Situation of Salamis.--Movements of the fleet and the army.--Policy of the Greeks.--Reasons for retreating to Salamis.--A council of war.--Consultations and debates.--Conflicting views.--The council breaks up in confusion.--Themistocles.--Interview with Mnesiphilus.--Themistocles seeks Eurybiades.--Urges a new council.--The council convened again.--Themistocles rebuked.--Themistocles's arguments for remaining at Salamis.--Fugitives at Salamis.--Views of the Corinthians.--Excitement in the council.--Indignation of Themistocles.--Eurybiades decides to remain at Salamis.--An earthquake.--Advance of the Persians.--Perilous situation of the Greeks.--Xerxes summons a council of war.--Pompous preparations.--Views of the Persian officers.--Views of Queen Artemisia.--Artemisa's arguments against attacking the Greek fleet.--Effect of Artemisia's speech.--Feelings of the council.--Discontent among the Greeks.--Sicinnus.--Bold stratagem of Themistocles.--He sends Sicinnus to the Persians.--Message of Themistocles.--Measures of the Persians.--The Persians take possession of the Psyttalia.--The Greeks hemmed in.--Aristides.--He makes his way through the Persian fleet.--Interview between Aristides and Themistocles.--Their conversation.--Aristides communicates his intelligence to the assembly.--Effect of Aristides intelligence.--Further news.--Adventurous courage of Parætius.--Gratitude of the Greeks.--Final preparations for battle.--Friendly offices.--Xerxes's throne.--His scribes.--Summary punishment.--Speech of Themistocles.--He embarks his men.--Excitement and confusion.--Commencement of the battle.--Fury of the conflict.--Modern naval battles.--Observations of Xerxes.--Artemisia.--Enemies of Artemisia.--Her quarrel with Damasithymus.--Stratagem of Artemisia.--She attacks Damasithymus.--Artemisia kills Damasithymus.--Xerxes's opinion of her valor.--Progress of the battle.--The Persians give way.--Heroism of Aristides.--He captures Psyttalia.--The Greeks victorious.--Repairing damages.--Xerxes resolves on flight.--The sea after the battle.--Fulfillment of an ancient prophecy.
Salamis is an island of a very irregular form, lying in the Saronian Gulf, north of Ægina, and to the westward of Athens. What was called the Port of Athens was on the shore opposite to Salamis, the city itself being situated on elevated land four or five miles back from the sea. From this port to the bay on the southern side of Salamis, where the Greek fleet was lying, it was only four or five miles more, so that, when Xerxes burned the city, the people on board the galleys in the fleet might easily see the smoke of the conflagration.