Role And Significance Of Themistocles In The Persian War

To what extent was the role and significance of Themistocles in the Persian Wars?

Themistocles significant role within the Persian War was a key factor to the Greeks success. The Greeks were outnumbered in naval and land forces, but Themistocles’s prevailing intelligence, strategies and leadership ensured Greeks success against Persia. Themistocles’s intelligence lead actions that greatly affected the outcome of the war. His intelligences to propose investment in Athens for future naval resources proved paramount for Greece retaliation. His critical analysis was crucial, and was responsible for Athens’s action to resist invasion. Themistocles strategic prowess often contrasting against other Greek leaders weakened Persian forces. Themistocles’s

leadership was prominent throughout the war, crucial at the Salamis impacting the outcome of the war. His leadership to propose a plan opposing the general attitude of Greek leaders, then proving his superior strategy demonstrates his strong leadership
Themistocles’s forethought and power of analysis proved vital to Athens opposing Persia.

Herodotus explains how Themistocles often “demonstrated how supreme his powers of analysis were” (Herodotus, pg. 297). It was Themistocles’s inspired planning that allowed Athens to have two hundred ships ready for battle before the Persian Empire could invade (Herodotus, pg. 497). Prior the Persian War the public treasury of the Athenians received generous revenue from the Laurium mines (Herodotus, pg. 497). It was decided that every Athenian citizen would be given 10 drachmas as personal dividend (Herodotus, pg. 497), this only benefitting a select few who were citizens. Themistocles however had a different proposal that would benefit the entire Polis. Proposing that they stop the distributions of dividends and instead divert the funds for state defence (Herodotus, pg. 497). He concluded that the funds should be spent building two hundred ships for war against the Aeginetans (Herodotus, pg. 497). This available resource of ships for war and the decisions for Athenians to become sailors proved crucial for Greeks continued independence, as these ships and knowledge were needed to oppose the

Persians.
The intelligence and power of analysis of Themistocles proved significant for Greeks throughout the Persian War. Themistocles’s intelligence altered the path of the war, which ultimately resulted in Greeks triumph. The Athenians in panic of hearing of Persia’s imminent invasion sought help from Oracles of Delphi. The interpretations of the Oracle’s prophecy deeply distressed the Athenians, and many insisted to abandon Athens (Herodotus, pg. 496). The second prophecy was milder, leading to a range of interpretations by Athenians (Herodotus, pg. 496). Many Athenians concluding to abandon everything and seek a new settlement (Herodotus, pg. 496). However Themistocles utilising his analytical quality suggested that the version of the Oracle’s prophecy the interpreters had stated was incorrect (Herodotus, pg. 497). He objected that an important part of the prophecy if it had been directed at the Athenians would have read “Cruel Salamis”, opposed to the written “Divine Salamis” (Herodotus, pg. 497). Themistocles interpreted that it was the Persians who were the subject of this verse, not the Athenians. Themistocles argued that when the prophecy referred to “Zeus grants a wooden wall” (Herodotus, pg. 4976), the prophecy was referring to Athens preparing themselves for war at sea (Herodotus, pg. 497). If not for Themistocles’s interpretation of the prophecy then Athens would not have opposed the Persian invasion, but leave their land and settle elsewhere (Herodotus, pg. 497). Without Athens opposing the Persian Empire Greece would have insufficient resources and would have fallen.
Themistocles was a key strategist for the Greek forces, and his most unique strategy involved no physical confrontation with the enemy. The Greek forces at Artemisium were successfully withstanding Persian forces and were contemplating withdrawing further into Greek land due to the loss at Thermopylae (Herotuduts, pg. 540). Themistocles strategized from the battle at Artemisium that the Persian Empire was too vast, but if any desertion could occur this would benefit the Greeks immensely. Upon leaving Artemisium Themistocles took fast ships, travelling to the surrounding areas that had drinking water, where the Persian forces were most likely to stop (Herodotus, pg. 541). Here Themistocles carved a message into the rocks for the Ionians forces that were with the Persian Empire (Herodotus, pg. 541). The message condemned Ionian forces fighting against Greece, requesting that they either join the Greek forces, retreat or become neutral (Herodotus, pg. 542). Themistocles laments in the message if they were powerless then when in battle with the Greek forces they “play the coward” and fight poorly (Herodotus, pg. 542). This strategy to carve messages that the Persians would discover was meant to either create revolt and desertion within the ranks of the Persian forces or Xerxes to doubt the loyalty of the Ionian and Corian forces and forbade them to fight (Herodotus, pg. 542). This strategy didn’t cost resources for the Greek forces, but yet still created dissension within the Persian forces.
Lastly Themistocles’s leadership was vital to the Greeks triumph, throughout the war it was crucial but at Salamis its impact changed the outcome of the war. The Greek forces assembled at Salamis, where commanders of each city met to determine their next action. Eurybiadas proposed that everyone suggest a location to confront Persia, with the condition it had to be under Greek control (Herodotus, pg. 550). When the news of Xerxes taking complete control of Athens reached the Greek forces, many accepted the proposed plan of fighting at Isthmus without consideration (Herodotus, pg. 552). Themistocles leadership saw him take a suggested plan from a citizen (Herodotus, pg. 552). Themistocles elaborated on the idea if Greek forces left Salamis they would no longer be fighting for a single homeland (Herodotus, pg. 552). Themistocles expressing was challenged by the Corinthian commander, Adeimantus and Eurybiadas. Adeimantus and Eurybiadas were opposed to this plan contesting to fight at Salamis. Themistocles strategy was accepted, reasoning that if they left it would destroy Greece (Herodotus, pg. 554), and that if the Greeks were to fight at Isthmus the Athenian fleet and population would not follow; relocating to South Italy. Themistocles leadership ensured that he listened to his citizens and logically argued his plan. His proposal of a plan that opposed general attitudes of Greek leaders demonstrated his leadership.
Themistocles role within the Greek rebuttal of the Persian Empire cannot be doubted.

The significance of his actions both before and during the conflict were vital to the success of the Greek forces. His preparation to invest public wealth into an Athenian navy fleet ensured that the Greeks were able to refute the Persian forces at the beginning of the war. His intelligence and analysis to interpret the prophecy by the Oracle of Delphi guaranteed the Athenian fightback against the Persians. This intelligence was also applied to important strategies that weakened the Persian forces, without the loss of life and resources. By inscribing a message that Persian forces would ultimately find it sewed mistrust and desertion throughout the Persian ranks. His leadership was paramount and throughout the war he proved this. The most prominent example being at Salamis where he was able to both listen to his soldiers, and then devised a successful strategy that contradicted against the previous plan. Themistocles impact prior and throughout the Persian War was significant, its role ensuring that the Greeks were successful against the

invasion.

Word Count: 1190
Bibliography
Herodotus, 2014, Herodotus - The Histories, 2nd edn, trans. T Holland, Penguin Group, London.