greek glory law politician general new breed non aristocratic politicians rose prominence early years democracy politician populist having support lower class generally odds nobility elected convinced increase naval power athens recurring theme political career persian invasion greece fought battle marathon possibly generals battle years marathon run second persian invasion prominent politician athens continued advocate strong navy persuaded build fleet prove crucial forthcoming conflict persia second invasion effective command greek allied navy battles allies lured persian fleet decisive greek victory turning point invasion ended following year defeat land conflict ended continued pre eminent politicians aroused hostility ordering athens fortified perceived arrogance began went exile saw opportunity destroy implicated plot general fled greece temporarily given sanctuary alexander traveling asia minor entered service persian king governor lived rest life died probably natural causes reputation posthumously established hero greek cause reasonably thought man instrumental achieving salvation greece persian threat describes naval policies lasting impact athens maritime power cornerstone golden age judgement man exhibited signs genius particular claim admiration extraordinary family born athens son words conspicuous man mother obscure according woman called like contemporaries little known early years authors report child consequently father considers false indicates account mother background considered outsider furthermore family appear lived immigrant district athens outside city walls early example persuaded born children exercise breaking distinction alien legitimate reports preoccupied child preparing public life teacher said told boy insignificant definitely great good evil left sons daughter philosopher mentions excellent insignificant person sons older died young bite horse adopted grandfather daughters second marriage wife brother mother married island death nephew went married brothers consent daughter took charge sister asia youngest children political military career background grew period athens died passing power sons murdered response paranoid started rely increasingly foreign mercenaries hold power head powerful exiled according list shows holding office athens period family began scheme overthrow return athens persuaded king launch attack athens succeeded aftermath noble families athens rejected support personal level wanted return athens probably wanted prevent athens client state nobles proposed people radical program political power invested people democracy people repelled attack invited return athens plan action establishment democracy radically change athens found suddenly great power gave vivid proof equality freedom speech achieve early years democracy new system government athens opened wealth opportunity men like previously access power new institutions democracy required skills previously government prove master new system network spin knew visible moved market athens marked man people allowed interact easily ordinary citizens began building support base newly empowered citizens poor courted duly loved touring markets docks politician thought canvas making sure forget single voter set eyes radical new constituency took care ensure nobility athens began practice law person athens prepare public life way ability attorney service common people gained popularity probably turned qualified highest athens popularity evidently decided run office elected highest government office following year saw beginnings major theme career advancement sea power guidance began building new port replace existing facilities away athens offered natural easily fortified athens essentially maritime power 5th century policies huge significance future athens greece advancing naval power probably advocating course action thought essential long term prospects athens implies naval power relied mass common citizens rowers policy power hands average hands rivalry marathon probably hero battle seriously wounded abortive attempt capture taking advantage powerful family arranged prosecuted aristocracy greek general person pre eminent maneuvers commonplace given massive fine crime people died weeks later result wound wake prosecution people chose use new institution democracy reforms remained far unused citizen required write pottery politician wished exiled period years triggered prosecution try stop power games noble families certainly years following heads prominent families including exiled career politician athens difficulty population likely result exile power base firmly established poor moved naturally fill vacuum left death decade influential politician athens support nobility began man great rival cast opposite honest followers called suggests rivalry begun competed love boy rivals affection beautiful passionate decade continued advocate expansion naval power certainly aware period persian interest greece ended son successor continued preparations invasion greece realised greeks survive coming onslaught required greek navy hope face persian navy attempted persuade build fleet champion upper class vigorously opposed policy massive new silver found mines proposed silver build new fleet suggested instead distributed citizens avoided mentioning persia deeming distant threat act instead focused attention time athens embroiled long running war building fleet allow finally defeat sea result motion carried easily warships type built refused conversely pleased ships built tension camps built winter direct contest characterized referendum policies endorsed aware persian preparations coming invasion voted construction ships initially asked run persian invasion foremost politician athens second persian invasion greece congress held states agreed ally forthcoming invasion foremost alliance sworn enemies claimed command land forces greek referred allied fleet dominated athens tried claim command naval forces naval powers including refused command backed instead compromise insignificant naval power person command naval forces clear real leader fleet congress met spring delegation suggested allies muster narrow borders block advance force dispatched command believed persian army pass alexander warned bypassed passes army overwhelmingly large greeks retreated shortly received news crossed developed second strategy route southern greece require army travel narrow pass easily blocked greek despite overwhelming numbers furthermore prevent bypassing sea allied navies block straits uncertain willing march persuade defend willing necessary success alliance short entire fleet dispatched able bodied male required man ships turn meant prepare abandon athens course undoubtedly highlights career holland precise heights attained stirring memorable phrases pronounced way knowing effect assembly gauge surely electric quality proposals vote ratified people facing moment history committed alien element sea faith man ambitions long profoundly proposals accepted issued orders women children athens sent city safely inside able travel meeting allies proposed strategy fleet fully committed defence greece allies accepted proposals battle august persian army approaching allied fleet sailed allied army marched took command contingent fleet went persian fleet finally arrived significant delay suggest inspiring commander wished sail away fighting point accepted large bribe local people fleet remain bribe remain rest point appears charge allied effort days battle allies held larger persian fleet sustained significant losses loss simultaneous continued presence irrelevant allies evacuated according left messages place persian fleet stop drinking water asking persian fleet defect fight badly work apparently intended begin suspect persian ranks battle aftermath fell began advance athens allies prepared defend abandoning athens allied fleet sailed island ships helped final evacuation athens contingents wanted sail coast concentrate forces army tried convince remain lessons battle close conditions works advantage threatening sail people exile sicily eventually persuaded allies security relied navy accept plan athens fallen persian navy arrived coast allied navy remained straits appears aiming fight battle persian navy guarantee security bring battle mix psychologically exploiting desire finish invasion actions indicate keen finish conquest greece needed decisive victory allied fleet sent servant message proclaiming king prefers affairs prevail claimed allied commanders planning evacuate night gain victory needed block straits performing trying lure persian fleet straits message secondary purpose event allied defeat probably receive degree mercy having indicated readiness submit rate exactly kind news wanted hear evidently took bait persian fleet sent effect block expecting resistance persian navy sailed straits find far allied navy ready battle according persian navy began maneuvers arrived allied camp recalled exile order athens united told persian fleet encircled allies greatly pleased knew walked trap allied commanders taken news holland suggests party ruse way allies prepared battle delivered speech marines embarked ships ensuing battle cramped conditions straits hindered larger persian navy allies took advantage win famous victory turning point second persian invasion persian wars general battle end persian invasion effectively ensured greece conquered allowed allies offensive number historians believe significant battles human history long standing advocacy naval power enabled allied fleet fight brought probably thought man instrumental achieving salvation autumn winter allied victory ended immediate threat greece returned asia army leaving general attempt complete conquest able return city burnt razed winter personally winter testing refused marching north fight persian army tried shame success winter allies held meeting celebrate success award prizes achievement tired pointing role demands allies march north allies awarded prize civic achievement furthermore voted second place voted place won prize individual achievement response realising importance fleet security probably seeking ego brought awarded special prize wisdom won high praise furthermore reports olympic games entered stadium audience neglected contestants day long gaze pointed applause visiting strangers delighted confessed friends measure harvest behalf returning athens winter reports proposal city greek fleet declared people athens devised certain measure revealed helpful city ordered hear pass judgment told purpose burn naval station confederate way greatest lords came people said deed hearing ordained cease purpose spring summer happened prominent individuals democracy fellow citizens grew jealous success possibly tired probable early stripped command instead command fleet land forces doubt politically militarily active rest campaign mention activities ancient sources summer year receiving ultimatum finally agreed assemble army march confront athens june decisive allies destroyed persian army apparently day allied navy destroyed remnants persian fleet battle twin victories completed allied triumph ended persian threat greece aftermath persian invasion cause obviously long suggest quickly restored favour enjoyed relatively long period popularity aftermath invasion began rebuilding city guidance wished restore fortifications athens objected grounds place north left use fortress urged citizens build fortifications quickly possible went ambassador answer charges assured building work going urged send athens time ambassadors arrived finished building detained ambassadors complained presence fortifications delaying manner gave time city ward attack aimed preventing fortification athens furthermore obliged order free ambassadors episode seen beginning return returned naval policy ambitious increase dominant position native state extended fortified port complex city athens land sea probably aimed athens dominant naval power athens create uniting naval power leadership introduced tax breaks merchants attract people trade city athens great centre instructed build year ensure dominance naval matters continued reports secretly proposed destroy beached ships allied navies ensure complete naval dominance overruled council athens fall exile clear end decade begun enemies arrogant fellow citizens jealous prestige power poet enemies composing drinking songs actively worked trying promote son rival furthermore treason disgrace general tried plot acquitted charges athens lost favour building sanctuary epithet good counsel near home blatant reference role delivering greece persian invasion eventually mean wrong words penalty way jealousy humble eminent breathing went live exile prime opportunity bring good accusations treason demanded tried congress greeks athens end actually summoned athens stand trial realising little hope surviving trial fled king flight probably served convince guilt declared traitor athens property confiscated noted considered charges false solely purposes destroying sent ambassadors threatening greece war surrendered allowed escape giving large sum gold aid way fled greece apparently return effectively bringing political career end later life death apparently fled took ship asia minor ship blown course storm ended fleet process besieging desperate avoid identification captain ship continue journey immediately according wrote living memory events ship eventually landed safely disembarked ship docking making way asia manner similar tale stayed briefly acquaintance acquainted persian king bounty head acquaintance devised plan safely convey persian king type covered wagon king travelled agree contact persian king letter face face meeting king spirit introduces king seeks enter service come house harm compelled defend father invasion harm far surpassed good retreat brought danger asked year grace learn persian language customs serve king granted reports imagined dangerous foe come serve point travels wife children athens friend joined exile friends managed send belongings talents worth goods confiscated year returned king court appears immediate impact attained high consideration possessed recounts honors enjoyed far paid foreigners actually took king hunts household advised king dealings greeks long period king distracted events empire lived long time concern governor district asia minor assigned revenues cities talents year bread wine add city clothes city furniture house died age according natural causes inevitably rumours surrounding death finding promises king committed suicide taking poison drinking bull blood provides evocative version story egypt revolted aid mastery sea forced king resist efforts hinder hostile growth messages came saying king commanded good promises applying problem like anger fellow citizens lifted great honor power war possibly thinking task great generals time especially successful campaigns regard reputation achievements trophies early days having decided best course fitting end life sacrifice gods called friends gave farewell hand current story goes drank bull blood took quick poison died fifth year life king learning cause manner death admired man continued treat friends kindness death bones transported request buried native soil secret illegal bury traitor built splendid tomb market place stood time continued revenues family indicates met athens descendant called paid revenues years events question assessments character possible draw conclusions character evident trait massive ambition ambition surpassed men public office man cure proud vain anxious recognition deeds relationship power particularly personal nature undoubtedly desired best athens actions self interest appears corrupt modern standards known fondness bribes set negative traits apparently natural brilliance talent leadership man exhibited signs genius particular claim admiration extraordinary native capacity alike study best judge sudden crises admit little best prophet future distant possibilities able theoretical came sphere practice power passing adequate judgment matters experience divine good evil lay hid unseen future fine consider extent natural powers application extraordinary man allowed surpassed faculty meeting emergency record variations responded subtle man complained great politician owed fame merely fact came athens tells enemies man note spoke visit saying honors paid athens sake kept saying replied truth matter man honored way sir man athens end business tells small island true famous come small island famous born athens undoubtedly intelligent possessed natural workings mind infinitely mobile evidently appears enjoyed strong personal loyalty friends rate particular mix virtues effective politician historical reputation died reputation traitor people greece turned enemy liberty reputation athens time wrote history seen hero evidently held esteem praise extensively praises going far offer rationale length discusses subject high merits long subject believed leave great ability goes far man putting aside estimate closely man natural gifts achievements find counts holds place record amazed willing rid man genius history includes high praise offers nuanced view critique character achievements highlights political military legacy undoubtedly greatest achievement career role defeat invasion greece overwhelming odds greece survived classical greek culture influential western civilization able develop doctrine naval power establishment athens major power greek world enormous consequence 5th century alliance states athens dominant power essentially maritime alliance athens colonies islands cities league took war persia eventually invading persian territory dominating guidance league gradually evolved power influence deliberately set athens rival aftermath invasion basing strategy naval power contrasted power army tension grew century athens competed leading state greece finally tension erupted war series conflicts tore greece apart century indirect legacy provides summary reflects achievements man superior strength held supreme command fleet single handed efforts deprived glory man learned history single act caused surpass commanders city greek states greeks term general resources inferior dangers faced greater facing united asia found city inhabitants driven homes won victory popular culture historical novel follows life death based primarily appears major character historical novel victor tale days follows life death opera serves protagonist film rise empire played australian actor film presents highly fictionalized biography leads fleet battle virtue status hero marathon having devised winning offensive strategy battle personally arrow fatally wounded historically occurred film portrays having brief liaison portrayed supreme commander persian fleet main characters film presents movie portrayed quotes great state little city
Themistocles