Today's Passage
This passage describes Themistocles' flight to Persia after his ostracism from Athens around 471-470 BCE.
Crawley Translation (1910)
After having rewarded him with a present of money, as soon as he received some from his friends at Athens and from his secret hoards at Argos, Themistocles started inland with one of the coast Persians, and sent a letter to King Artaxerxes, Xerxes’s son, who had just come to the throne. Its contents were as follows: “I, Themistocles, am come to you, who did your house more harm than any of the Hellenes, when I was compelled to defend myself against your father’s invasion—harm, however, far surpassed by the good that I did him during his retreat, which brought no danger for me but much for him. For the past, you are a good turn in my debt”—here he mentioned the warning sent to Xerxes from Salamis to retreat, as well as his finding the bridges unbroken, which, as he falsely pretended, was due to him—“for the present, able to do you great service, I am here, pursued by the Hellenes for my friendship for you. However, I desire a year’s grace, when I shall be able to declare in person the objects of my coming.”
Modern Translation
After receiving monetary compensation from him—funds that came partly from his associates in Athens and partly from his secret reserves in Argos—Themistocles traveled inland accompanied by a Persian from the coastal region. He dispatched a letter to King Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes who had recently ascended to the throne. The letter read as follows: "I, Themistocles, have come to you—I who inflicted more damage on your dynasty than any other Greek when circumstances forced me to resist your father's invasion. Yet the harm I caused was far exceeded by the benefits I provided during his withdrawal, when he faced great peril while I remained safe. You therefore owe me a debt of gratitude"—here he cited his warning to Xerxes at Salamis to withdraw, and his alleged role in preserving the bridges intact, though this claim was false—"Now I come to you with the capacity to render you invaluable service, driven here by Greek persecution for my loyalty to you. I request one year's delay before appearing in person to explain my intentions."
Historical Context
This passage describes Themistocles' flight to Persia after his ostracism from Athens around 471-470 BCE. The great Athenian statesman who had orchestrated the Greek victory at Salamis (480 BCE) now found himself seeking refuge with his former enemies. Having been accused of medizing (collaborating with Persia) and facing prosecution, Themistocles fled Greece. The letter to Artaxerxes I represents a masterful piece of diplomatic rhetoric, as Themistocles reframes his actions during the Persian Wars to present himself as a secret benefactor of the Persian royal house. He claims credit for advising Xerxes to retreat after Salamis and falsely asserts he preserved the Hellespont bridges. This episode illustrates the fluid nature of Greek-Persian relations and the pragmatic calculations of survival in ancient politics. Themistocles' request for a year's grace suggests he needed time to learn Persian and prepare his case properly.
Key Themes
Annotations & References
Ostracism in Athens
Ostracism was an Athenian democratic procedure where citizens could vote to exile prominent individuals for ten years. Themistocles was ostracized around 471 BCE, likely due to political rivalries and suspicions about his growing power and wealth. This institution reflected Athens' concern about preventing tyranny.
Learn more →Battle of Salamis
The naval battle of Salamis (480 BCE) was the decisive Greek victory over the Persian fleet. Themistocles had engineered this victory through strategic deception, sending a message to Xerxes that led the Persians into a trap. His later claim to have helped Xerxes cynically inverts this history.
Learn more →Artaxerxes I
Artaxerxes I ruled Persia from 465-424 BCE. His accession followed the assassination of his father Xerxes. His reign saw continued conflicts with Greek states but also diplomatic engagement, as evidenced by his reception of Greek exiles like Themistocles.
Learn more →Medism
Medism referred to collaboration with Persia (the Medes). It was a serious political accusation in Greek city-states. Ironically, Themistocles, who had led resistance against Persia, was accused of medizing, demonstrating how political fortunes could reverse dramatically in Greek politics.
Learn more →Parallel Ancient Sources
Plutarch: Life of Themistocles (27-29)
Plutarch provides a more detailed account of Themistocles' flight to Persia, including his dangerous journey through hostile territory and his eventual reception by Artaxerxes. He also describes Themistocles learning Persian during his year of preparation.
Read passage →Diodorus Siculus: Library of History (11.56-58)
Diodorus corroborates the story of Themistocles' flight but provides different details about his reception in Persia and the honors he received from the king, including governance of several cities in Asia Minor.
Read passage →Cornelius Nepos: Life of Themistocles (8-10)
Nepos offers a condensed version focusing on Themistocles' cleverness in winning over Artaxerxes and his subsequent life in Persia, emphasizing his adaptability and political acumen.
Read passage →Discussion Questions
- How does Themistocles' letter demonstrate the flexibility of truth in ancient diplomatic rhetoric? What does this suggest about the relationship between power and narrative?
- What does Themistocles' flight to Persia reveal about the nature of loyalty and identity in the ancient Greek world? Can patriotism coexist with self-preservation?
- How might Artaxerxes have interpreted this letter? What political calculations would influence his decision to receive Themistocles?
- Compare Themistocles' self-presentation here with modern examples of political exile. What strategies remain constant across cultures and time periods?