After the allied fleet under Xanthippus defeated the Persians at Mykale, decisions had to be made on whether to continue the counter attack, or to return to Greece. The Greeks sailed back to Samos but not before taking on board the booty and burning the Persians’ ships. On Samos, they assembled in a naval council to debate the future of the Greeks from Ionia. Read more
The sacred triremes that are the subject of this post are the 5th and 4th century ships of Athens. They served in diplomatic missions, in sacred embassies, and took part in the boat races during festivals. They also served as scout and messenger ships, delivering official state messages, and when present in the line of battle they carried the admiral of the fleet. The Paralos was the most well-known. Read more
The Greeks had prepared themselves for the Persian invasion by forming the Hellenic League. Sparta and Athens took a leading role in joining together 70 of the 700 city-states, many of which were still technically at war with each other. They were planning to stop the Persians that came by land at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. To prevent the Persians bypassing Thermopylae by sea, the Athenian and Allied navies… Read more
