Statesman · 524 BC – 459 BC
Themistocles
Little-Known Facts
- He tricked Xerxes with a false message that lured the Persian fleet into the trap at Salamis.
- Later ostracized by Athens, he ended his life as a governor under the Persian king.
Myths & Misconceptions
Was Salamis really decisive?
Yes — the destruction of the Persian fleet at Salamis forced Xerxes to withdraw and made the final Greek victory at Plataea possible the next year.