The Battle of Salamis : The Naval Encounter That Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but not Profound
Review: "Battle of Salamis" offers a good, quick read of the famous naval battle between the Greeks and Persians in the 400s B.C. It is mostly entertaining and educational, at least in its descriptions of the material differences between the Greeks and Persians -- their armor and weapons and methods of fighting. While not ignoring culture, it is a little less effective in delineating the cultural differences between the two civilizations. After Victor Davis Hanson's brilliant "Culture and Carnage" this is a little disappointing. Also somewhat disappointing is the lack of drama in the battle narrative, and the book as a whole. There is too much back-and-forth speculation throughout the book -- "maybe this, but maybe that" -- which slows down the pace. This kind of speculation should ideally be handled in footnotes, while the meat of the book should have concerned itself only with the most likely scenarios.

Overall, the book is enjoyable, much more than Peter Green's "The Greco-Persian War" which is a real snoozer. But it's not exactly profound and you won't find yourself thinking about it much after you've turned the final page.


Rating:
Summary: Excellent, yet missing minor elements to fill out the story.
Review: An excellent survey history, of the battles leading up to Salamis and the battle of Salamis itself. The author researched many of the topics very well, and presented a clear over all picture of this conflict, yet fumbled in some minor areas.

Being an avid amateur greek historian, specifically about the era involved in this survey history, I would have thought the author would explain that Leonidas had fought at Thermopylae against the wishes of the Spartan Ephors. I had thought he would also have mentioned that Leonidas was only accompanied by the body guard a Spartan King is entitled to (therefore very elite), and not a part of the regular Spartan army (as he identifies this body guard as being on page 4). In addition, in regards to the Spartan practice of combing their hair before battle to intimidate their foes, I would have thought he would further clarify they do this, so that in case they die, they will look "beautiful" when they are called before the gods, a pointed hint to their foes, that they are prepared to die and will not break to run.

The author's presentation leading up to Artemisium was informative, and included details of greek Trireme construction, crewing, and tactical employment. He included maintenance, logistical concerns, and those of Athens spiteful greek allies as well. In addition, the literal translations of greek words and phrases in the context of their usage was a nice and informative touch also. The best part of this book for me, was the aftermath, where the post battle fall out, for both the victors and the vanquished was interesting to read. I had always wondered what happened to a few of the main figures that took part in this historic battle, and my curiosity was satisfied as well as it can be.

In summation, this book is an exceptional piece of literature for the topic involved even with it's minor detractions, and I would recommend it highly for either the interested layperson or the amateur historian.

Rating:
Summary: Informative And Entertaining
Review: Barry Strauss has done a wonderful job of relating the story of the ancient world's most significant naval battle at Salamis. This book is both entertaining and informative, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period of history.

It covers briefly the significant land (Thermopylae) and naval (Artemisium), as well as the sacking of Athens which preceded the Battle of Salamis. Strauss also covers the situation which faced the Persians and Greeks in those days prior to the battle which is in the section called "The Trap". What he is referring to is the plotting by Themistocles to try to ensure that the battle would take place at Salamis, and this along with the chapters on the battle itself are the real meat of the book. The book finishes with a couple of chapters and an epilogue which covers the retreat by the Persians, and also discusses the short and long term effects of the battle. He also discusses what happened to the major participants if it is known.

There are many interesting stories that take place in and around the battle. These include stories about Themistocles, Xerxes, and Aeschylus. Among the most interesting stories are those about Artemisia, the female queen/admiral who was one of Xerxes most trusted commanders. She had predicted defeat prior to the battle, and during the battle she turned what should have been viewed as a treacherous act into her advantage after the battle. Another very interesting story is that of Sicinnus who was sent by Themistocles to talk to Xerxes on the eve of the battle warning the Great King that the Greeks were about to depart and strongly hinted that Themistocles would defect to the Persian side.

Strauss uses many standard historical sources, relying heavily on Herodotus and related material. He uses many sources on ancient naval battles and ships to fill in his narrative. He even draws from Aeschylus the Greek playwright who was in the battle, and who later wrote "The Persians" a play about the battle, which is the only non-mythical extant Greek play.

The book does have a few flaws. I felt that parts of it were not consistent. As an example, in the discussion of the events just prior to the battle Strauss states that "Sicinnus's mission really did happen" which means that the Persians learned that the Greek fleet was to leave on the following day. Later, when discussing the movement of the Persian fleet to block the Greeks from leaving he states "It is likely that they had chosen a cloudy night to enter the straits." It is not logical that they could choose the night based on the weather if they had just learned that the Greeks were about to leave. These are minor points though, and only detract slightly from what is a very enjoyable book.

Rating:
Summary: History at its Best
Review: Barry Strauss has written one of the best books of 2004. If history can be seen as a teacher for the present, this is it. With a solid and clear understanding of ancient Greek civilization, warfare and naval history, he brings the battle of Salamis alive in the context of the Greco-Persian War of 480-479 B.C. He does it not just with outstanding scholarship, but with a talented literary skill that gives a true human meaning to characters, events and the myriad of all those little and not well-known details that are History's real substance. It's fascinating how he starts each chapter trying to see the events through the eyes of Herodotus, or Themistocles, or Xerxes, or Artemisia, or one of the lesser known but equally interesting characters of that thrilling and trying time. You read "The Battle of Salamis" almost as a riveting novel, with the plus of its historical accuracy. It's just captivating. I sincerely believe it could be a very good candidate for the next Pulitzer Prize on Nonfiction.

This is the story of Athens, the world's first democracy, in a time of war, bitterly divided, with no certain allies, standing up against the powerful mosaic of the Persian empire forces and getting a brilliant but unexpected victory that paved the way for the Age of Pericles and the Western Civilization. Reading it in the troubled world of our days helps to get things in perspective. Who says classic history is boring? Get this book: you'll find a precise combination of historical expertise and gifted storytelling.

Rating:
Summary: Ancient History Comes Alive...
Review: Barry Strauss' narrative of this complex ancient naval battle brings the story to life with rich details and a readable, popular narrative style. I found the book fascinating and learned a great deal about the Greeks and Persians -- not just the dry history one reads in text books, but a host of details from the revenge of a eunich to the wardrobe of the first female admiral ever. I highly recommend this book not only to history and war buffs but also to the general reader who likes adventure and lively prose

Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Read
Review: Barry Strauss, a professor at Cornell University, does a wonderful job of engaging the reader. I only had a basic knowledge of this battle and a limited understanding of how consequential it was to the history of western civilization, however, after reading this excellent history I have a much better understanding of its place in ancient history.

Professor Strauss begins by placing the battle in its wider context to the Persian War, which lasted from 499-479 B.C. He briefly takes us through earlier battles of 480 B.C. which lead up to Salamis, including the Naval Battle at Artemisium and the famous land battle at Thermopylae, where Leonidis and his 300 Spartans gained everlasting fame. Finally he leads up to the battle as the Persians sack Athens, and most of the residents take refuge on the horseshoe shaped island of Salamis, which is viewable from the Acropolis. He also mentions how Salamis is the home to the legendary King Ajax, who was famed in Homer's Iliad; it is little sidenotes like these that make Professor Strauss' book so enjoyable to read. He also gives us character portraits of the main participants in the battle, most importantly Themistocles, the wily Athenian Commander and mastermind behind the battle; Xerxes, the Persian King; and Artemisia, the Queen of Halicarnassus in Anatolia.

The true power of the narrative is in the description of the battle itself, as the outnumbered combined Greek fleet took on the faster, more experienced Persians, who had the knowledgeable, seafaring Phoenicians on their side. It took place under the gaze of Xerxes, as well as the enraged, displaced Athenians on Salamis, who took every opportunity to vent their hatred at the unlucky Persian sailors who swam to their shores.

His descriptions of how in a moment of panic, Artemisia, allied with the Persian fleet, rammed one of the Persians ships to avoid certain destruction herself, and then turned it to her advantage, as Xerxes believed it was an enemy ship, and heaped praise on her afterwards as a hero of the battle.

All told Professors Strauss says 200,000 men took part in the battle and one lone woman, Artemisia, an astronomical figure that he converts to modern statistics as being the equivalent of around 20 million people. Among them was Aeschylus the great Athenian tragedian, who took part and wrote a famous play "The Persians" based partly on his personal experiences. He is one of the ancient sources Strauss relies on, along with the "father of history" himself Herodotus, who is quoted frequently and personally interviewed many of the participants. Another important historian drawn upon is the Roman Plutarch, as well as other less known ancients to leave accounts of the battle. He also briefly notes that a young Pericles was one of the displaced Athenian refugees, and notes that the Macedonians allied with the Persians on their march across the Hellespont through Macedonia, led by an ancestor of Alexander the Great, who would later wage a war of retribution for the Persian invasion. He is quite effective at explaining the importance of the Greek trireme, a slower heavier ship compared with the faster Persian triremes, and how it was possible that the Greeks were able to succeed by using the narrow Salamis straits and deception tactics to their advantage.

He then goes on to conclude his story, summarizing the Persian War, which would end a short year later, after the Persians were again routed at Plataea. He also discusses the fate of Themistocles who was eventually banished from Athens and lived the remainder of his days at the Persian court of all places. A rather sad end, he says, for such a great naval commander.

Professor Strauss has written an indispensable, effectively argued chronicle that is a darn good read. He argues that it was a turning point for western civilization, though he does state that he believes the Greeks would have prevailed eventually. I look forward to reading his future works on the period, and applaud him for bringing such an ancient naval encounter to life so readably.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: It's the rare history book that's an absolute page turner, but Barry Strauss's "The Battle of Salamis" IS such a book. The writing is masterful, the pacing perfect, and the characters, as brought to life by Strauss (who could easily write fiction if he so chose) are unforgettable. This book is definitely worth checking out.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable -- and Readable -- History
Review: Strauss brings the ancient sources to life with this well researched account of one of the greatest naval battles of all time. The book reads like a novel, with rich color and great details. But Strauss also keeps true to the historical details, with well documented and well reasoned interpretations, an appendix of sources, and a detailed bibliography guaranteed to satisfy even the most finicky reader. The characters and the story are compelling and the story moves at a rapid pace. The author's familiarity not only with Greece's landscape and history, but also with the mechanics of rowing, make this book a treat for historians and athletes alike.

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: Strauss has written an excellent narrative of this pivotally important battle. He provides background to the battle, including overviews of Artemisium and Thermopylae, and carefully outlines the competing Greek and Persian strategies that produced the huge naval clash at Salamis. He then chronicles the aftermath, including the Persians' eventual retreat. The story is driven by characters, which Strauss wonderfully describes at the opening of each chapter and follows through the work. Herodotus, since he is the basic source for the Persian Wars, receives nice treatment in the Prologue. After that, people such as Xerxes, Artemisia, and, of course, Themistocles are vividly described. Themistocles looms large, as well he should, given his role in precipitating the battle; without that cunning Greek and his ruse, bordering on treason, it's safe to say the battle never would have happened and perhaps a different fate might have befallen the Western world. And this points to the work's single weakness. While Strauss makes a convincing case for Themistocles' critical role in forcing the battle, he doesn't really make good on the part of the title that says it saved civilization. But I'll attribute that to marketing-savvy editors and praise Strauss's work without reservation, for all in all, considering the dearth of sources, he has given us a truly excellent, not to mention vivid, account of the battle of Salamis.

Rating:
Summary: "Crazy, Cunning, Calculating, and Courageous"
Review: That's how Barry Strauss describes the Greek strategy for victory against the Persians in the straits of Salamis in 480 BC.

This book is a splendid re-creation of that decisive battle, its background and its ramifications. Strauss's grasp of the ancient sources and geography is excellent, and the maps and illustrations are really valuable.

But the brilliant character sketches and the author's personal knowledge of rowing and the geography are what make reading this book such an engrossing and rewarding experience.

Highly recommended!