Athens vs Persia: The Legend of Themistocles
4/19/202654 min
A legend of the great Greek city of Athens, Themistocles rose from obscurity to save ancient Greece and helped shape one of the greatest naval powers in history. Yet his story ends in exile, condemned as a traitor and serving the very empire he once defeated: Persia.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Michael Scott to explore the extraordinary life of Themistocles. Together Tristan and Michael delve into the political intrigue of early Athenian democracy, charting Themistocles’ dramatic rise and equally dramatic fall. How did he persuade Athens to invest in its fleet and defeat Persia's great navy? Why did his career end in disgrace? And how did this architect of Greek victory ultimately find himself in the service of the Persian Empire, the very enemy he swore to destroy?
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Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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First 90 secondsTristan Hughes· Host0:00
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week, covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com/subscribe. [dramatic music] He was one of the founding fathers of the Athenian Empire, the statesman who rose from relative obscurity to lead Athens to victory during its war against the mighty Persian Empire. The charismatic leader who convinced Athens to invest in its ships and to become one of the most prolific sea powers of ancient history, and who would then strengthen his beloved city on land too, building miles of fortifications that went on to bear his name, Themistocles. Those are the achievements many recognize this ancient Athenian for today. But Themistocles' reputation wasn't always so pristine. In fact, the real Themistocles was a divisive political