The Battle of Salamis was a battle that took place during the Persian Wars and specifically on 28 or 29 September 480 BC.
The Greeks with small force but with excellent tactics and vigor managed to defeat the mighty Persian fleet in the Strait of Salamis.
The occupation of Athens by the Persians preceded it in a very easy way after its inhabitants abandoned it. Their women and children were transported to Aegina. The reason for this was that an oracle said that Athens would be saved by its wooden walls, which essentially meant its ships. Only a few remained in the city who did not believe in the importance of the oracle and built wooden walls which of course the Persians burned.
At the same time the Persian fleet was anchoring in the bay of Faliro.
Before the naval battle, the leader of the Greek forces, the Spartan Evryviadis, suggested that the naval battle be fought in the Isthmus of Corinth so that in case of defeat they could be protected in the Peloponnese. But the Athenian Themistocles preferred the Strait of Salamis. According to the council of Greek generals, there were great disagreements and tensions, but in the end they were convinced that it would be better to do it in Salamina. The reason was that in the narrow sea, the large Persian fleet could not advance.
The first clever move of the Greeks was to let it be known that they would leave Salamis and then the Persians could trap them and easily defeat them. The Persians ‘fell’ into the trap and did what the Greeks wanted.
At dawn the 800 Persian ships were found opposite the 370 Greek ships. The Persian emperor Xerxes was sure of his victory and so he sat on a hill to watch the outcome.
The Greeks rushed first. With their clever tactics and the determination they possessed, they were able to take the lead until noon. By nightfall the Greeks had won the battle. The Persians lost 200 ships and the Greeks 40.
The Persian general Mardonius remained in Greece with 300,000 soldiers to continue the occupation of Greece.
The victory is due to the strategic demon of Themistocles.
[Source: http://www.sansimera.gr]
