Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens's Naval MasterMind

Michael Scott

Book cover for Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens's Naval MasterMind
Image for variant 9780300256598
Book cover for Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens's Naval MasterMind
Image for variant 9780300256598

Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens's Naval MasterMind

Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens's Naval MasterMind

Michael Scott

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Description

A portrait of the Athenian politician and general Themistocles, tracing his political development, his victory at the Battle of Salamis, and his exile in Persia

"Excellent. . . . A superb introduction to the life of Themistocles and the foundations of democracy."--David Gibbins, Wall Street Journal

Themistocles (524-459 BC) came of age just as a newly democratic and empowered Athens was emerging. He would become an instrumental political and military figure, fighting in the Battle of Marathon; persuading Athenians to expand their fleet; and engineering the Athenians' defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Salamis. However, as Michael Scott demonstrates in this biography, Themistocles failed as much as he succeeded.

Scott offers a fully human picture of Themistocles, a man who could be both decisive and heroic as well as uncertain and unprepared. He was loved and hated in Athens, his plans and ideas ignored as often as they were respected. Eventually he was exiled as a traitor, ultimately settling in Persia as an adviser to Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes, his foe at Salamis. And yet, in the aftermath of his death, he emerged as one of Greece's historical heroes.

In this portrait of a man Thucydides deemed one of the most illustrious Greeks of his time, Scott reveals one man's struggle to navigate the turbulent world of Athenian politics, and the crucial role of historians and biographers in shaping, and distorting, the image of Themistocles that has come down to us through the centuries.

About the Author

Michael Scott is professor of classics and ancient history and pro-vice-chancellor for international affairs at the University of Warwick, UK. He is the author of several books, including Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World; Ancient Worlds: A Global History of Antiquity; and X Marks the Spot: An Adventurous History of Archaeology, as well as writer and presenter of multiple documentaries for BBC, ITV, National Geographic, and SBS.

Critical Reviews

"Excellent. . . . Accessible but bedded in authoritative scholarship. . . . Scott's book deserves to be widely read as a superb introduction to the life of Themistocles and the foundations of democracy."--David Gibbins, Wall Street Journal

"An illuminating biography, bringing to life the early classical world in stunning detail."--Max Sligh, New Criterion

"Scott's book investigates the turbulent times and lasting legacy of this scintillating figure."--Peter Moore, Unseen Histories

"Scott has pulled off a remarkable feat--a fabulously written book that combines the page-turning excitement of a novel with the painstaking erudition of academic research."--Naoise Mac Sweeney, author of Troy: Myth, City, Icon

"Like all Michael Scott's books, this life of Themistocles--Athenian statesman and military risk-taker--is erudite and thoughtful, filled with detailed analysis but never less than stylishly written. A fascinating and necessary biography."--Natalie Haynes, author of No Friend to This House

"Having swapped acclaim for shame, Themistocles seemingly embodies the Hollywood adage that 'you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.' This hugely enjoyable biography zips through his rise and fall with scintillating pace and clear prose."--Greg Jenner, presenter of You're Dead to Me podcast

Publishing Information

Publisher: Yale University Press
Pub date: 2026-02-03
Length: 224 pages

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