vance of ‘ Pear 
“e tae nc dependence. Its territories, therefore, were ravaged 
to Athens. 
466 
were very inferior in close fight to the longer weapons 
of the Greeks ; and their repeated and courageous ef- 
forts, to which Herodotus bears ample testimony, made 
no impression. The assault was renewed on the fol- 
lowing day, in hopes that wounds and fatigue might 
exhaust the little army of the Greeks ; but still with- 
out the smallest prospect of success. A Persian de- 
tachment, however, having penetrated during the night 
by another pass, and surprised the Phocians, who had 
been intrusted with its defence, shewed themselves, 
on the morning of the third day, far in the rear of the 
Grecian army. Information of this fatal advantage be- 
ing conveyed to Leonidas, it was immediately resolved 
that they should all retreat to their respective cities, 
and preserve their lives for the future wants of their 
country. Leonidas, however, in obedience to a law of 
Sparta, which forbade its soldiers, under whatever dis- 
advantage, to flee from an enemy, resolved to devote 
his life to the honour and service of his country. Ani- 
mated by his example, every Lacedemonian and Thes- 
~pian under his command, determined with him to 
abide the event. The Thebans also, on account of the 
disaffection of their city to the Grecian cause, were de- 
tained, rather indeed as hostages than as auxiliaries.*, 
Leonidas stationed his little band at the wall of Ther- 
mopyle, where the pass was scarcely 50 feet wide; and. 
all of them resolved to sell their lives to. the enemy at 
the dearest rate. With the fury of men resolved to 
die, they rushed against the advance of the Persian 
army, and made a dreadful slaughter of the crowded 
and ill-disciplined multitude. Numbers of them were 
forced into the sea, and many of them expired under 
the pressure of their own people. Leonidas ‘ell early in 
the fight, at the head of his troops; but the engagement 
was continued, with advantage on the side of the Greeks, 
till the Persian detachment came in sight in their rear, 
They then retreated to the narrowest part of the pass, 
where the Thebans began to sue for mercy, and were 
most of them taken prisoners, The surviving Lacede- 
monians and Thespians gained a little rising ground, 
where they fought in the midst of a surrounding host, 
till they were utterly cut to pieces. In the conduct of 
the Spartan prince, there was wisdom as well as magna- 
nimity. His example checked the disposition which 
prevailed among the Greeks to shrink from the Persian 
panes and gave a eonvincing proof to the invaders, at 
ow vast a price of blood they would purchase their 
conquest. During the transactions at Thermopylz, the 
Grecian fleet gained several advantages over that of the 
Persians ; and about two hundred galleys of the latter, 
attempting to take the Greeks in the rear by sailing 
round Eubeea, were totally lost in a storm, Having 
received intelligence of the fall of Leonidas, and the 
retreat of the rest of the army, the Grecian fleet retreat- 
ed from Artemisium, and sought the interior seas of 
Greece. The Persian army experienced no opposition 
in their march through Doris and Beeotia, which, ex- 
cepting the cities of Thespie and Platwa, had always 
been adverse to the confederacy of the Greeks. Pho- 
cis alone, of all the provinces between Thessaly and the 
isthmus, remained faithful to the cause of Grecian in- 
without mercy by detachments of the enemy ; while the 
main body advanced in a direct course to the devoted 
city of Athens. The Peloponnesian troops. having res 
* In the army at Thermopyle there were originally 300 Lacedemonians, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans, se 
GREECE. : 
Greece. band,” were marched to the attack. Their numbers 
<=" were unavailing on so narrow a field; their short spears 
planning a retreat, and that he would thus lose the 
solved to confine their operations tothe defence of the 
peninsula, Attica was completely abandoned to the 
whole weight of the invading host. Athens was filled 
with alarm, and all were convinced that their destruc- . 
tion was inevitable. The oracle at Delphi, label 
having recently pronounced, that “ the wooden wall” | 
alone would afford an impregnable refuge to themselves » 
and their children, Themistocles, who had -probably 
himself suggested the response, persuaded his country- 
men that they were thus directed to embark on board _ 
their fleet. ‘Their families and effects were, in confor-— 
mity to his advice, immediately transported to Salamis, 
£gina, and Trezene; and all the m who were able 
to bear arms repaired to the ships. A few of the poor- 
er citizens, who were unable to bear the expence of a __ 
removal, and some others, who conceived the auswer of 
the oracle to point out their citadel, which was built of 
wood, as the place of safety, refused to abandon the 
city. The Persian army, advancing from Thebes, 
burned the forsaken cities of Thespiz and Platea; and 
experienced no resistance till they reached the citadel 
of Athens, which was immediately invested; and, be- 
ing taken by assault, all within its gates were put to 
the sword. The commanders of the Grecian fleet, 
which was now assembled in the bay of Salamis, alarm- 
ed by the intelligence of the fall of Athens, had resol- 
ved in a council of war to retreat without delay, when . 
Themistocles, addressing Eurybiades the Lacedemonian, 
who had the chief command, threatened, if such a reso. 
lution were adopted, to withdraw the whole of the Athe- 
nian ships, which composed nearly one-half of the al- 
lied fleet; and either to make peace with the enemy, or. 
seek some distant settlement for his deserted people. 
His advice prevailed ; and it was determined to await, _ 
the approach of the enemy in the straits of Salamis. 
This Athenian chief, however, still fearful lest some of 
the squadrons should depart, is said to have accelera- 
ted the approach of the Persians, by causing their mo- 
narch to e privately informed, that the Greeks were 
most favourable opportunity of destroying their whole 
navy at one blow. 1 stratagem was attended with 
entire success. The Persian fleet hastened tomake a 
general attack; while their army lined the adjacent Battles 
shores, and their monarch himself was seated upon an 5 
is fleet 
eminence to view the approaching battle. 
amounted to 1200 galleys, and that of the confederated, _ | 
Greeks to 300 ; but the narrow strait prevented thenu- 
merous ships of the Persians from being regu 
brought inte action, and the crowded ipsdeen sets 
ed it impossible for the Phenician squadron to avail 
themselves of the superior swiftness of their galleys, 
and skill ef their seamen. _ The very zeal of the Persian 
commanders to distinguish themselves in the presence 
of their monarch, tended to increase the confusion. The. 
resolute and persevering attacks of the Greeks, aided. 
by the united talents of Themistocles and Aristides, al- 
lowed not a moment's respite to the enemy to restore 
order, or recover from alarm. -The confusion soon be- 
came so general, that even flight was impracticable,and » 
the sea itself (according to the, description of the scene 
by the poet Aischylus, who honatt on board the Athe- 
nian fleet) became scarcely visible from the Suansy 
wreck and corpses floating on its surface. Forty 
cian galleys are said to have been sunk or destroyed ; 
but most of the crews saved themselves on board of the 
other ships, or on the neighbouring shore of Salamis, 
~ ewe cab ale Wek Sate os 
