The Persian Wars were fought on land and sea during the period from 492 - 449 B.C. The Battle of Salamis was a decisive naval battle of the Persian Wars. After the Battle of Thermopylae -- the one where the 300 Spartans and allies made a brave, but hopeless stand against the far superior forces of the Persians -- the Persian Empire destroyed Athens. However, by the time the Persians arrived, the Athenians had already been evacuated and the Greek military leaders were preparing to meet the Persians at Salamis.
Among the naval commanders of the Persian allied forces was one of the famous queens of ancient history, Artemisia of Halicarnassus. This Battle of Salamis Queen Artemisia should not be confused with another queen of the same name responsible for the mausoleum for her dead husband.
In 479 B.C., Themistocles (c. 514-449 B.C.), an Athenian statesman, stationed the Athenian fleet at Salamis, feigned retreat, and lured the navy of the Persians into the narrow strait at Salamis. There the Persian and allied vessels could be rammed by the Greek ships. The Persians were beaten in this naval battle, known as the Battle of Salamis, and retreated.
The Battle of Salamis was a turning point in the Persian War and showed the naval supremacy of Athens.
Read
- The Year of the Salamis, 480-479 B.C.: The Greco-Persian Wars, by Peter Green
- The Battle of Salamis : The Naval Encounter That Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization, by Barry Strauss
Persian War Resources
Major Events in Greek History Timeline
Persian Wars Timeline
Delian League
Major Events in Greek History Timeline
Ionian Greeks
Homeric Geography - Greek Migrations
Croesus of Lydia
Battle of Salamis
Delian League
