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173 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Background - Greek Geography
What is the polis of Sparta surrounded by? |
An area called Lacedemonia. |
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Background - Greek Geography
What larger bit of land is Lacedemonia in? |
The Peleponese. |
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Background - Greek Geography
Name a polis other than Sparta in The Peleponese. |
Corinth. |
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Background - Greek Geography
What area of land is Athens surrounded by and associated with? |
Attica. |
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Background - Greek Geography
What are Spartans sometimes known as? |
Lacedemonians. |
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Background - Greek Geography
Where was The Peloponnese located? |
It hung off the bottom of the rest of Greece by a thin bridge of land called the Isthmus. |
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Background - Ionian Revolt
What happened in the Ionian Revolt? |
1) Aristagoras of Persian-ruled Ionia persuaded Athenians to help Ionians rebel. 2) Ionian rebellion failed. 3) Darius tried to invade Athens to teach them a lesson. 4) Invasion attempt one: led by Mardonius, fails when he's injured. Athenians meet Persians at Marathon and beat them. 5) Invasion attempt two: Darius is distracted by Egyptian rebellion and by the time that's sorted, Darius dies. |
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Background - Xerxes
Why does Xerxes want to invade Greece? |
- A need to continue the legacy: his ancestors (Darius, Cyrus, Cambyses) have invaded and conquered countries before. - Revenge: His father planned to get revenge on them, now he'll get it. - Rule over all: If he defeats Athens and Peloponnesians, their "empire will only end where the sky begins" - he can rule Europe if he defeats the Greeks. - Punishment: The Greeks burned sacred groves and temples at Sardis. |
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Scene 1 - Plans for Invasion
What were Mardonius' arguments for invasion?
Mardonius = Xerxes' uncle by marriage |
- Mustn't have hypocrisy: Persians often go and conquer people who are innocent (e.g. Indians), so they can't leave a country (Greece) that has wronged them unconquered - they "injur(ed) us without provocation". - Experience: They've fought them before, they know how they fight. - Got Some Greeks: Already have Ionians and Dorians in their power. - Clumsy Greeks: When Greeks fight, it's "clumsy", both sides end in terrible shape. - Easy Win: Greeks won't stand up to Persians because of their mighty army of the greatest fighters in the world. |
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Scene 1 - Plans for Invasion
What were Artibarnus' arguments against invasion?
Artibarnus: Xerxes' blood uncle |
- Land and Sea: They'd have to win the battle at land and sea to defeat the Greeks - lose at sea? Greeks can sail and smash their bridge. - Marathon: Greeks are excellent fighters and won the Battle of Marathon. - Hubris: God punishes the mighty - "the tallest buildings and trees are the ones that he blasts". |
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Scene 1 - Plans for Invasion
What decision was made in regards to the invasion? How was this decision made? |
The decision was made to invade.
Xerxes and Artibarnus were persuaded by a dream to carry on the mission. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
How many men were in the Persian Army? How did Xerxes measure this? |
1,700,000 men.
Xerxes measured the space that 10,000 men occupy and using that as a measuring tool. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
How many men were in the Persian cavalry? |
80,000 men. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
How long did it take to assemble the Persian Army? |
4 years. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
True or false: The Persian Army was multiracial in make up. |
True. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
What was often said of the Persian Army? |
It was larger than all the armies in history put together.
It could drink all but the largest rivers dry. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
What made the Persian Army have such a lavish appearance? |
The army was heavy with gold. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
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A 10,000 strong unit whose number was always replenished up to 10,000 after every battle to give the impression that they were immortal. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Army)
How many triremes were there? |
1,207, plus several other types of ships to make it 3,000. |
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Background - Triremes
What was a trireme? |
Triremes were ships with oars as well as sails, the largest ones having three banks of oars. |
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Background - Triremes
What were the advantages of triremes? |
- Main weapon was a ram at water level used to smash into other boats and then armed men would board the other boats.
- Oars and sails |
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Background - Triremes
What were the disadvantages of triremes? |
- Slower: Greek triremes were often slower than Persian ones.
- Limited Food: Triremes had limited food so land was necessary. |
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Background - Triremes
Who generally operated Greek triremes? |
Thetes, who couldn't be hoplites as they couldn't afford the armour but wanted to fulfill their duties. They were free citizens who wanted to defend the democracy they believed in. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Bridges)
How many bridges did Xerxes build? How long were they? Where were they built? |
Two bridges were built, each a mile in length, across the Hellespont. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Bridges)
What happened to the first bridge? |
It was destroyed in a storm. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Bridges)
What did Xerxes do as a result of the destruction of the first bridge? |
- Punished the Sea: He whipped the sea and threw chains at it in revenge
- Punished the People: He beheaded all the men in charge of building the bridge |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Bridges)
When did the solar eclipse occur? What was it said to represent? |
The eclipse occurred as Xerxes crossed the bridge. He is told this represents the Greeks (who have a solar calender and are represented by it) will be 'eclipsed' and defeated by the Persians (who have a lunar calender and are represented by it). |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Bridges)
Who was Pythius the Lydian? What did he do? |
He was afraid of the solar eclipse and asked Xerxes to spare one of his sons from fighting in the army. Xerxes refused and chopped the son in half, making the army march down the street between the halves, with each half on opposite sides of the street. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Canals)
Where and why did Xerxes make a giant canal? |
Xerxes dug a canal through the peninsula of Athos. This is because in an attempt to invade Greece before the invasion that ended with Marathon, a load of boats got wrecked. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Canals)
What does Herodotus say of the giant canal? |
He says that Xerxes could have easily dragged the boats over land here and did it out of pride. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Canals)
How large is the canal? |
Large enough to sail two ships through at a time. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Fleet Race)
What happened to Xerxes at the fleet race? |
Xerxes thoroughly enjoys watching the fleet race. He is overcome with emotion and cries at the shortness of mortal life - "not one of those men will be alive in 100 years time". - Shows a more sensitive side to him. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Xerxes and Artibarnus)
What do Xerxes and Artibarnus discuss after the fleet race? |
Artibarnus: Still afraid, even after the dream. Xerxes: Should I raise more soldiers if the army isn't big enough? Artibarnus: Two greatest enemies: land and sea - Land: Will starve trying to supply massive army - Sea: Fleet is too massive to find harbours Xerxes: Everything's fine because it's summer and we have supplies. Greeks are farmers, we can steal their stuff. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Crossing the Bridge - Pep Talk)
What did Xerxes say in his inspiring 'pep talk'? |
He gathered the noble men and said: The Greeks may be strong, but if we beat them, no army will even consider fighting us again. We can definitely win. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Crossing the Bridge)
What did Xerxes do before crossing the bridge? Why? |
Xerxes prayed to the Sun and offered a sacrifice from a golden flask to the Hellespont.
Herodotus suggests he made the sacrifice to the Hellespont as repentance for whipping it. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Crossing the Bridge)
How long did it take to cross the Hellespont? How were they supervised? |
7 days and 7 nights.
Herodotus says they crossed "under the lash" (i.e. being whipped). |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Crossing the Bridge)
Who was Xerxes mistaken for on the other side of the bridge? |
Zeus. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Damaratus)
Who is Damaratus? Why's he with the Persians? |
He's an exiled Spartan king, exiled by Cleomenes. Xerxes often picks up exiles like this as they may be useful as puppet rulers should he take over their homes. |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Damaratus)
What did Xerxes ask Damaratus? What was his reply? |
Xerxes: Will the Greeks stand up to me? Damaratus: I "think highly of all Greeks" but I'll only mention the Spartans. They will -Never accept slavery for Greece -Fight you even if all other Greeks surrender -Fight irrelevant of army size Xerxes: No, soldiers are more likely to fight in adverse circumstances when afraid of a king. Damaratus: "A spartan alone is as good as anyone but the best in the world if fighting together. Free except for the rule of law, who they fear and will do what it commands. More afraid of the law than Xerxes, Law commands only that they do not flee, "stand firm and win, or die."" |
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Scene 2 - Preparation for Invasion (Damaratus)
What did Xerxes conclude from Damaratus' advice on the Spartans? |
He laughed and wasn't cross with him, but completely ignored his advice. |
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Background - The Delphic Oracle
What was the oracle? (Give detail) |
- The Oracle was supposedly the voice of Apollo - Delphi was meant to be the 'navel of the world' - A pithia would sit on a tripod and be filled through her private parts by gasses flowing through the rocks at Delphi. - She'd fall into a trance and either speak nonsense interpreted by priests or say the prophecy herself - The prophecies were often ambiguous |
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Scene 3 - The Delphic Oracle
What two prophecies did the pithia give? |
She gave the first prophecy which said that everything would go badly. The Greeks were dissatisfied and returned carrying olive branches to get a second prophecy. The second prophecy was that Athens will still be destroyed, but a wooden wall would keep them safe. They shouldn't wait for Xerxes' land army. The "blessed island" of Salamis will be the "death of mothers' sons". |
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Scene 3 - The Delphic Oracle
What were the two interpretations of the second prophecy? |
1) It refers to the wooden wall around the Acropolis
2) It refers to the Athenian navy |
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Background - Themistocles
Who was Themistocles? |
He was a strategoi, responsible for the building of the navy with a bumper crop of silver (others suggested they share the money out). His support came from the Thetes, who rowed ships. More ships = naval warfare more important More naval warfare importance = Thetes more important More Thete importance = Themistocles more important
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Scene Three - The Delphic Oracle
What was Themistocles' opinion of the second prophecy? |
1) There'll be a victory at Salamis or Salamis would've been called a wretched island, not a blessed one. 2) He disagrees with the experts and says the Persians will suffer, not the Greeks The Athenians agree and decide to fight the Persians with lots of boats, because Themistocles explained the navy was the 'wooden wall'. |
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Between Scene 3 and 4
What did the Greek alliance do following the prophecy? |
The Greeks in the alliance put aside their differences and wrote to other Greek leaders in an attempt to get them to join them. They were all in danger because of the Persians. |
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Between Scene 3 and 4
Where and why did the Greeks send spies? |
Spies were sent to Asia to spy on the Persian army. |
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Between Scene 3 and 4
What did Xerxes do to the Greek spies when they were caught? What did he think this would do? |
He released them so that they could go home and tell the rest of the Greeks how large the Persian army was. He thought this would make the Greeks surrender. |
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Between Scene 3 and 4
Why didn't Xerxes stop the ships heading to Greece? What is this an example of in Xerxes? |
The ships were effectively transporting corn for him.
This is an example of hubris. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
How many Greeks were present at Thermopylae? Which Greeks were they? (LOTS OF DETAIL IN NUMBERS) |
300 Spartan hoplites 500 Tegeans 500 Mantineans 120 from Orchomenus in Arcadia 1,000 from the rest of Arcadia 400 Corinthians 200 from Phlius 400 Thebans The Locrians "in full force" 1,000 Phocians (when called upon) |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
Why did the Locrians and Phocians attend? What quotes illustrate the inevitable defeat of Xerxes? |
The Greeks sent them a letter reminding them that Xerxes was a man, not a god and no man can escape without his "share of misfortune".
"The greatest misfortunes fall upon the greatest men." |
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Background - Leonidas
Who was Leonidas descended from? |
Heracles, the muscled demi-god. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Leonidas)
How many soldiers did Leonidas have and why were they all ready to die? |
He had 300 soldiers and they all had sons, so they knew their line would continue if they died. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Leonidas)
Why did Leonidas specifically bring the Thebans? What is revealed about the actions of the Thebans? |
He wanted to see if they would break their Greek alliance and go over to the Persians (they'd often been accused of wanting to do so).
It is revealed that they sent men but "had other plans". |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Leonidas)
Why did Leonidas go to the Battle? |
He wanted to encourage the other Greeks to fight and not surrender to the Persians. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
Why did Sparta and the other Greek nations only send in small forces? |
They were celebrating the carneia (a religious festival) at Sparta and the Olympic festival. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
What debate is there over what to do on the Greeks' behalf as the Persians approached? |
The Peloponnesians wanted to go back to the Isthmus, but the Phocians and Locrians were angry. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
What did Leonidas decide to do as the Persians approached? |
He decided to stay and send for help. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
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He saw them exercising and combing and washing their hair. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
What was Xerxe's reaction to Leonidas' army exercising and washing their hair? |
He was generally confused. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
What conversation did Xerxes have with Damaratus following his confusion over Leonidas' army's exercise etc.? |
Xerxes: Why are they doing this? Damaratus: It's their preparation for death. If you can beat Sparta, nobody else will stand up to you. Xerxes: Hmm I dunno about that, they're not that great. I'll wait for four days and see if they leave. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Before the Battle)
Did the Spartans leave after the four days Xerxes waited for? |
No. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day One)
What happened on the first day of the Battle of Thermopylae? |
- Xerxes sends in Medes against Spartans. Though there were many of them, there were "few real men among them". They withdrew. - The Persian Immortals were also badly defeated - their spears were shorter and in the narrow passage of the "Hot Gates", they couldn't get through due to their numbers. - The Spartans showed the "difference between skilled fighters and unskilled" as they were so good. - The Spartans pretended to flee, getting the Persians to chase them, then turned on them and killed them. - Xerxes leaped three times from his chair. - |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day One)
Overall, who won the first day of the battle? |
The Greeks. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Two)
What happened on the second day of the battle? |
- The Persians did no better than on the first day. - Each Greek city (except the Phocians, who were on a mountain, looking out) took turns standing on the front line, pushing the Persians out. No luck for the Persians. - Epialtes, a Malian (type of Greek) tells Xerxes of the goat path leading around the side of the mountain to where the Phocians were. - Xerxes sent Hydarnes and his men down this path, following Epialtes. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Three)
What happens on the third day of the battle? |
- The Persians were heading around the path when they saw the Phocians guarding it. - The Persians initially thought that they were Spartans, but when they found out they weren't, they shot arrows at them until they backed off. - The Phocians "prepared themselves to die" (ready to be killed or go down fighting?) - The Persians ignored them and carried on. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Three)
What happened back at the Greek camp? |
Megistias the seer sees that death is coming that morning in his sacrifice. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Three)
What are the possible reasons for Leonidas ordering most of the other Greeks away? Which reason does Herodotus support? |
- To save the lives of the other Greeks, but it not being right for Spartans to abandon their position. - The other Greeks weren't willing participants and wouldn't fight properly (H supports this). - Better that they not go off in disorder as a result of a dispute. - Spartans wanted all the glory - Saving Sparta, as the Oracle had predicted that either a king (e.g. Leonidas) or Sparta must fall. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Three)
Who, aside from the Spartans, stays after the other Greeks are sent away? |
- Megistias
- Thespians
- Thebans kept there as hostages |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Day Three) (The Final Battle)
What happened in the final battle? |
- Greeks knew the Persians were coming round the mountain, so they go out and face the main force. - Persians driven on with whips, but were crushed and trampled - massive slaughter. - "Suicidal fury" of the Greeks (H says Greeks, not Spartans). - Leonidas dies, Greeks save his body. - Epialtes arrived, the Greeks fell back to a hill where they fight to the death, some with bare hands. - H mentions the "Then we will fight in the shade" story with Dieneces (from before the battle). - Thebans surrender to Xerxes and join his side. Some are killed, the rest are branded with the royal mark. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Aftermath)
What conversation did Xerxes and Damaratus have? |
Xerxes: Okay, you were right. Are there more fighters like this? Damaratus: Lacedaemon has lots of good cities, but the Spartans are the best, with 8,000 of them. Detach 300 ships and threaten the coast of Lacedaemon to stop them getting involved in the war further North. Do this in case the ships attack whilst they're away. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Aftermath)
Why did a man called Achaemenes suggest Damaratus was saying this? |
Because he was jealous and tried to destroy Xerxes by making him split up the fleet. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Aftermath)
What did Xerxes say in reply to Achaemenes' accusation against Damaratus? |
Xerxes tells him not to slander and insult his friend Damaratus. Still, he does what Achaemenes says, not what Damaratus says, even though he'd just acknowledged that Damaratus had been right the entire time. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Aftermath)
What did Xerxes do as vengeance against the Greeks? Was this unusual? |
He impaled Leonidas' head on a spike "sacrilegiously" because he was so angry with him.
Persians didn't normally do this to brave enemies. |
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Scene 4 - The Battle of Thermopylae (Bravery)
What are the examples of bravery of the Spartans during the Battle of Thermopylae? |
- Leonidas voted to stay rather than retreat like other Peloponnesians. - They let the scouts see them while preparing for death. - Leonidas refused to retreat because it'd be dishonourable, even though it resulted in their death. - Leonidas was willing to die to ensure the future of Sparta. - "Then we will fight in the shade" sequence (Dieneces). |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Background)
Why did the Greeks want to fight at Artimisium? |
1) Themistocles was bribed into doing it and bribed others, too. 2) It was an area with lots of friendly Greek harbours etc. 3) Greeks needed to practice fighting at sea. 4) Euripus channel would prevent Persians from taking advantage of their numbers. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Background)
Who was at command? Why? |
Eurybiades the Spartan.
People won't fight under Athenian command. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Background)
Why did the fleet need to do what Themistocles wanted within reason? |
The Athenians were the largest contingent in the fleet. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Before the Battle)
List the sequence of bribery leading up to the battle. |
1) Euboeans wanted time to evacuate their people, but Eurybiades wouldn't let them, so they bribed Themistocles with 30 talents. 2) Themistocles bribed Eurybiades, who then agreed, 5 talents as though it was a gift to ensure that the Greek fleet stayed where it was. 3) Adimantus of Corinth refuses to do as Eurybiades says, so Themistocles gives him 3 talents and won him over. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Before the Battle)
How did the Persians trap the Greeks? |
They sent a fleet of 200 ships round the outside of Euboea to catch them from behind. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Before the Battle)
How were the Greeks warned of the Persians trapping them? |
A man by the name of Scyllias was said to have swam ten miles underwater to tell them. Herodotus believes he took a boat. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Day One)
Why did the Greeks take a defensive position? What went wrong? |
They wanted to survive the day's attack and at night, sail out and attack the ships that were coming to block them in.
The problem was that the Persians didn't attack, so the Greeks eventually moved out to attack the Persians. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Day One)
What was the sequence of events on the first day in regards to the actual battle? |
1) The Greeks go into a maneuver called 'kyklo', where they formed an outward facing circle. 2) The Persian fleets surrounded the Greek ones. 3) The Greek fleets shot out of the kyklo and used their brass rams to crash into the Persian fleet, disabling many of them. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Day One)
How many ships did the Greeks capture? |
30. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (The Storm)
What happened in the storm on the first night of the battle? According to Herodotus, why did it happen? |
- The Persians feared they would die - The Persians sailing around the outside of Euboea actually died
- Herodotus says Zeus did it to make the forces "more evenly matched". |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Day Two)
What happened on the second day of the battle? |
- 53 Athenian ships turn up from Athens.
- They attacked some Cilician ships, sank them and then sailed back to Artemesium. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Day Three)
What happened on the third day of the battle? |
- Persian army was afraid of Xerxe's anger and attacked first. - H says this was parallel to Thermopylae - Persians attacking, Greeks barring entry. - Persians fought bravely for fear of shame, but got in each other's way due to their numbers. - Both sides had to retreat, but Greeks took possession of the wreckage (which equated to winning - in Greece, side controlling the dead bodies has won). - Athens was really battered - half of all ships damages. - Planned retreat to the South. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Aftermath)
What did the Greeks do after the battle? |
- Ate all the Euboean sheep to stop the Persians getting them. - Found out Leonidas lost at plan at 'orderly retreat'. - Themistocles left messages for Ionians in the Persian Army in places where there's drinking water trying to persuade them to desert. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Aftermath)
What did the Persians do after the battle? |
- Everyone goes to see battle site at Thermopylae. - Xerxes tries to hide number of dead Persians - it doesn't work. - Some Greek deserters arrive and explain about the Olympic games. - Artabarnus' son says it's weird to compete for nothing but honour. |
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Aftermath)
How have the chances of victory/loss been evened out between the Greeks and Persians? |
- Persians can't now try and hold Peloponnesians in place and fight a sea battle with ships after the storm and other losses.
- Persians have to defeat Greek navy at sea.
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Scene 5 - The Battle of Artemisium (Aftermath)
What does Herodotus say of an attempted attack on Delphi led by Persians?
What's more likely to have happened? |
- Herodotus says Persians went to attack Delphi but were driven off by divine intervention.
- More likely Xerxes doesn't attack Delphi so as not to anger Greeks who might otherwise submit to him. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
What do the Peloponnesians consider that adds tension?
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They're constantly contemplating returning to and defending their homes.
This period was tense and the Greek fleet almost broke up. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
What did the Athenians do? Why? |
They fled from Athens to the islands of Salamis, Aegina and Troezene with their women and children. They did this because they knew the Persians were coming for them. Also, the honey cake offering played a part in their abandonment. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
Describe what happened in relation to the honey cake offering, what it was said to indicate and the impact it had on the people. |
The Athenians made a monthly offering of honey cake to the giant snake guarding the Acropolis. The cake was normally eaten, but this time, it remained untouched. This was believed to be a sign that the goddess Athena had abandoned Athens, thus encouraging people to leave the city even more. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
Where did the Athenians expect the Peloponnesians to have marched? What were they actually doing? |
- They expected them to have marched into Boetia.
- Instead, they were fortifying the Isthmus. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
How much of the fleet was made up of Athenians? |
Roughly half. |
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Scene 6 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis
What disagreement was had between the Athenians, Eurybiades and the Peloponnesians? |
- Athenians wanted to fight at Salamis.
- Eurybiades wanted to fight off the mainland controlled by Greeks
- Peloponnesians wanted to go home and defend Isthmus; feared being trapped at Salamis, but at Isthmus, they could escape to their home cities. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
Which cities do the Persians burn?
Why? |
- They burned Plataea and Thespia.
- They knew they won't surrender. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
What did the remaining Athenians do?
Why? |
- They barricaded themselves into the Acropolis.
- Either because they were too poor or believed that the Acropolis was the 'wooden walls' spoken of in the prophecy, not the navy. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
From and to where did the Persians shoot fire arrows? |
They shot from the Areopagus to the Acropolis. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
What did the Pisistradids do?
What happened? |
- They brought terms of truce.
- They were rejected. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
What did the Athenians do to the Persians?
What happened after, both from the Athenians and Persians? |
- Athenians rolled boulders down onto the attackers until the Persians climbed a sheer cliff.
- Some Athenians saw this and killed themselves. The Persians stormed the gates, plundered and burned the Acropolis and its temple. |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
What prophecy did these events fulfill? |
"The prophecy that the whole of mainland Attica would fall under the Persians" |
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Scene 7 - Attica Burns and Athens Falls
What tree was burnt? What happened next?
What could this represent? |
- An olive tree sacred to Athena was burnt by the attackers. It grew a new shoot 18" long in a single day.
- This could represent that though they'd been defeated, they would carry on and rise again from the ashes. |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
Were the ideas Themistocles presented for staying at fighting his own?
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No - he stole them from another Athenian to whom he doesn't credit. |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
What were the four arguments Themistocles presents for staying and fighting? |
1) Isthmus is open water whilst at Salamis they could fight in a channel - Persians can't use numbers & speed against them. 2) Retreat to Isthmus will lose Salamis, Aegina and Megara - potential allies. 3) Fighting sea battle at Isthmus will draw Persian land army down to Isthmus, too. If they win at Salamis, Persian land army will retreat if sea battle is lost having never got anywhere near Peleoponnese. 4) Victory is prophesied at Salamis. |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
What was the Greek way of saying 'God helps those who help themselves!'? |
"Rational planning brings success, but Zeus gives no assistance to men who make irrational plans." |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
What did Adamantus, leader of Corinth, say? |
They shouldn't listen to Themistocles as he doesn't have a country anymore. |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
What did Themistocles say in response to Adamantus' argument against him? |
He says that 200 ships are country enough. |
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Scene 8 - Discussion of Whether Greeks Should Fight at Salamis (2)
What did Themistocles threaten to do if they don't follow his proposed plan? What happened as a result? |
He threatened to leave the other Greeks to it and go off and colonise Sicily with the Athenian fleet.
Eurybiades changed his mind and prepared for battle. |
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Scene 9 - Xerxes Decides Whether to Fight or Not
What did Xerxes do to replace the troops he lost from captured territories?
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He recruits new men. |
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Scene 9 - Xerxes Decides Whether to Fight or Not
Who is Artemisia? |
She is the Queen of Halicarnassus (where H is from). |
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Scene 9 - Xerxes Decides Whether to Fight or Not
What was Xerxes advised to do by everyone but Atemisia? |
To fight at Salamis. |
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Scene 9 - Xerxes Decides Whether to Fight or Not
What did Artemisia argue? |
- Greeks were good at fighting at sea - "Fighting at sea, Greeks compare with us as men compare in strength to women." - Already won Athens, which was the whole point. Why risk this? - Wait and they'll flee to their own cities. - Threaten Peloponnese by land or maybe sea, they'll go home. - Lose at sea? Damage land army. |
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Scene 9 - Xerxes Decides Whether to Fight or Not
What was Xerxes' response to Artemisia's arguments? |
He was delighted as such honest advice but completely ignored her.
He thought his troops fought badly at Euboea as a result of him not watching them. |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
What message does Themistocles send to Xerxes?
What is this a result of? |
- He sends a message saying that the Greeks are fighting among themselves and half of them want to join the Persians.
- This is a result of Peloponnese at Salamis wanting to go home and help those fortifying Isthmus and challenging Eurybiades' intentions to stay. |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
Why was Themistocles sending Xerxes a message a clever thing to do? |
- It forces the Greeks to fight them as the Persians will now attack quickly. - It lulls Xerxes into a false sense of security as the Greeks will unite and fight against him. - It ensures that Xerxes will attack at Salamis, where Themistocles believes they have the best chance of beating him/neutralising his numerical advantage. |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
Who is Aristides? |
An Athenian politician, known as 'the just', widely considered to display all the virtues Themistocles lacks.
He was an exile, but was recalled to Greece as all exiles were when the war started. |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
What news did Aristides bring? |
He brought news that they were surrounded and told Themistocles of this. |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
What did Aristides tell Themistocles? |
- He calls for them to put their differences aside.
- "We must compete as we always have done, but this time, let's see which of us can do the most good for our country." |
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More on the Decision For Greeks on Salamis
What does Themistocles think of what Aristides tells him?
What does he then try to do? What happens? |
- He thinks it's great.
- He and Aristides try and fail to persuade the generals to fight until a ship arrives that actually reports that what they're saying is true.
- The Greeks prepare for battle. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards
Which two factors encouraged the Persians to fight, even though they knew it'd even the odds between them and the Greeks? |
1) They couldn't wait outside the straits forever.
2) They believed Themistocles' letter saying that the Greeks wouldn't fight as one. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards
What happened in the battle? |
- Themistocles "made the best of all speeches". - Greeks went to meet Persians but backed up as Persians approached until they're almost beached (deliberate plan - draw Persians in? Fear?). - Dispute over whether Athenians or Aeginetans struck first blow. - Story of ghostly woman appearing and urging them to fight. - Persians fight better than before because Xerxes is watching, but... - Persians still lost because Greeks had discipline and they didn't. - First line of Persian ships entangled with those of second as they retreated. Second line pushed forward to impress Xerxes. Concludes Damaritus vs Xerxes debate over which is better to fight for (King or law/state). - Artemisia tricked Xerxes into being impressed with her. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards
How did Artemisia trick Xerxes into being impressed with her? |
The Persian fleet was in chaos and Artemisia was being pursued by an Athenian ship. Her escape was blocked by friendly ships, so she rammed a friendly ship, tricking the Athenian captain into thinking that either her ship was Greek or she was a deserter from the Persians. The Athenian ship then broke off the chase and turned on other ships. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards (Aftermath)
Who did the Phoenicians blame for their loss?
What did Xerxes do as a result?
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- They blamed the Ionians for losing ships.
- Some troops of Ionian descent had impressed Xerxes so he beheaded some Phoenicians instead. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards How did Xerxes react to the defeat? |
- He was "full of bitterness and blaming everyone".
- He recorded the names of all who fought well. |
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Scene 10 - The Battle of Salamis & Afterwards What did the Greeks do to the Persians afterwards? |
- Athenians and Aeginetans trapped the fleeing Persians between them. - Athenians claimed Corinthians retreated until a boat "sent by divine providence" persuaded them to go back. May be an Athenian slur. - Aristides fought on island of Psyttalea. Everyone was involved. - Greeks ready for second battle with Xerxes' remaining ships, but Xerxes feared they'd destroy his bridge, trapping him in Europe. He retreated. |
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The Character of Xerxes
Describe Xerxes' relationship with nature. |
- Controlling - whipped the sea when the first bridge collapsed (Scene 2)
- Loving (Coated a tree in gold) |
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The Character of Xerxes
How does Xerxes' relationship with nature show hubris? |
If we think of the association between the Greek gods and the natural world, it's easy to think he's being disrespectful to the power of the gods and is full of hubristic pride.
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The Character of Xerxes
Describe Xerxes' relationship with religion. |
- Respectful - allowed Athenian exiles to sacrifice at Acropolis after attacking it. He made offerings before crossing the bridge.
- Reluctant - more afraid of the gods after he feels he's insulted them, sacrifices only after. |
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The Character of Xerxes
How does Xerxes' character oppose the Greek values of constancy and control? |
He's prone to excess, either of of wealth or cruelty.
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The Character of Xerxes
In which instances does Xerxes show he's open to opinions and temperate? |
- Talks with Damaratus (listens and appreciates)
- Talks with Artimisia (listens and appreciates) |
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The Character of Xerxes
Where does Xerxes show that while he's open to opinions, he often ignores advice? |
- Talks with Damaratus (listens and ignores)
- Talks with Artimisia (listens and ignores) |
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The Actions of Xerxes
What bad things did Xerxes do? |
- Whips the sea (Scene 2)
- Beheads bridge engineers (Scene 2) - Hacks son of Lydian bridge builder in half (Scene 2) - Whips his army (Scene 2) - Brands Thebans after Thermopylae (Scene 4) - Cuts off Leonidas' head and impales with a spike (Scene 4) - Ignores Damaratus' and Artemisia's advice - Tries deceiving people about number of dead at Thermopylae (Scene 4) - Beheads Phoenicians at Salamis, "full of bitterness and blaming everyone" (Scene 10) |
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The Actions of Xerxes
What good things did Xerxes do? |
- Listens to honest advice without getting mad (Scene
- Sacrifices to gods - Persian and Greek - Enjoys watching boat races (Scene 2) - Weeps at briefness of human life (Scene 2) - Lets the Greek spies go (may have been to scare Greeks) (Scene 3/4) - Defends Damaratus' honour as his friend (Scene 4) - Offers terms of surrender to Athenians in the Areopagos - Sacrifices before crossing Hellespont (Scene 2) - Doesn't attack Delphi, regrets burning temple on Acropolis - Respects bravery - record no. names fighting at Salamis (Scene 10) |
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The Character of Themistocles
Who did Themistocles represent in Athenian politics? |
He represented the poorer people in Athenian politics.
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The Character of Themistocles
Give a way in which Themistocles helped the poor. |
He took power from the richer, more aristocratic families.
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The Character of Themistocles
What made Themistocles a divisive figure? |
- Poorer people liked him for helping them
- Wealthy people disliked him for taking power from them |
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The Character of Themistocles
What legacy did Themistocles carry after the Persian Wars? |
- He became very famous and well respected as the victor in the Persian Wars.
- People at the Olympic Games would stop watching the games when he arrived to watch him |
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The Character of Themistocles
In what ways is Themistocles often characterised? How is his personality affected by this? |
- He's characterised by his gifts for language and persuasion (though he's not afraid of fighting).
- He uses his powers of speech to help the Athenians and even all Greeks. - However, his gifts help him go about this in a wily manner - manipulative through speech. |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he argued for the Athenians to fight at sea show about Themistocles' character? |
- Perceptive - ultimately made the correct decision, thinking of it himself.
- Selfish - may have been trying to advance importance of his supporters (Thetes, who rowed in the navy) |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he took bribes from the Euboans say about Themistocles' character? |
- Greedy in some respects
- Materialistic - used money to win others over - Sensible - may have had sound reasons for fighting at Artemisium anyway |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he encouraged the Ionians to desert say about Themistocles' character? |
- Good - not an Achilles heroic thing, but a good thing
- Persuasive - Deceptive |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he stole arguments for staying at fighting from another Athenian say about the character of Themistocles? |
- Somewhat immoral - didn't care about stealing
- Practical - knew things needed doing, this was the fastest way |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he persuaded Eurybiaes to stay and fight through arguments and threats say about the character of Themistocles? |
- Clever
- Not above threatening people - Violent, perhaps? |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he welcomed his rival Aristides back to let him help Greece say about the character of Themistocles? |
- Practical - wanted what was best
- Noble - set aside rivalry for greater good - Manipulative - was welcoming to achieve what he wanted |
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The Actions of Themistocles
What does the way he made the "best speech" before the battle say about the character of Themistocles? |
- Strong with words
- Persuasive - Inspirational |
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Herodotus as a Historian
What are some issues with Herodotus as a historian and his writing? |
His writing was often arguably biased, perhaps as a result from his use of biased sources which he failed to crosscheck. His writing was also arguably discriminatory.
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Herodotus as a Historian
Give an example in which Herodotus' writing could be called discriminatory.
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He referred to the Persians as barbarians, while he referred to the Greeks as their proper name of 'Greeks'.
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Herodotus as a Historian
Why might Herodotus have been biased in favour of the Greeks? |
He was born Halicarnassus, a Greek city of the Persian empire and based himself more in Athens due to his travels.
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Herodotus as a Historian
Despite the biases, what made Herodotus' writing a great achievement? |
Nobody had ever written about many of the things he wrote about, so he didn't have any foundations of others to build upon.
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Herodotus as a Historian
What about Herodotus' birth makes him valid as a historian? |
He was born between 490 and 480 BCE, during the time of the Persian and Greek conflict.
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Herodotus as a Historian
What subject regarding authority was Herodotus particularly interested in? |
The debate as to whether freedom of the Greek or being "slaves" to a king was better.
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Herodotus as a Historian
What makes Herodotus a less biased historian? |
He was very willing to portray Persians as saying or doing good things ("the great and noble deeds of both Greeks and Persians").
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Herodotus as a Historian
What type of characters did Herodotus particularly like? |
'Wise adviser' characters, e.g. Damaratus
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Herodotus as a Historian
Even though he doesn't cover up the Greek disputes, how did Herodotus show bias in favour of the Greeks? |
- He glorified Greece
- He covered up the reasons for a small army at Thermopylae |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 1 (Debate and Decision)
Who would Herodotus' sources of information have been? How does this give him credibility? |
- His sources would have been Persians and Greeks he met on his travels.
- This gives him credibility for two reasons - 1. many of them would have been at the events and would therefore have reliable information, maybe even quotes, and 2. Herodotus had information from both sides, balancing his writing. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 1 (Debate and Decision)
What did Aristagoras do to attempt to win Greek support, according to Herodotus? |
He gave an unbalanced impression of the Persians' military strength by stressing how lightly armed they were and didn't mention their bows and arrows or their cavalry, their mobility or their great numbers.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 1 (Debate and Decision)
How did Artabanus' speeches impact Herodotus' image of Xerxes? |
Artabanus' disapproval of invasion and his speeches contributed to Herodotus' image of Xerxes as a tragic hero rising so high that his fall became inevitable.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 3
What were the symbols of submission? |
Earth and water.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 3
What did the Persians demand of the Greeks? What did this show? |
- Earth and water, as symbols of submission.
- It wasn't a binding commitment, but it was evidence of a lukewarm concern for the fate of Greece. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 3
Did all of the Greeks bring forward what the Persians demanded? |
No - some were determined to resist and began looking from support from men and the gods.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 4 (Thermopylae)
What is the translation of Thermopylae? |
Hot gates
Thermo = Hot Pylae = Gates |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 4 (Thermopylae)
How did Herodotus treat and present the battle of Thermopylae? |
He presented it as glorious and provides a sense of heroism and an epic feel to the narrative - he didn't treat it as a disaster, even though it arguably was.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 4 (Thermopylae)
Even though the battle was arguably a disaster, why would the Greeks not have thought so at the time? |
- The heroism and glorious death of those few Greeks was an inspiration to their brother Greeks for whom they died.
- Misjudgments and worse were covered up. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 5 (Artemisium)
Why was Artemisium a well-chosen position for the Greeks? |
- They had a good bay where they could beach their ships.
- Island was secure as long as they closed the Euripus channel and covered the northeast coastline and Leonidas' force kept the Persian army from advancing further south to points where crossings could easily be made. - Good tactics would mean there wouldn't be room for the Persians to make the best of their numbers, maneuverability and seamanship. - Greeks had friendly harbours with docking facilities and reinforcements to fall back on. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 5 (Artemisium)
Why were the Persians at a disadvantage, position-wise? |
- They had an inhospitable coastline behind them to the north and only the resources they could carry with them.
- Their great numbers were too large. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 5 (Artemisium)
Even though Eurybiades, a Spartan, was commander-in-chief of the Greeks, who would have been the most influential in the planning? |
Themistocles.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 6
In what ways does Herodotus present the tense period of waiting and arguing? |
His account is dramatic and convincing.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 8 (Xerxes Decides)
Why couldn't Xerxes risk detaching a fleet of any size to threaten the Peloponnese? |
The rest of the fleet might not have been able to contain the Greeks.
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 8 (Xerxes Decides)
What could Xerxes have done that would have earned him an advantage? What was the problem with this? |
- He could have sent out the whole fleet against the Peloponnese and the Greeks might have been drawn out into the open sea, where the Persians had the advantage.
- The problem was that Salamis was an important strategic prize and autumn was coming soon, putting an end to naval operations. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 9 (Themistocles Chooses His Moment)
What in particular made Themistocles' plan (sending a message to Xerxes speaking of division) clever? |
- There could have, in fact, been division and spying among the Greeks and there was much talk of retreat on Salamis.
- The Persians had won great past victories (e.g. battle of Lade) by exploiting divisions among the enemies. |
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Chapter Introductions - Scene 10
How long after the battle did Herodotus record the events? Why? |
- 30 to 40 years after.
- It would've been very hard to write a complete account about it as it was spread over twelve square miles of water and lasted several hours, so it was impossible to know what was happening generally. |
