Themistocles

Family Themistocles was born in Athens around 524 BC, Hornblower and Spawforth; entry Themistocles the son of Neocles, who was, in the words of Plutarch "no very conspicuous man".

Holland, pp. 307 309 Themistocles sent a servant, Sicinnus, to Xerxes, with a message proclaiming that Themistocles was "on king's side and prefers that your affairs prevail, not the Hellenes".

In response, realising the importance of the Athenian fleet to their security, and probably seeking to massage Themistocles's ego, the Spartans brought Themistocles to Sparta.

Plutarch indicates that he met in Athens a lineal descendant of Themistocles (also called Themistocles) who was still being paid these revenues, 600 years after the events in question.

Plutarch offers a more nuanced view of Themistocles, with more of a critique of Themistocles's character.

The Magnesians built a "splendid tomb" in their market place for Themistocles, which still stood during the time of Plutarch, and continued to dedicate part of their revenues to the family of Themistocles.

Themistocles advised the king on his dealings with the Greeks, although it seems that for a long period, the king was distracted by events elsewhere in the empire, and thus Themistocles "lived on for a long time without concern".

Themistocles’s next task was to lure the Persians into attacking at Salamis, where their superior numbers would be neutralized and the Greeks would have a better than even chance to win.

According to Thucydides, who wrote within living memory of the events, the ship eventually landed safely at Ephesus, where Themistocles disembarked.

And Themistocles had two sons older than these three, Neocles and Diocles.

Aristides refused to countenance this; conversely Themistocles was not pleased that only 100 ships would be built.

As a politician, Themistocles was a populist, having the support of lower class Athenians, and generally being at odds with the Athenian nobility.

As a result, Themistocles's motion was carried easily, although only 100 warships of the trireme type were to be built.

At any rate, it seems to have been Themistocles's particular mix of virtues and vices that made him such an effective politician.

Butler, p. 195 Themistocles seems to have deliberately set Athens up as a rival to Sparta in the aftermath of Xerxes's invasion, basing this strategy on Athenian naval power (contrasted with the power of the Spartan army).

By delaying in this manner, Themistocles gave the Athenians enough time to fortify the city, and thus ward off any Spartan attack aimed at preventing the re-fortification of Athens.

David Campbell, Greek Lyric Poetry, Bristol Classical Press (1982), page 406 Meanwhile, the Spartans actively worked against him, trying to promote Cimon (son of Miltiades) as a rival to Themistocles.

Desperate to avoid identification, Themistocles pestered the captain of the ship to continue the journey immediately.

Furthermore, the Spartans were obliged to repatriate Themistocles in order to free their own ambassadors.

He does not detract from Themistocles's achievements, but also highlights his failings.