Themistocles
~524–459 BCE · Athenian Greek · Classical Greece, Persian Wars
Known for: Athenian statesman who built the navy that defeated Persia at Salamis—saved Western civilization
Themistocles convinced Athens to build a massive navy using silver mine revenues, then lured the Persian fleet into the narrow strait of Salamis where Greek triremes destroyed Xerxes' armada. This naval victory in 480 BCE saved Greece and arguably Western civilization.
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