Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

But for Herodotus, she is massively interesting because he's interested in exceptions. He's interested in exceptional things. And so when a woman commands a military force, you know, that is something that he wants to talk about. That is something that he's fascinated by. And he's, he's very explicit about this. He doesn't sort of want to give the impression that he's doing so unfairly.

But for Herodotus, she is massively interesting because he's interested in exceptions. He's interested in exceptional things. And so when a woman commands a military force, you know, that is something that he wants to talk about. That is something that he's fascinated by. And he's, he's very explicit about this. He doesn't sort of want to give the impression that he's doing so unfairly.

It's just like, this is great. You know, look at this, who could have imagined because in the, in the Greek mind, which is very patriarchal, very sort of set in gender roles, this is something that could never happen. You know, women aren't in their, in their view, cut out for that kind of work. They just don't have that in their nature.

It's just like, this is great. You know, look at this, who could have imagined because in the, in the Greek mind, which is very patriarchal, very sort of set in gender roles, this is something that could never happen. You know, women aren't in their, in their view, cut out for that kind of work. They just don't have that in their nature.

It's just like, this is great. You know, look at this, who could have imagined because in the, in the Greek mind, which is very patriarchal, very sort of set in gender roles, this is something that could never happen. You know, women aren't in their, in their view, cut out for that kind of work. They just don't have that in their nature.

And so for them, this is something that is spectacular and worth talking about in detail. And so he casts her as one of Xerxes' close advisors from the Salamis narrative and even before that, as somebody who really has the ear of Xerxes and also always has the right advice, even if he sometimes ignores it.

And so for them, this is something that is spectacular and worth talking about in detail. And so he casts her as one of Xerxes' close advisors from the Salamis narrative and even before that, as somebody who really has the ear of Xerxes and also always has the right advice, even if he sometimes ignores it.

And so for them, this is something that is spectacular and worth talking about in detail. And so he casts her as one of Xerxes' close advisors from the Salamis narrative and even before that, as somebody who really has the ear of Xerxes and also always has the right advice, even if he sometimes ignores it.

And so she is sort of inflated in that narrative as somebody who actually has her wits about her. And for Herodotus, she becomes sort of one of the voices of reason within Xerxes' entourage.

And so she is sort of inflated in that narrative as somebody who actually has her wits about her. And for Herodotus, she becomes sort of one of the voices of reason within Xerxes' entourage.

And so she is sort of inflated in that narrative as somebody who actually has her wits about her. And for Herodotus, she becomes sort of one of the voices of reason within Xerxes' entourage.

So initially, actually, the Greeks don't think it's significant. We are told in Herodotus that they are essentially backing away to Salamis, expecting that the next day the Persians will just fight again. They don't think that the losses they've inflicted are serious enough to knock the Persian fleet out of the war.

So initially, actually, the Greeks don't think it's significant. We are told in Herodotus that they are essentially backing away to Salamis, expecting that the next day the Persians will just fight again. They don't think that the losses they've inflicted are serious enough to knock the Persian fleet out of the war.

So initially, actually, the Greeks don't think it's significant. We are told in Herodotus that they are essentially backing away to Salamis, expecting that the next day the Persians will just fight again. They don't think that the losses they've inflicted are serious enough to knock the Persian fleet out of the war.

But it turns out that they have actually, that the Persian fleet is no longer willing to keep its advanced station. So they retreat back to Asia Minor. So at that point, they more or less just abandoned the attempt to try and have a simultaneous land and naval campaign and instead just sort of keep the land army where it is to mop up.

But it turns out that they have actually, that the Persian fleet is no longer willing to keep its advanced station. So they retreat back to Asia Minor. So at that point, they more or less just abandoned the attempt to try and have a simultaneous land and naval campaign and instead just sort of keep the land army where it is to mop up.

But it turns out that they have actually, that the Persian fleet is no longer willing to keep its advanced station. So they retreat back to Asia Minor. So at that point, they more or less just abandoned the attempt to try and have a simultaneous land and naval campaign and instead just sort of keep the land army where it is to mop up.

At which point, obviously, the Greeks have, in a sense, reclaimed control of the sea, which gives them a lot of strategic options.

At which point, obviously, the Greeks have, in a sense, reclaimed control of the sea, which gives them a lot of strategic options.

At which point, obviously, the Greeks have, in a sense, reclaimed control of the sea, which gives them a lot of strategic options.