THE ATHENIANS TAKE SALAMIS
Salamis, an island lying about a mile from both Athens and Megara, was
in the hands of the Megarians. Its position between the two States
made it an important one. So the Athenians determined to proclaim war
against the Megarians and try to win Salamis for themselves.
But the war dragged on so long that the Athenians grew weary, and
although the Megarians still held the island they longed for the war
to end. The poor soldiers wished to go home to plough their fields,
the rich wished to escape from the hardships of the camp to their own
comfortable homes.
So at length peace was made, and a law was passed by the Athenians
forbidding any one either to say or to write, upon pain of death, that
Athens ought still to try to win Salamis.
There were many citizens both indignant and ashamed that such a law had
been passed, yet lest they should be put to death they did not dare to
say what they thought.
Solon was away from Athens when this law was passed, and when he came
back from his journey and found that peace had been made while Salamis
was still in the hands of the Megarians, he was much displeased.
Some time had passed since peace had been made, and Solon knew that the
Megarians were not now as strong as they had been when the Athenians
gave up fighting. So he determined that he would rouse his countrymen
to try again to capture the island. Yet what could he do? He would be
put to death if he defied the law, which said that no one must say or
write that Athens ought still to try to win Salamis.
At length he hit on a strange plan. He pretended that he was mad, and
persuaded his own family to spread the report that this terrible fate
had befallen him. He then wrote some verses, learned them by heart, and
ran toward the market-place, a cap upon his head. In those days a cap
was worn by a man only if he were ill.
Solon soon attracted as much attention as he had hoped to do by his
strange gestures and by the words he shouted.
As the people crowded round him he jumped on to the platform from which
heralds were used to announce important tidings, and began to recite
the verses he had written.
‘I came myself as a herald from lovely Salamis, but with song on my
lips instead of common speech,’ so began the poem. It then went on to
blame those who wished no longer to fight, and bade them ‘Arise and
come to Salamis to win that fair island and undo our shame.’
As the people listened they forgot that they had believed Solon was
mad, and their hearts were stirred by his words.
From that day so strong became the desire of the people to blot out
their disgrace and win Salamis, that the law which had so displeased
Solon was repealed. No one had thought of punishing the man who had
broken it.
The Athenian forces were again mustered; Solon himself being made
commander of the troops. His cousin Pisistratus went with him to
battle, and it was he who succeeded in taking the port of Salamis.
In those days Athens had no fleet. Solon sailed toward Salamis in a
ship, but his army followed him in a number of fishing-boats.
When the Megarians caught sight of the Athenian ship, they sent one of
their own vessels to find out the strength of the enemy’s fleet.
Solon managed to capture this ship, and all on board were taken
prisoners. The captured vessel was then manned with Athenians, and the
men were ordered to sail slowly and quietly to the island.
Solon meanwhile reached the shore and, landing with his army, at once
attacked the Megarians. While the fight still raged, the ship manned
by Athenians sailed unnoticed to the port. The soldiers leaped to
the ground, sped swiftly to the city, and took it almost before the
citizens were aware of the presence of the enemy.
The island was soon in the hands of the triumphant Athenians, by
whom it was held for many long years, until indeed Philip of Macedon
conquered Greece.
To celebrate the victory in after years, an Athenian ship used to sail
to the island just as the victorious one had done on the actual battle
day. When it reached the shore, a soldier, armed as though for battle,
jumped to the ground, and with a loud shout ran toward the city, where
he was met and welcomed by his countrymen.
Close to the spot where Solon won this victory a temple was built and
dedicated to the god of battle.