Page:History of Greece Vol V.djvu/16

 iii CONTENTS. take the Greeks in the rear. — Sea-fight off Artemisium — advantage gained by the Greeks. — Second stonn — increased damage to the Per- sian fleet, and rain to the detachment sent round Euboea. — Renewed sea- fight off Artemisium — indecisive — but the Greek fleet resolves to re- treat. — They retreat immediately on hearing of the disaster at Thermo- pylae — they go to Salamis. — Advance of the Persian fleet to Euboea — manoeuvres ascribed to Xerxes in respect to the dead bodies at Thermo- pylffi. — Numbers of dead on both sides. — Subsequent commemorating inscriptions. — Impressive epigram of Simonides 70-104 CHAPTER XLI. BATTLE OF SALAMIS. — KETKEAT OF XEEXES. Sui-prise and terror of the Greeks immediately after the battle of Thermo- pylae. — No ulterior plan of defence formed — no new position to be found, capable of defending Attica — the Peloponnesians crowd to fortify the Isthmus of Corinth. — Hopeless situation of the Athenians — no measures yet taken to remove their families from Attica. — The Athe- nians abandon Attica, removing their families and property to Salamis, -ffigina, Troezen, etc. — Unavoidable huriy and sufferings of the emi- grants. — Energy of the Athenians, and unanimity of the leaders — Themistokles proposes the restoration of Aristeides from exile. — Num- bers and composition of the combined Greek fleet at Salamis. — Xerxes occupies Athens and Attica — the Persian fleet enters the road of Pha- lerum. — The Persian army ravage the Phocian townships in their march from Thermopylae to Attica — pillage of the temple at Abee. — Persian division detached against the temple of Delphi. — Failure, flight, and iTiin of the detachment. — Xerxes with the Peisistratids in Athens — the acropolis holds out — is taken and sacked. — Atoning visit of the Peisis- tratids to the ruined acropolis. — Xerxes reviews his fleet at Phalerum — debate about the policy of fighting a naval battle at Salamis — pradent counsel of Queen Artemisia. — Resolution taken by Xerxes to fight at Salamis. — Dissensions among the Greeks in the fleet at Salamis. Re- solution taken to remove the fleet to the Isthmus. — Ruinous conse- quences, if that resolution had been executed. — Themistokles opposes the resolution, persuades Eurybiades, and prevails upon him to reopen the debate. — Synod of Grecian chiefs again convened — Themistokles tries to get the former resolution rescinded — the Peloponnesians adhere to it — angry words. — Menace of Themistokles to retire with the Athenian squadron, unless a battle were to be fought at Salamis — Eurybiades takes upon him to adopt this measure. — The Peloponnesian chiefs, silenced for the moment, afterwards refuse obedience. Third synod Ct)n- vened — renewed disputes ; the majority opposed to Themistokles and djetermined on retreating to the Isthmus. — Desperate stratagem of Themistokles — he sends a private message across to Xerxes, persuading him to surround the Greek fleet in the night, and thus render retirement impossible. — Impatient haste of Xerxes to prevent any of the Greeks from escaping — his fleet incloses the Greeks during the night. — Aris- teides comes in the night to the Greek fleet from ^gina — informs the chiefs that they are inclosed by the Persians, and that escape has become impossible. — Position of Xerxes — order of the fleets, and plan of afr