Ariabignes, son of Dareios and brother of Xerxes, and there were slain
too many others of note of the Persians and Medes and also of the
allies; and of the Hellenes on their part a few; for since they knew
how to swim, those whose ships were destroyed and who were not slain in
hand-to-hand conflict swam over to Salamis; but of the Barbarians the
greater number perished in the sea, not being able to swim. And when
the first ships turned to flight, then it was that the largest number
perished, for those who were stationed behind, while endeavouring to
pass with their ships to the front in order that they also might display
some deed of valour for the king to see, ran into the ships of their own
side as they fled.
90. It happened also in the course of this confusion that some of the
Phenicians, whose ships had been destroyed, came to the king and accused
the Ionians, saying that by means of them their ships had been lost, and
that they had been traitors to the cause. Now it so came about that not
only the commanders of the Ionians did not lose their lives, but the
Phenicians who accused them received a reward such as I shall tell.
While these men were yet speaking thus, a Samothrakian ship charged
against an Athenian ship: and as the Athenian ship was being sunk by
it, an Eginetan ship came up against the Samothrakian vessel and ran it
down. Then the Samothrakians, being skilful javelin-throwers, by hurling
cleared off the fighting-men from the ship which had wrecked theirs and
then embarked upon it and took possession of it. This event saved the
Ionians from punishment; for when Xerxes saw that they had performed a
great exploit, he turned to the Phenicians (for he was exceedingly vexed
and disposed to find fault with all) and bade cut off their heads, in
order that they might not, after having been cowards themselves, accuse
others who were better men than they. For whensoever Xerxes (sitting
just under the mountain opposite Salamis, which is called Aigaleos) saw
any one of his own side display a deed of valour in the sea-fight, he
inquired about him who had done it, and the scribes recorded the name of
the ship's captain with that of his father and the city from whence he
came. Moreover also Ariaramnes, a Persian who was present, shared 54 the
fate of the Phenicians, being their friend. They 55 then proceeded to
deal with the Phenicians.
91. In the meantime, as the Barbarians turned to flight and were sailing
out towards Phaleron, the Eginetans waited for them in the passage and
displayed memorable actions: for while the Athenians in the confused
tumult were disabling both those ships which resisted and those which
were fleeing, the Eginetans were destroying those which attempted to
sail away; and whenever any escaped the Athenians, they went in full
course and fell among the Eginetans.
92. Then there met one another the ship of Themistocles, which was
pursuing a ship of the enemy, and that of Polycritos the son of Crios
the Eginetan. This last had charged against a ship of Sidon, the same
that had taken the Eginetan vessel which was keeping watch in advance at
Skiathos, 56 and in which sailed Pytheas the son of Ischenoös, whom
the Persians kept in their ship, all cut to pieces as he was, making a
marvel of his valour. The Sidonian ship then was captured bearing with
it this man as well as the Persians of whom I spoke, so that Pytheas
thus came safe to Egina. Now when Polycritos looked at the Athenian
vessel he recognised when he saw it the sign of the admiral's ship, and
shouting out he addressed Themistocles with mockery about the accusation
brought against the Eginetans of taking the side of the Medes, 57 and
reproached him. This taunt Polycritos threw out against Themistocles
after he had charged against the ship of Sidon. And meanwhile those
Barbarians whose ships had escaped destruction fled and came to Phaleron
to be under cover of the land-army.
93. In this sea-fight the Eginetans were of all the Hellenes the best
reported of, and next to them the Athenians; and of the individual
men the Eginetan Polycritos and the Athenians Eumenes of Anagyrus and
Ameinias of Pallene, the man who had pursued after Artemisia. Now if
he had known that Artemisia was sailing in this ship, he would not have
ceased until either he had taken her or had been taken himself; for
orders had been given to the Athenian captains, and moreover a prize was
offered of ten thousand drachmas for the man who should take her alive;
since they thought it intolerable that a woman should make an expedition
against Athens. She then, as has been said before, had made her escape;
and the others also, whose ships had escaped destruction, were at
Phaleron.
94. As regards Adeimantos the commander of the Corinthians, the
Athenians say that forthwith at the beginning when the ships were
engaging in the fight, being struck with panic and terror he put up his
sails and fled away; and the Corinthians, when they saw the admiral's
ship fleeing, departed likewise: and after this, as the story goes, when
they came in their flight opposite to the temple of Athene Skiras in
the land of Salamis, there fell in with them by divine guidance a
light vessel, 58 which no one was ever found to have sent, and which
approached the Corinthians at a time when they knew nothing of that
which was happening with the fleet. And by this it is conjectured 59
that the matter was of the Deity; for when they came near to the ships,
the men in the light vessel said these words: "Adeimantos, thou hast
turned thy ships away and hast set forth to flee, deserting the cause of
the Hellenes, while they are in truth gaining a victory and getting
the better of their foes as much as they desired." When they said this,
since Adeimantos doubted of it, they spoke a second time and said that
they might be taken as hostages and slain, if the Hellenes should prove
not to be gaining the victory. Then he turned his ship back, he and the
others with him, and they reached the camp when the work was finished.
Such is the report spread by the Athenians against these: the
Corinthians however do not allow this to be so, but hold that they were
among the first in the sea-fight; and the rest of Hellas also bears
witness on their side.
95. Aristeides moreover the son of Lysimachos, the Athenian, of whom
I made mention also shortly before this as a very good man, he in this
tumult which had arisen about Salamis did as follows:—taking with him
a number of the hoplites of Athenian race who had been ranged along the
shore of the land of Salamis, with them he disembarked on the island of
Psyttaleia; and these slew all the Persians who were in this islet.
96. When the sea-fight had been broken off, the Hellenes towed in to
Salamis so many of the wrecks as chanced to be still about there, and
held themselves ready for another sea-fight, expecting that the king
would yet make use of the ships which remained unhurt; but many of the
wrecks were taken by the West Wind and borne to that strand in Attica
which is called Colias; so as to fulfil 60 not only all that other
oracle which was spoken about this sea-fight by Bakis and Musaios, but
also especially, with reference to the wrecks cast up here, that
which had been spoken in an oracle many years before these events by
Lysistratos, an Athenian who uttered oracles, and which had not been
observed by any of the Hellenes:
"Then shall the Colian women with firewood of oars roast barley." 61
This was destined to come to pass after the king had marched away.
97. When Xerxes perceived the disaster which had come upon him, he
feared lest some one of the Ionians should suggest to the Hellenes,
or they should themselves form the idea, to sail to the Hellespont and
break up the bridges; and so he might be cut off in Europe and run the
risk of perishing utterly: therefore he began to consider about taking
flight. He desired however that his intention should not be perceived
either by the Hellenes or by those of his own side; therefore he
attempted to construct a mole going across to Salamis, and he bound
together Phenician merchant vessels in order that they might serve him
both for a bridge and a wall, and made preparations for fighting as if
he were going to have another battle by sea. Seeing him do so, all the
rest made sure that he had got himself ready in earnest and intended to
stay and fight; but Mardonios did not fail to perceive the true meaning
of all these things, being by experience very well versed in his way of
thinking.
98. While Xerxes was doing thus, he sent a messenger to the Persians,
to announce the calamity which had come upon them. Now there is
nothing mortal which accomplishes a journey with more speed than these
messengers, so skilfully has this been invented by the Persians: for
they say that according to the number of days of which the entire
journey consists, so many horses and men are set at intervals, each man
and horse appointed for a day's journey. These neither snow nor rain nor
heat nor darkness of night prevents from accomplishing each one the task
proposed to him, with the very utmost speed. The first then rides and
delivers the message with which he is charged to the second, and the
second to the third; and after that it goes through them handed from
one to the other, 62 as in the torch-race among the Hellenes, which
they perform for Hephaistos. This kind of running of their horses the
Persians call angareion.
99. The first message then which came to Susa, announcing that Xerxes
had Athens in his possession, so greatly rejoiced the Persians who had
been left behind, that they strewed all the ways with myrtle boughs and
offered incense perpetually, and themselves continued in sacrifices and
feasting. The second message however, which came to them after this,
so greatly disturbed them that they all tore their garments and gave
themselves up to crying and lamentation without stint, laying the blame
upon Mardonios: and this the Persians did not so much because they were
grieved about the ships, as because they feared for Xerxes himself.
100. As regards the Persians this went on for all the time which
intervened, until the coming of Xerxes himself caused them to cease:
and Mardonios seeing that Xerxes was greatly troubled by reason of
the sea-fight, and suspecting that he was meaning to take flight from
Athens, considered with regard to himself that he would have to suffer
punishment for having persuaded the king to make an expedition against
Hellas, and that it was better for him to run the risk of either
subduing Hellas or ending his own life honourably, placing his safety in
suspense for a great end, 63 though his opinion was rather that he would
subdue Hellas;—he reckoned up these things, I say, and addressed his
speech to the king as follows: "Master, be not thou grieved, nor feel
great trouble on account of this thing which has come to pass; for it is
not upon a contest of timbers that all our fortunes depend, but of
men and of horses: and none of these who suppose now that all has been
achieved by them will attempt to disembark from the ships and stand
against thee, nor will any in this mainland do so; but those who did
stand against us paid the penalty. If therefore thou thinkest this good
to do, let us forthwith attempt the Peloponnese, or if thou thinkest
good to hold back, we may do that. Do not despond however, for there is
no way of escape for the Hellenes to avoid being thy slaves, after they
have first given an account of that which they did to thee both now
and at former times. Thus it were best to do; but if thou hast indeed
resolved to retire thyself and to withdraw thy army, I have another
counsel to offer for that case too. Do not thou, O king, let the
Persians be an object of laughter to the Hellenes; for none of thy
affairs have suffered by means of the Persians, nor wilt thou be able to
mention any place where we proved ourselves cowards: but if Phenicians
or Egyptians or Cyprians or Kilikians proved themselves cowards, the
calamity which followed does not belong to the Persians in any way. Now
therefore, since it is not the Persians who are guilty towards thee,
follow my counsel. If thou hast determined not to remain here, retire
thou to thine own abode, taking with thee the main body of the army,
and it must then be for me to deliver over to thee Hellas reduced to
subjection, choosing for this purpose thirty myriads 64 from the army."
101. Hearing this Xerxes was rejoiced and delighted so far as he might
be after his misfortunes, 65 and to Mardonios he said that when he had
taken counsel he would reply and say which of these two things he would
do. So when he was taking counsel with those of the Persians who
were called to be his advisers, 66 it seemed good to him to send for
Artemisia also to give him counsel, because at the former time she alone
had showed herself to have perception of that which ought to be done. So
when Artemisia had come, Xerxes removed from him all the rest, both the
Persian councillors and also the spearmen of the guard and spoke to
her thus: "Mardonios bids me stay here and make an attempt on the
Peloponnese, saying that the Persians and the land-army are not guilty
of any share in my calamity, and that they would gladly give me proof of
this. He bids me therefore either do this or, if not, he desires himself
to choose thirty myriads from the army and to deliver over to me Hellas
reduced to subjection; and he bids me withdraw with the rest of the army
to my own abode. Do thou therefore, as thou didst well advise about the
sea-fight which was fought, urging that we should not bring it on, so
also now advise me which of these things I shall do, that I may succeed
in determining well."
102. He thus consulted her, and she spoke these words: "O king, it is
hard for me to succeed in saying the best things when one asks me for
counsel; yet it seems good to me at the present that thou shouldest
retire back and leave Mardonios here, if he desires it and undertakes
to do this, together with those whom he desires to have: for on the one
hand if he subdue those whom he says that he desires to subdue, and if
those matters succeed well which he has in mind when he thus speaks, the
deed will after all be thine, master, seeing that thy slaves achieved
it: and on the other hand if the opposite shall come to pass of that
which Mardonios intends, it will be no great misfortune, seeing that
thou wilt thyself remain safe, and also the power in those parts 67
which concerns thy house: 68 for if thou shalt remain safe with thy
house, many contests many times over repeated will the Hellenes have
to pass through for their own existence. 69 Of Mardonios however, if
he suffer any disaster, no account will be made; and if the Hellenes
conquer they gain a victory which is no victory, having destroyed one
who is but thy slave. Thou however wilt retire having done that for
which thou didst make thy march, that is to say, having delivered Athens
to the fire."
103. With this advice Xerxes was greatly delighted, since she succeeded
in saying that very thing which he himself was meaning to do: for not
even if all the men and all the women in the world had been counselling
him to remain, would he have done so, as I think, so much had he been
struck with terror. He commended Artemisia therefore and sent her away
to conduct his sons to Ephesos, for there were certain bastard sons of
his which accompanied him.
104. With these sons he sent Hermotimos to have charge of them, who was
by race of Pedasa and was in the estimation of the king second to none
of the eunuchs. [Now the Pedasians dwell above Halicarnassos, and at
this Pedasa a thing happens as follows:—whenever to the whole number of
those who dwell about this city some trouble is about to come within
a certain time, then the priestess of Athene in that place gets a long
beard; and this has happened to them twice before now.
105. Of these Pedasians was Hermotimos.] 70 And this man of all persons
whom we know up to this time obtained the greatest revenge for a wrong
done to him. For he had been captured by enemies and was being sold, and
Panionios a man of Chios bought him, one who had set himself to gain his
livelihood by the most impious practices; for whenever he obtained
boys who possessed some beauty, he would make eunuchs of them, and then
taking them to Sardis or Ephesos sold them for large sums of money,
since with the Barbarians eunuchs are held to be of more value for all
matters of trust than those who are not eunuchs. Panionios then, I say,
made eunuchs of many others, since by this he got his livelihood,
and also of this man about whom I speak: and Hermotimos, being not in
everything unfortunate, was sent from Sardis to the king with other
gifts, and as time went on he came to be honoured more than all the
other eunuchs in the sight of Xerxes.
106. And when the king, being at that time in Sardis, was setting the
Persian army in motion to march against Athens, then Hermotimos, having
gone down for some business to that part of Mysia which the Chians
occupy and which is called Atarneus, found there Panionios: and having
recognised him he spoke to him many friendly words, first recounting
to him all the good things which he had by his means, and next making
promises in return for this, and saying how many good things he would do
for him, if he would bring his household and dwell in that land; so that
Panionios gladly accepting his proposals brought his children and
his wife. Then, when he had caught him together with his whole house,
Hermotimos spoke as follows: "O thou, who of all men that ever lived up
to this time didst gain thy substance by the most impious deeds, what
evil did either I myself or any of my forefathers do either to thee
or to any of thine, that thou didst make me to be that which is nought
instead of a man? Didst thou suppose that thou wouldest escape the
notice of the gods for such things as then thou didst devise? They
however following the rule of justice delivered 71 thee into my hands,
since thou hadst done impious deeds; so that thou shalt not have reason
to find fault with the penalty which shall be inflicted upon thee by
me." When he had thus reproached him, the man's sons were brought into
his presence and Panionios was compelled to make eunuchs of his own
sons, who were four in number, and being compelled he did so; and then
when he had so done, the sons were compelled to do the same thing to
him. Thus vengeance by the hands of Hermotimos 72 overtook Panionios.
107. When Xerxes had entrusted his sons to Artemisia to carry them back
to Ephesos, he called Mardonios and bade him choose of the army whom he
would, and make his deeds, if possible, correspond to his words. During
this day then things went so far; and in the night on the command of
the king the leaders of the fleet began to withdraw their ships from
Phaleron to the Hellespont, as quickly as they might each one, to guard
the bridges for the king to pass over. And when the Barbarians were
near Zoster as they sailed, then seeing the small points of rock which
stretch out to sea from this part of the mainland, they thought
that these were ships and fled for a good distance. In time however,
perceiving that they were not ships but points of rock, they assembled
together again and continued on their voyage.
108. When day dawned, the Hellenes, seeing that the land-army was
staying still in its place, supposed that the ships also were about
Phaleron; and thinking that they would fight another sea-battle, they
made preparations to repel them. When however they were informed that
the ships had departed, forthwith upon this they thought it good to
pursue after them. They pursued therefore as far as Andros, but did not
get a sight of the fleet of Xerxes; and when they had come to Andros,
they deliberated what they should do. Themistocles then declared as
his opinion that they should take their course through the islands and
pursue after the ships, and afterwards sail straight to the Hellespont
to break up the bridges; but Eurybiades expressed the opposite opinion
to this, saying that if they should break up the floating-bridges, they
would therein do 73 the greatest possible evil to Hellas: for if the
Persian should be cut off and compelled to remain in Europe, he would
endeavour not to remain still, since if he remained still, neither
could any of his affairs go forward, nor would any way of returning
home appear; but his army would perish of hunger: whereas if he made the
attempt and persevered in it, all Europe might be brought over to
him, city by city and nation by nation, the inhabitants being either
conquered 74 or surrendering on terms before they were conquered:
moreover they would have for food the crops of the Hellenes which grew
year by year. He thought however that conquered in the sea-fight the
Persian would not stay in Europe, and therefore he might be allowed to
flee until in his flight he came to his own land. Then after that they
might begin the contest for the land which belonged to the Persian. To
this opinion the commanders of the other Peloponnesians adhered also.
109. When Themistocles perceived that he would not be able to persuade
them, or at least the greater number of them, to sail to the Hellespont,
he changed his counsel 75 and turning to the Athenians (for these were
grieved most at the escape of the enemy and were anxious to sail to the
Hellespont even by themselves alone, 76 if the others were not willing)
to them he spoke as follows: "I myself also have been present before now
on many occasions, and have heard of many more, on which something
of this kind came to pass, namely that men who were forced into great
straits, after they had been defeated fought again and repaired their
former disaster: and as for us, since we have won as a prize from
fortune the existence of ourselves and of Hellas by repelling from our
land so great a cloud of men, let us not pursue enemies who flee from
us: for of these things not we were the doors, but the gods and heroes,
who grudged that one man should become king of both Asia and of Europe,
and he a man unholy and presumptuous, one who made no difference between
things sacred and things profane, 77 burning and casting down the images
of the gods, and who also scourged the Sea and let down into it fetters.
But as things are at present, it is well that we should now remain in
Hellas and look after ourselves and our households; and let each man
repair his house, and have a care for sowing his land, after he has
completely driven away the Barbarian: and then at the beginning of
the spring let us sail down towards the Hellespont and Ionia." Thus he
spoke, intending to lay up for himself a store of gratitude with the
Persian, in order that if after all any evil should come upon him at the
hands of the Athenians, he might have a place of refuge: and this was in
fact that which came to pass.
110. Themistocles then speaking thus endeavoured to deceive them, and
the Athenians followed his advice: for he had had the reputation even in
former times of being a man of ability 78 and he had now proved himself
to be in truth both able and of good judgment; therefore they were ready
in every way to follow his advice when he spoke. So when these had been
persuaded by him, forthwith after this Themistocles sent men with a
vessel, whom he trusted to keep silence, to whatever test they might be
brought, of that which he himself charged them to tell the king; and of
them Sikinnos his servant again was one. When these came to Attica, the
rest stayed behind in the ship, while Sikinnos went up to Xerxes and
spoke these words: "Themistocles the son of Neocles sent me, who is
commander of the Athenians, and of all the allies the best and ablest
man, to tell thee that Themistocles the Athenian, desiring to be of
service to thee, held back the Hellenes when they were desirous to
pursue after thy ships and to destroy the bridges on the Hellespont. Now
therefore thou mayest make thy way home quite undisturbed." They having
signified this sailed away again.