Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 900
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: June 28, 2005
Publishing house: Simon & Schuster
Sale Popularity Level: 1018019
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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The battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. was the most important naval encounter of the ancient world. In the narrow strait between the island of Salamis and the Greek mainland, a heavily outnumbered Greek navy defeated the Persian armada in a brilliant victory that is still studied today. The Greek triumph at Salamis stopped the advancing Persians and saved the very first democracy in history. It made Athens the dominant city in Greece, gave birth to the Athenian empire, and set the stage for the Age of Pericles. On the Persian side, the battle of Salamis also featured history's very first female admiral and sailors from three continents.
The Battle of Salamis features some of the most fascinating figures in the ancient world: Themistocles, the Athenian commander who masterminded the victory (and tricked his fellow Greeks into fighting); Xerxes, the Persian king who understood land but not naval warfare; Aeschylus, the Greek playwright who took part at Salamis and later immortalized it in drama; and Artemisia, the half-Greek queen who was one of Xerxes' trusted commanders and who turned defeat into personal victory.
In his riveting story of this clash on the Greek seas, classicist and historian Barry Strauss offers a new in-depth account of the ancient battle. Drawing on recent work in archaeology, meteorology, and forensic science as well as on his own experience as a rower (both navies were oar powered), Strauss revises our understanding of one of history's pivotal wars and of Herodotus's classic if underrated account of it. But in addition to being exciting military history, The Battle of Salamis is also a vivid analysis of ancient culture.
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Rated by buyers 
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It is no pulp history, but it isn't academical highbrow blabbery either. Here is all you want to know about the times and the men who fought on both sides of the most important naval battle of ancient times.
Herodotus is given back the honors he deserves. Whatever we don't quite know for sure the author fills up with plausible explanations according to the way people would act in those times. The vividness is stupendously accomplished. Full of data without seeming tiresome.
A talented historian and writer. Only in the last pages he seems to offer a slight moral assesment, as a lesson to modern political figures to heed. Unworthy of the book overall. Great read. Whatever subject you like to read about.
Oh, and the figure of Themistocles is superb. What a character! Sure to bring hours and hours of discusion among his fans and detractors.
Rated by buyers -
One of the best histories of the Classical period that I have ever read; even as a professional scholar and university teacher. At times, Strauss nearly has one short of breath waiting for the subsequent event. On the other hand, there is very first rate explanation for personal actions, probable actions, and for the political and cultural contexts.
Rated by buyers -
This book shows how loose the Greek city-state confederacy really was.I knew it wasn't real tight anyway,but I was surprised that the Greeks were able to come together even for the Battle of Salamis.Xerxes,the Persian commander viewed the Greek democracy as an inferior form of government,and was able to exploit effectively rivalries between the city-states.Unfortuneately for Xerxes,while he was able to see the problems with the Greek Democracy,he was blind to the weaknesses in his own Divine Oligarchy type,and a "man's got to know his limitations".There is alot of detail in this book in regard to the workings and maintainance of the Trireme warship,detailed down to the social status and the smell of body functions of the rower subsequent to one.From the read of this book you can easily picture a resentment of Xerxes by his most favored counselors.there are some "things" the Divine King needed to be told but who would dare to tell him? In addition Persian triremes were high in the water and made for speed,and the Greek trireme was low in the water,slow but more manueverable.Also as Srauss points out the Persian navy was mainly an intimidation force with its vast size "who would dare face it". The Greeks almost did kow-tow to Xerxes with some of the city-states going over to Xerxes.Xerxes was tricked into fighting with his triremes in a small compact area where speed and a high center of gravity were a disadvantage and his fleet was picked off little by little.in addition there was a breeze that blew through the straits that the Greeks knew how to use,Xerxes wasn't aware of most of the climate and geographic factors in regards to the narrows at Salamis.the battle might have gone completely different had Xerxes not fought in the narrows of Salamis.There was an interesting section on the "blame game"which always proceeds such a devastating loss,and heads did roll and the Mediteranean Sea and Poseidon himself were subjected to the most cruel floggings ever heard of in the history of mankind!!Ever since Mahan produced his work on the importance on sea power,alot more attention is placed on maritime exploits,indeed they prove more critical to a country than any land battles you can name.This is because the supply lines and economic lifeline are intertwined to seapower.Thermopalae bled Xerxes good,but it took Salamis to send him packing.Greek democracy wins in this battle but only this time,it doesn't necessarily win every time or even most of the time.The book really comes to life with all the rammings and the chaos,cries of despair and prayers to the Gods,maybe even a commendation medal or 3.It shows what people can and will do if they're lead right and have a chance of winning even with unfavorable odds.The final chapter shows the fate of Themistocles,the Greek strategist who was primarily resposible for engineering the Persian defeat.He ends up cringing to Xerxes son after his "fellow Greeks" threw him in a pile of disgrace shortly after the battle.The book gives a more detailed account of the reasons for Themistocles fall than i've previously read,a real life Greek tragedy from the pages of Aeschylus.
Rated by buyers -
Succinctly and beautifully crafted, this easily digested book contains the historical background, essential story, and details of, arguably, the major naval conflict that enabled our western legacy. For anyone interested in ancient galley warfare, Dr. Strauss' book is an excellent jumping off place to begin your exploration.
Rated by buyers -
Strauss does an excellent job telling this tale of how an outnumbered group of Greek triremes destroyed the Persian armada and saved Greece. This is a page-turner of the very first order.
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