(click image for a very interesting story about the female Persian general and Queen Artemisia I)
"To block the Persian advance, a small force of Greeks blocked the pass of Thermopylae, while an Athenian-dominated Allied navy engaged the Persian fleet in the nearby straits of Artemisium. In the resulting Battle of Thermopylae, the rearguard of the Greek force was annihilated, whilst in the Battle of Artemisium the Greeks had heavy losses and retreated after the loss at Thermopylae. This allowed the Persians to conquer Boeotia and Attica. The Allies prepared to defend the Isthmus of Corinth whilst the fleet was withdrawn to nearby Salamis Island.
Although heavily outnumbered, the Greek Allies were persuaded by the Athenian general Themistocles to bring the Persian fleet to battle again, in the hope that a victory would prevent naval operations against the Peloponessus. The Persian king Xerxes was also anxious for a decisive battle. As a result of subterfuge on the part of Themistocles, the Persian navy sailed into the Straits of Salamis and tried to block both entrances. In the cramped conditions of the Straits the great Persian numbers were an active hindrance, as ships struggled to maneuver and became disorganized. Seizing the opportunity, the Greek fleet formed in line and scored a decisive victory, sinking or capturing at least 300 Persian ships.
As a result Xerxes retreated to Asia with much of his army, leaving Mardonius to complete the conquest of Greece. However, the following year, the remainder of the Persian army was decisively beaten at the Battle of Plataea and the Persian navy at the Battle of Mycale. Afterwards the Persian made no more attempts to conquer the Greek mainland. These battles of Salamis and Plataea thus mark a turning point in the course of the Greco-Persian wars as a whole; from then onward, the Greek poleis would take the offensive. A number of historians believe that a Persian victory would have hamstrung the development of Ancient Greece, and by extension western civilization, and this has led them to claim that Salamis is one of the most significant battles in human history."
The hill is located near coastal town of Piraeus--now in the suburbs of modern Athens--but in ancient times the hill lay a considerable distance from the main urban center. As the moon was full on the night of the battle--granting just the right amount of extra light--the ancient Hellenes attributed the victory to Artemis. The young girls who walked in procession to the temple on top of the hill carried green boughs, while the rest of the celebrants, followed, carrying special cakes called 'amphiphontes' (, 'shining all round’). These round white cakes were adorned with dadia (little torches)--lit candle--and were supposed to represent the full moon. A she-goat is also attested as a sacrifice.
For those interested in (ancient) warfare, this day presents the perfect opportunity to read up on the battle of Salamis, and other battles in the same war. If you're less interested in historic battles, think of struggle and battles in your own life, and honor Artemis for those. Whatever the case, it is good to remember that if the Hellenes had lost this battle, many of the famous playwright, philosophers and scientists of the ancient world could very well have never been born--Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, for example. What would have happened if Persia had conquered Hellas?
Bake a (small), round, cake for Artemis, and light it with small candles. Here is a good recipe. If you have the opportunity to do so, sacrifice the cake in a rural area, where Artemis is most at home. The obvious time to do so is at night, under the blaze of the full moon, even though Ouranic deities were usually honored in the daylight.
Warfare is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.
ReplyDeleteYour article is very well done, a good read.