Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

Most likely that's covering a story where the Persians never actually wanted to sack Delphi because they understand the value of local sanctuaries. When they captured Delos during the marathon campaign, they also made huge sacrifices there. and try to reassure the local population which had fled to another island. Like, we don't mean you any harm. We actually want to make sure that you understand.

We respect your customs because that is how they knew they could be palatable as new overlords. So they left Delphi well alone. I mean, they would have understood its value.

We respect your customs because that is how they knew they could be palatable as new overlords. So they left Delphi well alone. I mean, they would have understood its value.

We respect your customs because that is how they knew they could be palatable as new overlords. So they left Delphi well alone. I mean, they would have understood its value.

I mean, the Battle of Salamis is extremely messy. It's very hard to say anything about it just because it is described to us in every source as just a mess of boats slamming into each other. And no one really knew what they were doing, except that the Persians have been dragged into a narrow strait, which was the plan of the Athenian commander Themistocles.

I mean, the Battle of Salamis is extremely messy. It's very hard to say anything about it just because it is described to us in every source as just a mess of boats slamming into each other. And no one really knew what they were doing, except that the Persians have been dragged into a narrow strait, which was the plan of the Athenian commander Themistocles.

I mean, the Battle of Salamis is extremely messy. It's very hard to say anything about it just because it is described to us in every source as just a mess of boats slamming into each other. And no one really knew what they were doing, except that the Persians have been dragged into a narrow strait, which was the plan of the Athenian commander Themistocles.

But it's not an Athenian victory so much as an allied victory, which the Athenians had about two thirds of the, or about half actually in Salamis, of the ships. But the overall commander is Eurybiades, who is a Spartan. It's always sort of important to stress that Themistocles never commanded any allied fleet at any point in Greek history.

But it's not an Athenian victory so much as an allied victory, which the Athenians had about two thirds of the, or about half actually in Salamis, of the ships. But the overall commander is Eurybiades, who is a Spartan. It's always sort of important to stress that Themistocles never commanded any allied fleet at any point in Greek history.

But it's not an Athenian victory so much as an allied victory, which the Athenians had about two thirds of the, or about half actually in Salamis, of the ships. But the overall commander is Eurybiades, who is a Spartan. It's always sort of important to stress that Themistocles never commanded any allied fleet at any point in Greek history.

He never did because he was always under a Spartan supreme commander. But the idea of that fight is essentially that the Spartans want to retreat to the Peloponnese. They want to get out of there. They don't care about anything. It's already lost. So they just want to go back, fortify the Isthmus, the connection of land between Athens and Corinth.

He never did because he was always under a Spartan supreme commander. But the idea of that fight is essentially that the Spartans want to retreat to the Peloponnese. They want to get out of there. They don't care about anything. It's already lost. So they just want to go back, fortify the Isthmus, the connection of land between Athens and Corinth.

He never did because he was always under a Spartan supreme commander. But the idea of that fight is essentially that the Spartans want to retreat to the Peloponnese. They want to get out of there. They don't care about anything. It's already lost. So they just want to go back, fortify the Isthmus, the connection of land between Athens and Corinth.

And they want to pull the fleet back to guard those works, so the fortification of the Peloponnese. And the Athenians point out to them that that means defending the Peloponnese in open waters against the superior Persian fleet, which would go badly. And so everything will go to pieces if they do that.

And they want to pull the fleet back to guard those works, so the fortification of the Peloponnese. And the Athenians point out to them that that means defending the Peloponnese in open waters against the superior Persian fleet, which would go badly. And so everything will go to pieces if they do that.

And they want to pull the fleet back to guard those works, so the fortification of the Peloponnese. And the Athenians point out to them that that means defending the Peloponnese in open waters against the superior Persian fleet, which would go badly. And so everything will go to pieces if they do that.

And they even threaten to leave the alliance and sail off to Italy, essentially leaving them all in the lurch because they just aren't finding that the allies are willing to help them to take back their own land. And so they threaten to leave, which finally pulls the other allies over the line to say, okay, well, fine, we'll make a stand at Salamis.

And they even threaten to leave the alliance and sail off to Italy, essentially leaving them all in the lurch because they just aren't finding that the allies are willing to help them to take back their own land. And so they threaten to leave, which finally pulls the other allies over the line to say, okay, well, fine, we'll make a stand at Salamis.

And they even threaten to leave the alliance and sail off to Italy, essentially leaving them all in the lurch because they just aren't finding that the allies are willing to help them to take back their own land. And so they threaten to leave, which finally pulls the other allies over the line to say, okay, well, fine, we'll make a stand at Salamis.

But he still has to trick the Persians into accepting that fight. So he draws them into this narrow strait where the superior seamanship of the Phoenicians in the Persian fleet isn't going to come to their advantage.