Leonidas gets all the credit - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 04-02-2007, 02:45 PM

but this is the guy primarily responsible for the preservation of the Greeks: Themistocles

It was an Athenian, not a Spartan, who saved the day.

Ironically, he was eventually ostracized and sought refuge with the Persians.

All-American · 04-02-2007, 03:00 PM

Themistokles was more important than just his role at the naval battle correspoinding with the battle of Thermopylae. When a rich vein of silver was discovered in Attica shortly before the Persian Wars, he advocated that the money be devoted in its entirety to building up a Navy. The naval power that Athens gained by this move was so important that Herodotus claims that Athens was the Savior of Greece; that if it were not for Athens, the Spartans and others would have fought bravely and died bravely, but that because Athens cast their lot with the rest of the Hellens, they prevailed against the Persians.

Athens and her naval power were a key, if not THE key, to Athens's rise to power and preminence in the Ancient world. The Golden Age of Greece would have been impossible if not for Themistokles.

MikeWaters · 04-02-2007, 03:03 PM

Also, interestingly, he lied to convince the Athenians to use the money to build ships. He knew if he told them that the Persians were a threat, he would be ignored. But he managed to convince them that a closer island neighbor was a potential threat.

All-American · 04-02-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Also, interestingly, he lied to convince the Athenians to use the money to build ships. He knew if he told them that the Persians were a threat, he would be ignored. But he managed to convince them that a closer island neighbor was a potential threat.

Yeah, politics of the democracy. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

But it worked out for them in the end.

SeattleUte · 04-02-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-American

Yeah, politics of the democracy. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

But it worked out for them in the end.

Not unlike the Nazis, the indifferent American public, Roosevelt and lend-lease, etc..

04-02-2007, 02:45 PM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Leonidas gets all the credit but this is the guy primarily responsible for the preservation of the Greeks: Themistocles It was an Athenian, not a Spartan, who saved the day. Ironically, he was eventually ostracized and sought refuge with the Persians.

04-02-2007, 03:00 PM	#2
All-American Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,420	Themistokles was more important than just his role at the naval battle correspoinding with the battle of Thermopylae. When a rich vein of silver was discovered in Attica shortly before the Persian Wars, he advocated that the money be devoted in its entirety to building up a Navy. The naval power that Athens gained by this move was so important that Herodotus claims that Athens was the Savior of Greece; that if it were not for Athens, the Spartans and others would have fought bravely and died bravely, but that because Athens cast their lot with the rest of the Hellens, they prevailed against the Persians. Athens and her naval power were a key, if not THE key, to Athens's rise to power and preminence in the Ancient world. The Golden Age of Greece would have been impossible if not for Themistokles. __________________ εν αρχη ην ο λογος

04-02-2007, 03:03 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Also, interestingly, he lied to convince the Athenians to use the money to build ships. He knew if he told them that the Persians were a threat, he would be ignored. But he managed to convince them that a closer island neighbor was a potential threat.