Battle of Salamis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Salamis |
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| Part of the Greco-Persian Wars | |||||||||
 Satellite image of Salamis, with the straits to the mid-right |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Greek city-states | Achaemenid Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Eurybiades, Themistocles |
Xerxes I of Persia, Artemisia I of Caria, Ariabignes † |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 366–378 ships a | ~1,200 shipsb 600-800 ships c |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 40 ships | 200 ships | ||||||||
| a Herodotus gives 378 ships of the alliance, but his numbers add up to 366. b As suggested by several ancient sources; c Modern estimates |
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The Battle of Salamis was a huge sea battle between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. It took place in September 480 BC. The battle happened in the narrow waters, called straits, near Salamis Island. It was a major part of the Greco-Persian Wars.
The Greek forces were much smaller than the Persian fleet. But the Athenian general Themistocles convinced the Greeks to fight the Persians at sea. The Persian king Xerxes also really wanted a big battle to end the war.
The Persian navy sailed into the Straits of Salamis. They tried to block both entrances. But the narrow space made it hard for their many ships to move. They became disorganized. The Greek fleet saw this chance. They formed a line and won a huge victory. They sank or captured at least 200 Persian ships.
After this defeat, King Xerxes went back to Asia with most of his army. He left his general Mardonius to finish conquering Greece. However, the next year, the rest of the Persian army was beaten at the Battle of Plataea. The Persian navy was also defeated at the Battle of Mycale. After these losses, the Persians never tried to conquer mainland Greece again. The battles of Salamis and Plataea were turning points in the Greco-Persian Wars. From then on, the Greek cities started to attack the Persians.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Salamis?
The Battle of Salamis was a famous naval battle. It happened between the ancient Greek city-states and the powerful Persian Empire. This battle was a key moment in the Greco-Persian Wars. These wars were a series of conflicts between the Greeks and the Persians.
When and Where Did It Happen?
The battle took place in September 480 BC. It was fought in the narrow waters near Salamis Island. This island is close to the Greek mainland. The tight space played a big role in the battle's outcome.
Who Fought in the Battle?
On one side were the united Greek city-states. These included Athens, Sparta, and others. Their ships were mostly triremes, fast and strong warships. On the other side was the mighty Persian Empire. They had a much larger fleet.
Key Leaders in the Battle
- For the Greeks: The main leaders were Eurybiades (from Sparta) and Themistocles (from Athens). Themistocles was very clever. He tricked the Persians into fighting in the narrow straits.
- For the Persians: Their leader was King Xerxes I of Persia. He watched the battle from a high spot on the shore. Other important Persian commanders included Artemisia I of Caria, a queen who led her own ships, and Ariabignes.
Why Was the Battle Important?
The Battle of Salamis was a huge victory for the Greeks. Even though they had fewer ships, they used the geography to their advantage. The narrow straits made it hard for the large Persian fleet to move. This allowed the smaller, more agile Greek ships to attack effectively.
How the Greeks Won
Themistocles sent a secret message to Xerxes. He pretended to be a traitor. He told Xerxes that the Greeks were trying to escape. Xerxes believed him and sent his fleet into the straits to block them. This was exactly what Themistocles wanted.
Once inside the narrow waters, the Persian ships became crowded. They crashed into each other. The Greek triremes then attacked. They used their strong rams to sink Persian ships. The battle was a disaster for the Persians.
What Happened After Salamis?
The Greek victory at Salamis was a major turning point.
- King Xerxes lost many ships and soldiers. He decided to go back to Asia.
- He left some of his army in Greece under his general Mardonius.
- However, the Greeks won another big land battle at Plataea the next year.
- They also won a sea battle at Mycale.
- These defeats meant the Persians could not conquer Greece. The Greek city-states were safe.
- After these battles, the Greeks started to take the fight to the Persian Empire.
The Battle of Salamis showed the world the strength and cleverness of the Greek forces. It helped shape the future of ancient Greece.
Images for kids
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An Ionian soldier from the Persian army, around 480 BC. This image is from a relief on King Xerxes I's tomb. -
Battle of Salamis, from a 1785 engraving.
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A Greek trireme, a type of ancient warship.
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A fleet of triremes, like the replica ship Olympias.
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Kybernis, a ruler from Lycia, led 50 Lycian ships in the Persian fleet.
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The Ionian fleet joining Persian forces at the Bosphorus before an earlier campaign. The Ionian fleet was part of the Persian forces at Salamis.
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A 19th-century drawing of the Battle of Salamis.
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Greek triremes fighting at Salamis.
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Battle of Salamis, a detail from a painting by Wilhelm von Kaulbach.
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The death of the Persian admiral Ariabignes (King Xerxes' brother) early in the battle. From Plutarch's Lives for Boys and Girls, c. 1910.
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Artemisia, Queen of Halicarnassus, leading her ships in the Persian fleet. She is shown shooting arrows at the Greeks. A detail from a painting by Wilhelm von Kaulbach.
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The celebration of Themistocles after the victory at Salamis. A 19th-century illustration.
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King Xerxes watching the Battle of Salamis from a hill, showing his anger. A detail from a painting by Wilhelm von Kaulbach.
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The Serpent Column, a monument built by the victorious Greeks after the Battle of Plataea. It is now in Istanbul.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Salamina para niños
