Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (1.1882-1883)

THE BATTLE OF SALAMIS.

In conclusion, I will sum up briefly the points which I have
endeavored to establish.

The account of most modern historians, that the battle of Salamis
was a contest between a Greek fleet in the bay of Salamis and a
Persian fleet which had been drawn up along the opposite shore of
Attica during the night, is opposed to many facts of the topography,
and especially to the plainest statements of Aeschylus (an eye-witness
of the battle) and of other ancient authorities. Three general objec-
tions are urged, (i) The channel which is thus made the scene of
the battle is so narrow in some places that, if the Persians had taken
up the supposed position in the night, the Greeks could not have
embarked and formed their line in the morning directly in the face
of the enemy (only a few hundred yards distant) without interference.
(2) It would have been impossible for the supposed movement to be
effected without alarming the Greeks at Salamis, especially as it was
almost certainly a moonlight night. And yet they suspected nothing
of the movement (and even Themistocles, who had advised Xerxes,
knew nothing of it) until Aristides informed them that they were
already shut in. But Aristides had come over from Aegina to the
west or the southwest side of Salamis, having escaped the Persians
on his way with great difficulty; and he knew only of movements in
that direction, and nothing of any enemy within the straits. (3) The
occupation of Psyttaleia by Xerxes shows that he expected this island
to be the centre of the sea-fight; and Plutarch gives his own opinion
that it actually was so.

Aeschylus beyond doubt represents the Persians as entering the
straits of Salamis after daybreak to begin the battle. This is con-
firmed by Diodorus {i.e. Ephorus) and Plutarch. Their line or
" stream" fell into some confusion in entering the narrows; and
they never succeeded in regaining their order of battle, being imme-
diately met by the Greeks as they passed the long point of Salamis.
In this condition they fell an easy prey to the skilful Greek seamen,
and soon were eager only to escape to Phalerum.

We find nothing inconsistent with this view of the battle except
the common interpretation of two passages of Herodotus. One
(viii. 76) describes the Persians as bringing up their west wing to
Salamis KvxXovfievot during the night before the battle; the other
(viii. 85) calls the Persian right at the opening of the battle the