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Themistokles

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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow.

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Themistokles of Athens (c. 529 – 459 BCE), alternatively Themistocles, was an Athenian politician and general.

Biography

Greco-Persian Wars

During the Second Persian invasion of Greece, Themistokles participated in the defense of Greece against the Achaemenid Empire, alongside King Leonidas of Sparta. In the face of the invaders, Themistokles ordered the evacuation of old men, furniture, goods, women, and children, and this decree was memorized as a stele on the Promontory of Skylla in Argolis. In September 480 BCE, Themistokles commanded the Greek navy at the Battle of Salamis to victory, which halted the Persians plan to conquer the Peloponnese peninsula. This and subsequent battles allowed Themistokles to gain much reputation.[1]

Exile and later years

In his later years, Themistokles was exiled from Athens and made his way to Persia, where he was welcomed by the boy emperor, Artaxerxes I. Despite Themistokles being his father's greatest enemy, Artaxerxes neverthless gave him asylum in the country, granting him the position of Satrap of various Persian provinces. Themistokles was taught the Persian customs, language and traditions. In return, Themistokles told Artaxerxes stories of various landmarks in Greece.[2]

Before Themistokles's death in 459 BCE, Artaxerxes promised him that he would visit the landmarks he was told about. At some point in his lifetime, he also hid a treasure at the sanctuary dedicated to Ajax on Salamis.[2]

Influence

Themistokles' deeds garnered him fame and he lived on in word of mouth as well as in monuments, enough for people like Phoxidas to still remember them by the 1st century BCE.[3]

Appearance

References