Themistocles

the-mis'to-kleez, a noted Athenian leader. He died about 460 B. C. He rose to prominence immediately after the battle of Marathon. He strove to equal the fame of Miltiades, whose victory robbed him of sleep. He was one who, though he "knew nothing of music and song, did know how of a small city to make a great one." He foresaw that the Persians would renew the attack and urged his fellow citizens to devote the revenue derived from recently opened gold mines and from tributary cities to the building of the most powerful fleet in the world. From the oracle of Delphi he procured a response that the safety of the city lay in wooden walls. Alcibiades the Just, who opposed him violently, he caused to be octracized or exiled for a term of years. The return of the Persians and the naval battles of Salamis, in which the fleet of Xerxes was routed, proved the wisdom of his plans. After the retirement of the Persians Themistocles was by far the most influential man in Athens. He pursued a vigorous policy. He rebuilt the walls of Athens, fortified the Piraeus, and made it the busiest port in the world. The rest of his life is less pleasing. He was suspected of collecting tribute and of neglecting to turn it into the city treasury. He was accused of taking bribes and of aiming to make himself tyrant of the city. He was ostracized and fled first to Argos, then to Corcyra, and finally to the court of Xerxes at Susa. He was received cordially and made governor of a province in Asia Minor. Here he lived in luxury. Three cities were assigned the duty of providing him bread, wine, and meat respectively. The manner of his death is unknown. His bones, so runs the tradition, were carried secretly to Attica and buried in his native soil. A spot at the neck of the harbor of Piraeus is known as the Tomb of Themistocles. See Salamis; Aristides; Oracle; Miltiades; Athens