Themistocles facts for kids

Themistocles in an 1875 illustration

Themistocles (?524 BC-?460 BC) was an Ancient Greek Athenian politician and general. He fought against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon as a young man. He later persuaded Athens to build a navy which he commanded in the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.

After the war he became unpopular and had to leave. He went to work for the Persian Empire.

Images for kids

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  Profile view of an ancient Greek bust of Themistocles

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  A sluicing tank for silver ore, excavated at Laurium, Attica

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  A Roman-era bust of Themistocles in "Severe style", based on a Greek original, in the Museo Archeologico Ostiense, Ostia, Rome, Italy. The lost original of this bust, dated to circa 470 BC, has been described as "the first true portrait of an individual European".

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  Diagram of the approximate events of the Battle of Salamis

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  Romantic interpretation of the Battle of Salamis by Wilhelm von Kaulbach. Artemisia of Caria is seen shooting arrows in the direction of the Greeks led by Themistocles.

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  The triumph of Themistocles after the Battle of Salamis. 19th century illustration.

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  Themistocles honoured at Sparta.

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  Athenians rebuilding their city under the direction of Themistocles.

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  The northern wall of the Acropolis of Athens, built by Themistocles with built-in fragments of destroyed temples.

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  Ostracon with inscription: "Themist[h]ocles, son of Neocles"

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  Themistocles finds refuge with King Admetus.

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  Illustration by Walter Crane showing Themistocles standing silently before King Artaxerxes

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  Coin of Themistocles as Governor of Magnesia. Obv: Head of Zeus. Rev: Letters ΘΕ, initials of Themistocles. Circa 465-459 BC

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  Didrachm of Themistocles in Magnesia. Obv: Apollo standing in clamys, legend around ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΚ-ΛΕΟΣ ("Themistokles"). Rev: Eagle with letters Μ-Α ("Magnesia").

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  A dignitary of Asia Minor in Achaemenid style, c. 475 BC. Karaburun tomb near Elmalı, Lycia.

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  Portrait of a ruler with olive wreath on the Magnesian coinage of Archeptolis, son of Themistocles, c. 459 BC. The portraits on the coinage of Archeptolis could also represent Themistocles.

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  Bust of Themistocles

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  Ruins of the Themistoclean Wall in the Kerameikos of Athens, Greece, named after Themistocles

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  Decree of Themistocles, National Archaeological Museum of Athens, 13330