The Battle of Salamis 480 BC: Overview

Question 1

What was the Greek advantage at Salamis?

Answer 1

• There is a wind that blows (even today), which the Greeks knew about, but the Persians would have been unaware

Question 2

What happened when the Persian ships advanced towards the Greeks?

Answer 2

• The wind blew the Persian ships sideways, meaning that they were exposed and the Greeks could ram into them.

Question 3

What did the Persians do when the Greeks began to ram into them? What happened next?

Answer 3

• They panicked and retreated. This was impossible for the Persians as they had so many ships that it caused a massive jam and none of the ships could escape

Question 4

What happened to the Persian forces who were waiting to massacre surviving Greeks?

Answer 4

• They were massacred by the Greeks