Themistocles: Hero Of The Persian Wars

“Themistocles should be remembered forever as the hero of the Persian Wars.” Discuss this statement.

Themistocles should be remembered forever as the hero of the Persian Wars; although, there were other important individuals and factors which also contributed to the Grecian success during the time period of 490BC – 479BC. Themistocles began his successful heroism during the Battle at Marathon. His contribution (although rather small at this point in history) can be discussed as helpful. Themistocles began his noticeable achievements during the time period between the Wars, in which he made valuable decisions in changing the course of the Persian Wars. Themistocles battle strategies and tactics are also recognisable throughout the Battle
at Thermopylae and the Battle at Salamis. These important factors contribute to why Themistocles should be remembered forever as the one of the heroes of the Persian Wars.

Themistocles was firstly involved in the Battle at Marathon.
Although his contribution to this battle which defined Ancient Greek battle tactics, he was apart of the movement which inevitably saved the lives of the Grecians. More specifically, Themistocles was involved in the Pincer Movement. This battle strategy, designed by Athenian leader Miltiades, involved Athenian soldiers forming a thin front line with a strong rear sides. The idea behind this strategy was that the strongest of Athenian soldiers would stand on the front line and attack, while a greater majority of other soldiers would begin to encircle the opposing army. If it was not for Themistocles (and a great deal many Athenian solders) contribution to this major battle, the outcome of the Persian Wars may have been vastly different. This was Themistocles first small step to
heroism.

A very important time period in which Themistocles can be greatly remembered as the hero of the Persian Wars is during the gap between the Battle at Marathon and the Battle at Thermopylae.
Themistocles strategic planning and brilliant mind was set to extreme levels of challenge in which he overcame with charisma. A specific luck factor between 483BC and 480BC was the discovery of silver at the site of Laurium. Initially, Ancient Greece had decided to split the silver vein equally between the citizens of the country. Themistocles was secretly aware of a future uprising from the Persian Empire. His battle tactic was to use the money from the silver to build extensive Triremes – a form of aquatic transportation. A Trireme was a lighter, more mobile way of travel around the seas; as well as providing an efficient method of battle against the Persians. Themistocles knew that the Persian Army out numbered his army 10:1. On water, this ratio would reduce rapidly. In Themistocles mind, it was the only way to resourcefully stop a Persian invasion. Themistocles manipulated his assembly into agreeing this plan by informing them that the Triremes would be used for battle against Aegina; a threatening polis inside Greece. If it was not for this scheming method, Ancient Greece may not be the nation it is today. Themistocles also added to good preparation before the battle through the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle’s first prediction was of sinister content for the Ancient
Greeks; warning them to “flee” their nation before they were completely annihilated. This stirred havoc among the Grecians, but Themistocles refused to believe it was the only outcome. His decisiveness shone through when he asked for a second prediction to be made; this one informing the Ancient Society that their only defence was a “Wall of Wood.” In the mind of the nation, this had little helpful meaning. Themistocles however alerted his assembly that this meant the Triremes they had built were now useful, and that they should fight the Persians at sea. Themistocles now had a valuable array of strategic evidence to prove he should be remembered forever as one of the heroes of the Persian Wars. Themistocles further exhibited his great initiative at the Battle of Thermopylae. His decisive plan to stall the Persian Army from marching through Greece to Athens was one of the most important historical decisions ever made. If it was not for Leonidas and his Spartan Army (along with several hundred other Greek men) the Persian Empire may have overtaken Athens without room for reaction. Themistocles plan was for various small Grecian armies to unite together at the narrow passage in Thermopylae to halt the Persian Army from advancing through this gate to Greece. The idea was to present Greece’s fiercest fighters before the Persian’s to psychologically inhibit them from believing they could win the War. The idea worked magnificently, although it resulted in the heroic but tragic death of the Spartan Army. While this Battle occurred, Themistocles evacuated the citizens of Athens to the polis of Salamis. The idea was that once the Persian Army had fought its way through Thermopylae to Athens, there would be no people left in the town for it to be overtaken. This further added to the psychological tension in the Persian leader Xerxes’ mind; as well as proving the capability for Themistocles to contend as a worthy hero.

Themistocles final plan was to fight Xerxes’ army fleet first. The difficulty with this was that neither army would retreat from their chosen area of battle. The Persian Army, with a fleet of large transportation ships fought better in open water. Themistocles and his Grecian Army, with their fleet of manoeuvring Triremes fought better in narrow, thin passages. Themistocles sent a “traitor” to Xerxes, informing him that the Grecian fleet were planning to sail in an anti-clockwise direction around the Bay of Eleusis to escape from the Persian Empire. Xerxes, anxious to finish the War due to the approaching winter, sent a fleet of Egyptian slaves clock-wise through the Bay of Eleusis to stop the Grecians from advancing any further. Xerxes planned sail his army through the straits and finally overthrow the Greek Army. It came to a surprise however, when Xerxes was informed that there was no Grecian fleet awaiting the Egyptian ships. Confused and intrigued, Xerxes sent his fleet to follow through the narrow straits to locate the opposing fleet. What lay in the narrow passages for the Persian Army was a side-by-side line of Triremes; organised and ready for Battle. The Grecians eventually damaged enough of Xerxes ships to disallow half the fleet to return home. This crucial and quick-thinking decision made by Themistocles was the final contribution he made to overpower the Persian Empire. It can be stated that this provides one reason as to why Themistocles can be remembered forever as one of the heroes of the Persian Wars.

Although four crucial points have been made to support the idea that Themistocles is one of the heroes of the Persian Wars, there are other contributing people and factors which helped destroy any external threats to the Ancient Greek nation. Within the Battle at Marathon, if it was not for the exceptional battle tactics formed by leader Miltiades, the Grecian Army may not have performed or survived in the way that they did. Along with Miltiades, Leonidas’ glory at the Battle of Thermopylae is commendable and heroic. The sacrifices he made for Sparta as well as the rest of Greece were crucial in undermining the mental ability of the Persian Army. In addition to these two men, the rest of the Grecian soldiers who gave up so much (many gave their lives) to fight against the Persians are a major contributing factor as to why Greece won the Persian Wars. The fighting spirit and gallant acts of all these men make them also heroes of the Persian Wars.

It can be stated that Themistocles will be remembered forever as the hero of the Persian Wars. Regardless, there are also other men, Miltiades, Leonidas and the rest of the Grecian soldiers who are accountable as heroes of the Persian Wars. If it was not for the courage, valour, cunning and bravery of all these men, the course and outcome of the Persian Wars may have been to a great extent completely different.