leadership were essential to
Greek victory, His ability to outwit his enemies was commendable it was due to his role that
Athens was able to become a maritime naval power and build her empire, it also allowed for
the preservation of the democracy which led to the Golden Age.
POINTS
He was significant in the victory of Greece against Persia as he was able to consolidate the
Greek forces by strengthening unity between the state in response to reports of extensive
Persian military preparations (John V.A. Fine. Historian) At the Congress of Corinth along
with decisions wuch as punishing medizing(loyal to Persia) states, it was decided that
“all feuds and disputes would end, including hostilities between Athens and Aegina” They
also combined navies” (C Smith professor of History)
Bartleby says “Themistoles revolutionary policies were not favoured by the conservative
Aeropagus. Bradley believed that by “careful propaganda” he convinced people to ostracize
his opponenet, Aristides, who felt wealth from the silver mines should be evenly distributed
amongst the citizens.
Plutarch says
“The greatest of all his achievements was to put an ending to all the fighting within Greece,
to reconcile the various cities with one another and persuade them to lay aside their
differences because of the war with Persia”
Re battle of Salamis
When the Persians marched into Greece they found it deserted. The Athenian fleet was
waiting off the coast of Salamis. The much larger Persian fleet attacked the small Athenian
ships. However, the Athenian triremes were fast and manoeuvrable they rammed into the
sides of the larger Persian ships and sunk them. This sound defeat caused Xerxes to retreat
back into Persia.
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The collective defence of the Greeks managed against overwhelming odds and even
succeeded in liberating Greek city state on the fringe of Persia. The Greek triumph
ensured the survival of Greek culture and political structure long after the demise of the
Persian Empire.
As Didorus Siculus “Themistocles, because of his skills as a general and by his sagacity , was
held in esteem not only by is fellow citizens but by all Greeks”
CONCLUSION
Therefore, Themistocles played an indispensable role in the victory of Greece over the
Persians. He accomplished this by unifying the Greek states, and after their initial win over
the Persians a belief and confidence in themselves, persuading them to invest funds in
building triremes, organising the evacuation of Athens, chose sites of naval and land
engagements, built the Port at Piraus which he fortified. Consequently, due to all these
strategies Themistocles can be lauded for having significantly contributing to the saving of
Greece and her ascendary in becoming an Empire and to the continuation of Democracy and
the Golden Age that ensued. Therefore, he earnt the right to the eulogy by Plutacrch
“the man most instrumental in achieving the salvation of Greece”

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Themistocles was a man of extraordinary quality who by sheer force of his personality was able to

“the man most instrumental in achieving the salvation of Greece”

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