Author: Herodotus
Summary (Slides by nblm)
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Notes
- The Allies (Athenian Coalition): 271 ships - Athens:127 ships, Corinth: 40, Megara: 20, Aegina: 18, Sparta: 10.
- In spite of Sparta providing just 10 ships, Eurybiades from Sparta is in charge of the whole fleet, since the allies had said that they will not join the coalition if Sparta is not in charge. They didn’t want to serve under Athens.
- The Greeks get scared at the size of the Persian fleet and some of the fleet contemplate to flee. The Euboeans are the first on the path of the Persians. So they approach Eurybiades but he does not give them an answer. So they go to Themistocles, the Athenian commander and give him 30 talents (a large sum of money) to somehow make the fleet stay and defend Euboea.
- Themistocles bribes key commanders in the fleet and asks them to stay. They believe that the money is from Athens. He gives 5 talents to Eurybiades, 3 to Adeimantus (Corinthean leader) and keeps the rest for himself.
Quotes
- if a Lacedaemonian did not take the com- mand, they would break up the fleet, for never would they serve under the Athenians. (View Highlight)
- for internal strife is a thing as much worse than war carried on by a united people, as war itself is worse than peace. (View Highlight)