Greco-Persian Wars: Darius I's attack on Greece. The Persian invasion of Hellas The end of the Greco-Persian wars

Test yourself.

1. Remember the ancient Greek myths. Find out what the artist depicted in the drawings.

The picture depicts a scene from the myth of Achilles. His mother, the sea goddess Thetis, trying to protect her son, dipped him into the waters of the river of the dead Styx. Achilles became invulnerable. However, the heel by which Thetis held him remained unprotected. It was at the heel that Paris struck Achilles with an arrow and killed him.

The picture shows the scene of the importation of the horse statue into Troy. The Greek army unsuccessfully besieged the city for 10 years. Odysseus came up with a trick that helped the Greeks take Troy. The Greeks made a wooden figure of a horse, hid a strike force inside it, boarded ships and retreated from Troy. The Trojans considered the statue a sign of reconciliation and dragged it into the city. At night, Greek warriors climbed out of the statue and opened the gates of the city, into which the Greek army burst into.

The picture depicts a scene from the myth of the titan Prometheus, who stole the sacred fire from the forge of Hephaestus and brought it to people, teaching them how to make and preserve fire. For this, Zeus severely punished Prometheus. He was chained to a rock, and every day an eagle flew in and pecked out Prometheus's liver.

2. Solve the crossword puzzle “From the history of Ancient Greece.”

Horizontally:

1. Sister-goddesses, patroness of poetry, arts and sciences. - Muses
2. The word that the Greeks used to call their country. - Hellas
5. One of the most educated women in Hellas, the wife of Pericles. - Aspasia
7. King of Macedonia, father of Alexander. - Philip
9. Participants in a theatrical performance united in a group; portrayed or friends of the main actor, or townspeople, or warriors, and sometimes animals. - Choir
10. Goddess who was considered the patroness of Attica. - Athena
12. The city near which Alexander defeated Darius and captured his family. - Iss
14. A hill in Athens is a place of public meetings (find its name on the city plan on p. 173 of the textbook). - Pnyx
15. The sculptor who created the discus thrower statue. - Miron
16. Passage between the mountains and the sea, where three hundred Spartans accomplished the feat. - Thermopylae
18. Ruler of Athens, who abolished debt slavery. - Solon
19. One of the two main policies of Hellas. - Sparta
20. Alexander’s friend who saved his life at the Battle of Granicus. - Cleitus
22. Participant in competitions in running, fist fighting, etc. - Athlete
23. A Greek colony not far from the Black Sea coast, visited by Herodotus. - Olvia
24. People whom the Greeks called “animate property and the most perfect of tools.” - Slaves
25. The famous leader of the demos, whom the Athenians chose for the post of first strategist for many years in a row. - Pericles
27. Spartan king, under whose command the Greeks defended Thermopylae from the Persians. - Leonid
29. A comedy-fairy tale in which the choir and actors depict the construction of a city between heaven and earth. - Birds
30. A place in Hellas where pan-Greek games were held every four years. - Olympia
31. Temple of Athena the Virgin in the city named after her. - Parthenon
32. Goddess of victory, whose temple was erected on the Acropolis. - Nika
34. Poet, author of tragedies (“Antigone”, etc.). - Sophocles
36. Athenian strategist who commanded the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon. - Miltiades
42. A Phoenician city that offered fierce resistance to the troops of Alexander the Great. - Shooting gallery
43. The king who led the Persian invasion of Greece. - Xerxes
44. A bronze or stone object intended for throwing in competitions. - Disk
45. An evergreen tree that produces oily fruits. - Olive
47. Main square in Athens. - Agora
48. Writer, nicknamed “the father of history.” - Herodotus
49. Alexandrian scientist who created a textbook on geometry. - Euclid
50. One of the main regions of Central Greece. - Attica
51. A person who knows how to make speeches. - Speaker

Vertically:

1. The city near which the Greeks first defeated the Persians. - Marathon
3. A city in Greece, famous, according to Socrates, “for its wisdom and power.” - Athens
4. Macedonian king, outstanding commander. - Alexander
5. Poet, author of comedies (“Birds”, etc.). - Aristophanes
6. The heroine of the tragedy of the same name by Sophocles. - Antigone
8. The main port of the Athenian state. - Piraeus
9. A city in Greece, near which the Greeks were defeated and lost their independence. - Chaeronea
11. Athenian strategist who ensured that a naval battle with the Persians was fought in the narrow Strait of Salamis. - Themistocles
13. The famous sage, sentenced by the Athenian court to death penalty. - Socrates
14. A city in Greece, near which it was defeated ground army Xerxes. - Plataea
17. Residents of Laconia and Messenia enslaved by the Spartans. - Helots
18. Island (the Persian fleet was defeated in the strait between it and Attica). - Salamis
21. A metal or bone stick used to press out letters on wax-rubbed boards. - Stylo
25. The people whose kings were Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes. - Persians
26. Places in Athens where adult citizens did gymnastics, met with friends, and listened to scientists speak. - Gymnasium
28. Greek word, translated meaning “people”. - Demos
29. Greek word translated meaning “city.” - Policy
33. A hill with steep and steep slopes in the center of Athens. - Acropolis
35. Formation of infantry in close, serried ranks, usually in the shape of a rectangle. - Phalanx
37. Greek word meaning "place for spectacles." - Theater
38. The name of the Persian king, whose troops were defeated by Alexander the Great. - Darius
39. Sculptor, creator of the statue of Athena in the Parthenon. - Phidias
40. A warship with three rows of oars. - Trier
41. Part of the theater, building adjacent to the orchestra. - Skena
46. An island near Alexandria, on which a huge lighthouse was erected. - Pharos

3. List the sources with the help of which scientists reconstructed the history of Ancient Greece.

Scientists have reconstructed the history of Ancient Greece, relying on various historical sources remaining from those times: written sources, including works of art; the results of archaeological research and the remains of the material culture of the ancient era (ruins of temples, copies of statues, etc.), the study of the myths and folklore of the peoples of Ancient Greece and numerous colonies of the Mediterranean.

4. Was there a relationship between the natural and climatic conditions of Ancient Greece and the occupations of its inhabitants?

There was a strong dependence of the traditional occupations of the inhabitants of Ancient Greece on natural and climatic conditions. The climate of Greece was dry and hot. It rained rarely. In rocky and mountainous Greece there were no large rivers. Mountain ranges divide Greece into many narrow and isolated valleys with access to the sea. There are few vast fertile plains here. In the ancient Greek period, three-quarters of the territory was pasture and only one-eighth was arable land.

The nature of Greece primarily favored such activities as navigation, metalworking, and handicrafts. The Greeks were actively involved in fishing, were good sailors and mastered sea routes for trade with the peoples and countries of the Mediterranean. The Greeks were engaged in both cattle breeding and agriculture. Cattle breeding predominated in the mountainous regions, and agriculture in the plains. The ancient Greeks also planted fruit trees and planted rocky mountain slopes with grapevines from which they made wine. They also grew olive trees and extracted oil from its fruit.

5. Many myths and legends of Ancient Greece have survived to this day. How do you think you can tell fact from fiction? How do you understand the phrase “historical research”?

Indeed, there are many myths and legends in Ancient Greece. However, not all of them are confirmed in historical sources - written documents, results of archaeological excavations, etc. For example, fact Trojan War It would have remained a myth if Ancient Troy had not been discovered during excavations.

Historical research is a type of research in which, from the totality historical events and sources that have come down to us, select those that are significant, use them to create a historical picture and explain the cause-and-effect relationships between events.

6. Compare the education system in Sparta and Athens. If you had to choose, where would you like to study and why?

I believe that any educational system must serve certain social purposes. Therefore, if you compare the systems of raising children in Sparta and Athens, you need to understand what goal these systems pursued. When raising boys in Athens, they sought to create a harmonious, spiritual developed personality with a physically perfect body. The education system in Sparta produced professional warriors whose only task was to fight, kill and be killed. Each education system was very effective for its purposes. But since the life of a city or state cannot be one-sided and built solely to solve military problems, I believe that the education system in Athens was more correct from the point of view of the effective and comprehensive development of society in the state.

7. Why did the Greeks establish colonies? List the names of the Greek colonies in the Black Sea region.

The population of Greece was growing, and due to the lack of large quantity There was not enough fertile land for bread for everyone. The Greeks went to live in overseas countries in search of happiness in a foreign land. The Greeks also left their homes for other reasons. The constant struggle between the demos and the nobility made itself felt; if the nobility lost somewhere, then they left the country; if the demos lost, then the leaders, fearing the revenge of their opponents, left the city. However, there were also planned expeditions with equipped ships, food supplies and military guards. Such expeditions were organized precisely for the purpose of colonizing lands and developing trade. Thus, in the Black Sea region the Greeks founded a number of colonies: Olbia, Chersonesus, Thira, Kerkinitida, Kalos-Limen, Feodosia, Panticapaeum, Istria, Fasis, Trebizond, Heraclea, etc.

8. When and where did the Olympic Games appear? Think about why these competitions have survived centuries and today representatives take part in them different countries and continents.

The first documented Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. in the city of Olympia. These competitions are a religious and sports festival, glorifying the Olympian gods and the cult of the body that existed in Ancient Greece. The winners of the games were revered as heroes. During the games, a sacred truce was declared. The Olympic Games significantly lost their importance with the arrival of the Romans. After Christianity became the official religion, games began to be seen as a manifestation of paganism, and in 393 AD. e. they were banned by Emperor Theodosius I. The Olympic Games were revived in 1896 with the aim of promoting international understanding and improvement physical culture humanity. French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the initiator of the organization of the modern Olympic Games, said that the youth of the world should measure their strength in sports competitions, and not on the battlefields. Reviving the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.

9. Count (in writing) how many years ago the Battle of Marathon took place (if you have any difficulties, refer to Chapter 3 of the textbook “Counting Years in History”).

The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, that is, 2508 years ago (2018 + 490 BC = 2508 years).

10. What contribution did philosophers, sculptors, and architects of Ancient Greece make to world science and art?

Philosophers, sculptors, and architects of Ancient Greece made a huge contribution to world science and art. Their activities formed canons that are still used today. For example, elementary Euclidian geometry is still taught in schools; the anatomy of human muscles in the dynamics of Myron’s sculptures and the canon of images of the human body at rest in the sculptures of Polykleitos became a model for many generations of sculptors; Aristarchus of Samos, long before Galileo, proposed a heliocentric system of the world and developed scientific method determining the distances to the Sun and Moon and their sizes; Eratosthenes of Cyrene was the first to calculate the size of the Earth and suggested the possibility world travels; the ancient Greek playwrights Aeschylus and Aristophanes are considered the fathers of modern tragedy and comedy, and the influence of Homer’s poems is generally compared with the influence of the Bible.

eleven*. Explain the meaning of the word "democracy". Which form of government do you think was more progressive: Athenian democracy or the power of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt? Give reasons for your answer.

Forms of government in Ancient Egypt and Athens can be viewed from various points of view: justice, efficiency. Each will have its own advantages and disadvantages. Was the tyranny (rule of one) of Ancient Egypt effective? Most likely, yes, since all decisions were made by one person, whom his subjects considered almost a god. No one has the opportunity to object, argue, or evade the execution of the order. All decisions are implemented quite easily. Is this government fair? From the point of view of an ordinary person - no, it’s not fair. Almost all subjects are essentially servants. But if you asked ancient Egyptian, is it fair that one pharaoh rules Egypt. Surely they would have heard the answer, of course, fairly, he is the son of God.

Was democratic government effective in Athens? Most likely not very much. Imagine what you need to overcome to realize this or that idea. Endless disputes in the Council of Five Hundred and at the People's Assembly, opposition from ill-wishers and envious people, subsequent accusations of inefficiency, investigations, search for evidence, etc. However, is such government fair? Of course, since all citizens have the same rights in governing the state, and power is clearly limited in its actions. Yes and anyone ancient inhabitant Athens will say that this is the best form of government.

But if we consider tyranny and democracy from the point of view of progressiveness, i.e. evolutionary development, then of course the democracy of Athens is a consequence or so-called response to Egyptian tyranny. Development of society, social and economic relations predetermined the development of the management system from the power of one to the power of many. There are a number of values associated with democracy that are considered the pinnacle of achievement modern humanity: legality, political and social equality, freedom, right to self-determination, human rights. Naturally, these values are not particularly revered under tyranny. The Greeks believed that with the introduction of a democratic form of government they would limit arbitrariness and abuse of power, which are almost the norm for a tyrannical regime of government. Therefore, the democracy of Athens is a more progressive form of government than the tyranny of Egypt.

12*. Do historical research: compare the religious beliefs of the ancient Greeks and the ancient Egyptians. Write them down common features and differences.

Both in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece there were pagan traditions with a whole pantheon of gods responsible for various natural phenomena. In Ancient Egypt, the gods had mostly zoomorphic appearances, and in Ancient Greece they had a completely human appearance. The gods of the Greeks had a more clearly expressed human essence: they thought, quarreled, loved, made peace, fought, argued, and wandered through the human world. The difference from people was that the ancient Greeks endowed the gods with supernatural abilities that were beyond the power of mere mortals. The gods are immortal, the gods control the destinies of people. The gods of the Egyptians are more detached from the world - they are unattainable for an ordinary person, they rule the world of people and judge them for certain actions. Beliefs in the Olympian gods presupposed a person’s desire for self-development and improvement of his body. The gods of the Greeks were role models, the highest standard. An ordinary Egyptian could not even dream of standing on the same level as the gods.

13*. Start working on the “History in Faces” project. We advise you to collect information about people whose names are still remembered today (to choose from: Herodotus, Homer, Socrates, Diogenes, Themistocles, Pericles, Alexander the Great, etc.). At the end school year it is advisable to prepare a message (accompanying it electronic presentation) about your hero.

For presentation you can use the following text:

Themistocles - military genius and victim of democracy

Everyone knows the deeds of the great heroes of Hellas, songs were written about them, they were revered in temples - they remained forever in world history. However, most of them are just a myth that has not received historical confirmation. We do not know how real the heroes of Greek poems and myths were: Achilles, Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, etc. Maybe the Greeks only dreamed of being heroes and invented great ancestors for themselves, without imagining anything in themselves? I'm sure that's not true. Hellas raised real heroes, without whom the existence of this freedom-loving country would have been in question back in the 5th century BC.

So, the enemy is at the doorstep of Greece. Invasion great army the Persian king Xerxes has already begun. King Leonidas fights bravely with his three hundred Spartans in the Thermopylae Gorge, covering the retreat of the Greek army. It was at this time that the star of another son of Greece, Themistocles, rose.

Themistocles was born in 524 BC. Despite the fact that his mother was a native of Halicarnassus and he was considered illegitimate in Athens, he managed to obtain civil rights. By the time of the invasion of the army of Xerxes, Themistocles had already served as an archon, and in 490 he took part in the Battle of Marathon as a strategist. He was actively involved in politics and joined the democratic group, which reflected the interests of the trade and craft classes and the Athenian poor. Themistocles rose to the top of power solely thanks to his abilities. The Athenian aristocrats, who previously reigned supreme in the city, always resisted his influence. If not for the crisis caused by the Persian invasion, the highest positions in Athens would perhaps continue to be occupied not by merit, but by right of birth. In 487, on his initiative, archons in Athens began to be elected by lot, which allowed people who were not very rich to be nominated for this position. In 483, at his suggestion, the Athenians expelled the leader of the aristocratic party, Aristides; in the same year, Themistocles was re-elected to the post of strategos.

Themistocles was the first politician who realized that the future of Athens largely depended on navy. He suggested that the Athenians use the proceeds from the Laurian silver mines to build warships - triremes. Or rather, Themistocles had to break through all democratic barriers and defeat all his ill-wishers who opposed the huge expenditure of funds on the construction of the fleet. In fact, he forced the Athenians to make a decision that later saved Hellas. By 480, the Athenians carried out Themistocles' plan, building two hundred triremes.

Themistocles was one of the few Greeks who understood the power of a united Greece. It was at the call of Themistocles that the Hellenic Union of thirteen city-states was created to repel the Persian invasion. And Themistocles was right. The land army was unable to hold the Persians in the Thermopylae Gorge. Hope remained in the fleet. In July 480, Themistocles led a Greek fleet of 271 ships at the Battle of Cape Artemisium, where the Persians were defeated. Themistocles' attack prevented the Persian fleet from approaching the shore and striking the Greek army in the Thermopylae Gorge. It turns out that the heroes of Thermopylae were not only the Spartans of King Leonidas who gave their lives. Without the help of the fleet, the feat of the Spartans might not have saved the retreating Greek army.

Realizing that the Greeks' only chance lay in defeating the Persians at sea, Themistocles convinced the Athenians to leave their hometown and transferred combat-ready citizens to ships. One can imagine the rage of the Athenians, who had to surrender the city to the Persians for destruction. There is also such an example in Russian history - the withdrawal of Kutuzov’s army in order to preserve the army and the surrender of Moscow to Napoleon. But Themistocles could not know Kutuzov’s maneuvers, but Kutuzov could know Themistocles’ tactics.

When the population from Athens was evacuated, Themistocles again had to persuade the freedom-loving Greeks to stay at Salamis and meet the Persian fleet here, rather than flee to the Peloponnese. While the Greeks hesitated, fearing that the Persian fleet would lock them in the strait, Themistocles informed Xerxes that the Greeks were planning to flee and advised them to attack them immediately. Betrayal? Not at all. It was a cunning strategic move. As a result, the Persians entered a narrow and dangerous strait, where they could not take advantage of their superiority in the number of ships, as well as their seaworthiness, which brought the Greeks the famous victory at Salamis. Themistocles himself commanded 180 Athenian triremes at the Battle of Salamis, which played a decisive role in the defeat of the Persian fleet. After the expulsion of the Persian hordes from Hellas, the Greeks began to call Themistocles “the hero of Salamis,” even Sparta showed him unprecedented honors.

Subsequently, Themistocles did a lot to restore and strengthen Athens, trying to turn it into the most powerful city of Hellas. He is credited with a plan for the construction of the Long Walls, which were supposed to connect Athens with Piraeus and thereby guarantee the safety of the city. Themistocles laid the foundation for the formation of the Delian Maritime League, which included the coastal and island Greek policies; Athens played a decisive role in this alliance.

Everything is wonderful, Themistocles became the universal favorite of Hellas and... a victim of democracy. The unprecedented fame and authority of Themistocles aroused suspicion among the Athenians that he was striving for tyranny. In 471, at the suggestion of the leader of the Athenian aristocrats, Cimon, Themistocles was expelled from Athens. After long wanderings, he and his family retired to Persia to King Artaxerxes I, who granted him political asylum and gave him control of three cities in Asia Minor: Magnesia, Lampsacus and Miunts. In 459, the hero of Hellas Themistocles died of illness or, according to some accounts, took poison and committed suicide after learning that the Persian king was going to send him to fight the Greeks. This is how democratic Greece repaid the man who saved her from Persian slavery. Friends secretly buried him in Attica, on one of the capes of Piraeus.

Subsequently, many rumors circulated about Themistocles. He was accused of betrayal, theft, bribery, and debauchery. Today it is no longer possible to determine which of this is true and which is the machinations of spiteful critics. This is what the greatest ancient Greek historian, the founder, wrote historical science, author of the “History of the Peloponnesian War” Thucydides on Themistocles:

“Themistocles was extremely gifted by nature and deserves in this regard, like no one else, the greatest surprise... Distinguished by his outstanding mental acuity, he was the greatest master of quickly understanding and making decisions in unforeseen circumstances of the current moment and, in addition, had an exceptional ability to foresee events even distant future. Whatever he undertook, he always had suitable words and expressions to explain his actions to others, and even in an area with which he did not directly come into contact, he was able to immediately find sound judgment. Based on insignificant signs, Themistocles saw whether they foreshadowed something good or bad. In short, he was a man to whom his genius and quick thinking immediately suggested the best course of action.”

The Greco-Persian Wars are the period of the most significant battles in the history of Ancient Greece, which played a large role in the formation of the state. As a result of a half-century military conflict, there was a redistribution of forces on the continent: the once powerful Persian power fell into disrepair while Ancient Greece entered its period of greatest prosperity.

General characteristics of the period

The Greco-Persian Wars were a protracted military conflict involving two independent states, Greece and Persia, during the reign of the Achaemenids. This was not a single battle, but a series of wars that lasted from 500 to 449 BC. e., and included both land campaigns and sea expeditions.

This historical period of time is called fateful, since the large-scale expansion of Persia to the west could have had great consequences for the entire ancient world.

Rice. 1. Army of Persia.

The main reason for the Greco-Persian wars was the desire of the Persian kings to gain world domination. Possessing a huge army, inexhaustible resources and impressive territory, Persia planned to conquer Greece, thereby gaining free access to the Aegean Sea.

Tired of enduring the oppression of the Persian tyrant Darius I, in 500 BC. e. the inhabitants of Miletus raised an uprising, which quickly found a response in other cities. The large Greek cities of Eretria and Athens provided assistance to the rebels, but after several victories the Greeks were defeated.

TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this

The enraged Darius vowed not only to take revenge on the Euebians and Athenians, but also to completely subjugate rebellious Greece. Many cities immediately expressed their submission to the Persian king, and only the inhabitants of Sparta and Athens resolutely refused to bow their heads to the despot.

Major battles of the Greco-Persian Wars

The Greco-Persian wars were not constant, and only a few major battles went down in history.

Battle of Marathon (490 BC) . In 490 BC. e. The Persian flotilla approached Attica from the north, and the army landed near the small settlement of Marathon. The locals immediately received reinforcements from the Athenians, but the Persians were far outnumbered.

Despite the significant superiority in troops, the Greeks, thanks to the military tactics of the commander Miltiades, were able to win a brilliant victory over the Persian army. This success incredibly inspired the Greeks, who destroyed the stereotype of the invincibility of the Persians.

According to legend, one of the warriors, trying to bring the good news of victory to the Athenians as quickly as possible, ran from Marathon to Athens. Without stopping for a minute, he ran a total of 42 km 195 m. Having notified the people of the defeat of the Persians, he fell lifeless to the ground. Since then, athletics has introduced a running competition over this distance, which is called marathon running.

Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC). The next battle took place only 10 years later. By this time, the Greeks were able to build an impressive fleet thanks to the discovery of a rich silver mine in Attica.

A new campaign in Greece was led by the new king Xerxes. The Persian army was advancing on Hellas from the north by land, and a huge flotilla was heading along the sea coast.

The decisive battle took place at Thermopylae. For two days, the Persians, who far outnumbered the Greek troops under the command of the Spartan king Leonidas, could not break through. However, as a result of the betrayal of one of the Greeks, enemy troops found themselves in the rear.

Leonidas gave the order for everyone to leave the battlefield, and he himself remained with 300 Spartans to die in an unequal battle. Later in memory of heroic act A statue of a lion was erected in the Thermopylae Gorge.

Rice. 2. Battle of Thermopylchus.

Battle of Salamis (480 BC). After the victory at Thermopylae, the Persian army went to Athens. This time the Greeks had all their hope in a fleet of approximately 400 light and maneuverable ships. The battle in the Salaman Strait was incredibly fierce: the Greeks fought desperately for their freedom, the lives of their wives, children, and parents. Defeat for them meant eternal slavery, and this gave them strength. As a result, the Greeks won a brilliant victory, and Xerxes with the remnants of the fleet retreated to Asia Minor, but part of his army still remained in Greece.

Rice. 3. Ancient Greek fleet.

Battle of Plataea (479 BC). In 479 BC. e. A major battle took place near the small town of Plataea. The Greek victory in this battle marked the beginning of the final expulsion of the Persians from Greece and the conclusion of peace in 449 BC. e.

The Greco-Persian Wars had great consequences for both states. The unbridled expansion of the Achaemenids was stopped for the first time, and the ancient Greek state entered the era of its highest cultural achievements.

Table “Greco-Persian Wars”

*Event*	*date*	*Head of the Persians*	*Greek commander*	*Event value*
Marathon Battle	490 BC e.	Darius I	Miltiades	Victory of the Athenians. Destruction of the legend of the invincibility of the Persians
Battle of Thermopylae	480 BC e.	Xerxes	Leonid	Huge losses for the Persians
Battle of Salamis	480 BC e.	Xerxes	Themistocles	Defeat of the Persian fleet
Battle of Plataea	479 BC e.	Xerxes	Pausanias	Final defeat of the Persians
Peace with the Persians	449 BC e.			Restoring the independence of the ancient Greek state

What have we learned?

When studying the topic “Greco-Persian Wars” according to the 5th grade history program, we learned briefly about the Greco-Persian wars, found out in what century they took place, what were the dates of the main battles. We also found out who won these battles, and what impact it had on the post-war situation of the two states.

Test on the topic

Evaluation of the report

Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 686.

Task No. 49. Answer the questions

Remember the ancient Greek myths. Which character could express his parental grief in such words? For what reason could they be said?

1. Don't judge the unhappy father. Yes, I have no one to blame for the death of my son. I know, I know, man is not a bird... But the world created by the gods is amazingly beautiful when you look at it from above! Believe me, people will become subject to heaven!

Daedalus on the death of his son Icarus. Daedalus made wings and flew away from Crete with his son, but Icarus came very close to the Sun and died

2. Athenians, I recognize a ship in the sea distance! Oh, I would rather die than see this terrible color of the sails! My son is dead... Damn the horned monster! I don’t want to live anymore and I can’t!

King Aegeus, when he saw a black sail in the sea, which was to be raised on the ship in the event of the death of his son Theseus, Aegeus threw himself into the sea from a cliff

3. They separated me from my beloved daughter by deception! So let all the flowers wither, all the trees dry up and the grass burn out! Give me back my daughter!

The goddess of fertility and agriculture, Demeter, when her daughter Persephone was kidnapped by the god of the underworld Hades

Task No. 50. Remember the ancient Greek myth

What is the name of the goddess depicted in the picture of our time? What is her son's name? Describe and explain the actions of the goddess. Which popular expression related to her actions? In what cases can this expression be used today?

The drawing depicts the sea goddess Thetis with her son Achilles. Being a goddess, Thetis gave birth to a son from a mortal and, wanting to make Achilles immortal, immersed him in the waters of the Styx - a river in the underworld of Hades. At the same time, the heel by which Thetis held her son remained vulnerable. This is where the expression "Achilles' heel" comes from, which is used today to describe someone's weakness.

Task No. 51. Remember the ancient Greek myth

What is shown in the picture of our time? By whom, for what and how was the hero of this myth punished? What is his name? Who freed him?

The drawing depicts Prometheus chained to a rock, to whom an eagle flew every day and pecked his liver. This is how Prometheus was punished by Zeus for stealing divine fire and giving it to people. Hercules freed Prometheus

Task No. 52. Remember the ancient Greek myth

Describe and explain the actions of the people depicted in the picture of our time. What terrible event followed these actions? What popular expression is associated with the animal shown in the picture?

The drawing shows people pulling a horse statue into the city. The Greeks, who unsuccessfully besieged Troy, according to Odysseus’s idea, as a sign of reconciliation, presented the Trojans with a huge statue of a horse, inside which they hid the soldiers. As night fell, they climbed out and opened the city gates, letting in the Greek army. Troy was captured and burned. This is where the expression “Trojan horse” comes from, meaning an ordinary, harmless-looking thing with a hidden threat. (Another expression is “Fear the Danaans who bring gifts”)

Task No. 53. Solve the crossword puzzle “From the history of Ancient Greece”

Horizontally: 1. Sister-goddesses, patroness of poetry, arts and sciences (muses). 2. The word that the Greeks used to call their country (Hellas). 5. One of the most educated women of Hellas, wife of Pericles (Aspasia). 7. King of Macedonia, father of Alexander (Philip). 9. Participants in a theatrical performance united in a group; They depicted either friends of the main character, or townspeople, or warriors, and sometimes animals (chorus). 10. Goddess who was considered the patroness of Attica (Athena). 12. The city near which Alexander defeated Darius and captured his family (Iss.). 14. Hill in Athens - place of public meetings (find its name on the city plan in the textbook) (Pnyx). 15. The sculptor who created the statue of the discus thrower (Myron). 16. Passage between the mountains and the sea, where three hundred Spartans accomplished the feat (Thermopylae). 18. The ruler of Athens, who prohibited the enslavement of unpaid debtors (Solon). 19. One of the two main policies of Hellas (Sparta). 20. Alexander’s friend who saved his life at the Battle of Granicus (Cleitus). 22. Participant in running, fist fighting, etc. competitions. (athlete). 23. Greek colony near the Black Sea coast, visited by Herodotus (Olbia). 24. People whom the Greeks called “animate property and the most perfect of tools” (slaves). 25. The famous leader of the demos, whom the Athenians elected for the post of first strategist for many years in a row (Pericles). 27. Spartan king, under whose command the Greeks defended Thermopylae from the Persians (Leonidas). 29. A comedy-fairy tale in which the choir and actors depict the construction of a city between heaven and earth (Birds). 30. A place in Hellas where the Pan-Greek Games (Olympia) were held every four years. 31. Temple of Athena the Virgin in the city named after her (Parthenon). 32. Goddess of victory, whose temple was erected on the Acropolis (Nike). 34. Poet, author of tragedies (“Antigone”, etc.) (Sophocles). 36. Athenian strategist who commanded the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon (Miltiades). 42. A Phoenician city that offered fierce resistance to the troops of Alexander the Great (Tire). 43. The king who led the Persian invasion of Greece (Xerxes). 44. A bronze or stone object intended for throwing in competitions (discus). 45. An evergreen tree that produces oily fruits (olive). 47. Main square in Athens (Agora). 48. Writer, nicknamed “the father of history” (Herodotus). 49. Alexandrian scientist who created a textbook on geometry (Euclid). 50. One of the main regions of Central Greece (Attica). 51. A person who knows how to make speeches (orator).
Vertically: 1. The city near which the Greeks first defeated the Persians (Marathon). 3. A city in Greece, famous, according to Socrates, “for its wisdom and power” (Athens). 4. Macedonian king, outstanding commander (Alexander). 5. Poet, author of comedies (“Birds”, etc.) (Aristophanes). 6. The heroine of the tragedy of the same name by Sophocles (Antigone). 8. The main port of the Athenian state (Piraeus). 9. A city in Greece, near which the Greeks were defeated and lost their independence (Chaeronea). 11. Athenian strategist who ensured that a naval battle with the Persians was fought in the narrow Strait of Salamis (Themistocles). 13. The famous sage, sentenced to death by the Athenian court (Socrates). 14. A city in Greece, near which the land army of Xerxes (Platea) was defeated. 17. Residents of Laconia and Messenia (helots) enslaved by the Spartans. 18. Island (the Persian fleet was defeated in the strait between it and Attica) (Salamin). 21. A metal or bone stick, which was used to press out letters on tablets rubbed with wax (stylus). 25. The people whose kings were Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes (Persians). 26. Places in Athens where adult citizens did gymnastics, met with friends, listened to scientists speak (gymnasium). 28. The Greek word translated means “people” (demos). 29. Greek word translated meaning “city” (polis). 33. A hill with steep and steep slopes in the center of Athens (Acropolis). 35. Formation of infantry in close, serried ranks, usually in the shape of a rectangle (phalanx). 37. Greek word translated meaning “place for spectacle” (theater). 38. The name of the Persian king, whose troops were defeated by Alexander the Great (Darius). 39. Sculptor, creator of the statue of Athena in the Parthenon (Phidias). 40. A warship with three rows of oars (trireme). 41. Part of the theater, a building (skene) adjacent to the orchestra. 46. Island near Alexandria, on which a huge lighthouse was erected (Pharos)

Task No. 54. Find errors and describe them

One teacher jokingly said in class:

“They say that Aspasia, the wife of the strategist Pericles, in her youth loved to play the role of Antigone in the Athenian theater, and she performed with great success in other tragedies.
The Athenians liked Aspasia's game. Having completed their daily activities, they hurried to the theater every evening in order to be in time for the start of the performance. One day, Aspasia’s friends arrived before everyone else. Having paid for the tickets, they sat in the first row near the orchestra itself. They did this in order to clearly see Aspasia’s face during the theatrical action. From the first row one could see all the movements of the actress’s face, conveying Antigone’s emotional experiences. However, it began to rain heavily, water flooded the theater through the leaky roof, and the performance had to be interrupted. Aspasia was so upset that she never performed in the Athens theater again.”
The students did not take this story seriously and found at least six errors in it. How many errors will you find?

1. During Aspasia’s youth, Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone” did not exist;

2. Women did not take part in theatrical productions— the actors were only men;

3. Theatrical performances were not given every day, but only a few times a year;

4. Theatrical performances took place during daylight hours and began early in the morning;

5. The first row was intended only for honored guests: strategists, priests, Olympians;

6. All other (except the first row) seats were “paid”;

7. It was impossible to see the actor’s face, since the roles were performed in masks;

8. The ancient Greek theater had no roof

In this article we will look briefly at the Greco-Persian Wars. The table will help you understand the most important nuances. What were the reasons for the victory of one of the sides? What were the results and how did the battles end? What were the heroes? We will also consider the main events of each period.

The Greco-Persian Wars (495 – 449 BC) were a period of intense hostilities between the Persian Empire and the Greek allied city-states. Among the latter, the largest were Sparta and Athens.

How the events of the wars developed is reflected in Greek sources; it is from them that we can judge the course of the battles. One of the most famous works is “History” by Herodotus.

Where it all began

In 500 B.C. Greeks Mileta* rebelled against the Persians. Athens and Eretria came to the aid of Miletus, giving 25 of their ships. The Milesian uprising was suppressed in 496 BC, but the Persian king Darius I took advantage of the situation to declare war on the poleis from Balkan Greece (where Athens was located).

The outbreak of hostilities and the Marathon

Although the revolt itself began in 500 BC, and it ended in 496 BC, active fighting, which marked the period of the Greco-Persian Wars, began only in 490 BC.

The first attempt of the Persians to start a war was made by the son-in-law of Darius I, Mardonius. He moved to the Balkans in 492 BC, but his fleet was quickly overwhelmed.

Herodotus claims that there were about 1 million people in Darius’ army, and on the peninsula. 100 thousand soldiers landed at Attica. At the same time, the Athenian army numbered only 10 thousand hoplites* headed by Miltiades*. Modern historians claim that the Persians had at their disposal small detachment, whose main task was to lure the Athenian army from its territory. Later, troops led by Darius I were supposed to arrive.

Chronology of events at Marathon:

The Persian military leader Datis saw that the Athenian army had approached the town of Marathon on the Attica Peninsula and considered that his mission was completed - he began to take the Persians to the ships so that they could load home.
While the Persians were retreating, Miltiades attacked the enemy rearguard*. The main forces of the Persians - the cavalry - did not participate in the battle, since they were already loaded onto the ship. Only foot archers fought in the rearguard, and on the Greek side there was phalanx hoplites.
When there were only 200 steps left before the Persians (this is exactly the distance that a fired arrow would fly), Miltiades ordered his men to start running. Thus, the Persians were unable to effectively fire at the enemy.
Due to the fast running of the Greeks, the Persians could not withstand the onslaught and did not give an adequate rebuff, which is why they began to retreat to the harbor. The Athenian army had to rest while running (the hoplite armor weighed up to 30 kg), and the phalanx formation itself was disrupted during the run, and this gave the Persians the opportunity to disperse and get to the ships alive.
When the Athenians continued their flight, the Persians were already able to board their ships and escape, but at the same time abandoned their property and their camp. Thus, the Greeks received trophies in the form of camp property, but they did not take prisoners or horses.

Despite the fact that the leading role in this battle was historically given to Miltiades, modern historians believe that in reality the Greek army at Marathon was commanded by Callimachus, a Greek strategist who fell in this battle.

When the battle of Marathon was won, a messenger was sent to Athens. He ran without stopping the whole way (42 km 195 m), managed to shout in the market square in Athens that the Persians were defeated, and died on the spot.

Since then, a distance of 42 km and 195 m has been considered a marathon distance in athletics.

After the battle with the Persians at Marathon, the Greek army immediately returned to Athens, and the opposition did not have time to revolt. And at this time, Darius, who according to the plan should have arrived in Athens deprived of support with his fleet, sailed to Asia Minor, since bad weather did not allow him to quickly reach Athens.

According to Herodotus, the Athenians lost 195 people during the hostilities, and the Persians lost 6,400 killed. But in reality it is unlikely that there was such a predominant number. Modern historians are of the opinion that the numbers were relatively equal. After the battle, the Athenians had to bury the dead, both their own and their enemies. If the Persian army was so much more significant, their burial would also be much larger than the Athenian one, but archaeological excavations have not confirmed this.

After the battle of Marathon, the Persians did not risk attacking for a long time. Firstly, the uprising lasted in Egypt from 486 to 484. BC. and all efforts had to be directed there. Secondly, the death of Darius I interfered.

New stage

When the Persians had a new king, Xerxes (son of Darius I), he resumed military campaigns, but only in 480 BC, when he was able to strengthen his position within the country. He gathered troops and moved to the Balkans through a large bridge that he built, passing through Hellespont*.

Battle of Thermopylae

The Persians acted:

ground army;
large navy.

On the Greek side, the fleet was unable to prevent the enemy from landing on their lands. The Greek army consisted of:

a detachment of Thebans;
a detachment of Thespians;
a detachment of Spartans (300 people led by King Leonidas).

The Persians dealt with the defenders of the Thermopylae Pass, which connected Northern and Central Greece. Leonidas sent half of his hoplites (4.5 thousand out of 6 thousand) to meet them, but 10 thousand Persian guards dealt with them. The Thebans surrendered, and only 300 Spartans fought to the last, until all fell.

The Greek ground forces retreated to the Isthmus of Corinth, where they waited for the Spartan army.

Battle of Salamis

Thermopylae was now the reconquered territory of Xerxes. He was on his way to Central Greece - to Athens. Residents of Athens hastily left the policy, going to the island of Salamis, located next door. The remnants of the still combat-ready Greek fleet also went there. When the Persians came to Athens, they saw an empty city. From a distance, the Athenians could see their houses and temples burning and being destroyed.

The next battle (at Salamis) was decisive for the entire Greco-Persian period of wars. Themistocles, the strategist and commander of the Athenian fleet, spoke on the Greek side. It was he who sent a letter to Xerxes, informing him that his fleet was ready to capitulate. Xerxes had no reason not to trust the enemy - he knew that there was no unity in the Greek army and it was now easier than ever to defeat them.

Themistocles understood that the army of the Persian enemy was larger, their ships were heavier, but the advantage of the Greeks lay in the strategic location of the potential battle. The fact is that the strait near Salamis is narrow, shallow, with large pitfalls. Heavy Persian ships could not fit there, and those that sailed could easily run aground. The Greeks were much more familiar with this place - they could bypass the shoals, and their ships - triremes - were much lighter than the Persian ones.

This tactic worked: fast triremes, supposedly ready to retreat, easily maneuvered between the shallow places of the strait and sank the clumsy enemy ships. Trying to escape, the Persians swam to the shore, but Athenian hoplites were waiting for them there.

Among the Persian military leaders, there were also disagreements, although not sharp, but still: Xerxes’ ally Artemisia insisted on taking the ships away from Salamis in order to move towards the Peloponnese, but the rest of the military leaders unanimously agreed to go to Salamis, where Themistocles’s trap awaited them.

In that battle, the Greeks lost 40 ships out of a total of 350 triremes. Persians - 250 of the 500 ships that took part in the battle.

Themistocles insisted, after a victorious battle, to send a fleet to the Hellespont to destroy the bridge built by the Persians. Thus, the Persians would not be able to supply their own supplies. But others strategists* decided that first it was necessary to destroy the remaining Persians and free Greece from them.

End of the Greco-Persian Wars

After being defeated at Salamis, Xerxes lost most of his fleet and hastily set off for Persia. He left a fairly powerful army in Greece, and entrusted its leadership to his relative Mardonius. The latter placed people in Thessaly - in the allied lands.

The still outnumbered Persians and Greek forces met again in 479 BC. near the city of Plataea. The key force of the Greeks was the army of the Spartans. The Athenians had 16 thousand people, among whom 8 thousand were hoplites. The Spartans have almost the same number.

Having destroyed most of the Persians, the Greeks put the rest to flight. The battle was decided almost from the very beginning when Mardonius was killed and his army was left disoriented.

After the Battle of Plataea, which was successful for the Greeks, Athenian and Spartan troops moved to Thebes, a city that had sided with the Persians during the war. Thebes, the largest Greek city, was also eventually conquered by the Greeks.

Despite the obvious outcome at Salamis and the city of Plataea, the Greco-Persian wars continued for another 30 years, but mainly at sea. The Persian fleet was strong, but the Greek city-states concluded the Athenian Naval League, which allowed them to create a stronger fleet than their enemies.

The Athenian Naval League is also known as the Delian League, named after the island of Delos, where the allied fleet was assembled.

As a result, the Greeks defeated the enemy troops and in 449 BC. forced Xerxes to conclude the Peace of Callias (named after the Greek delegate), according to which the Persians were not allowed to appear in the Aegean Sea, and Greek cities Independence was consolidated in Asia Minor.

Historiography of the Greco-Persian Wars

Basic chronological events Greco-Persian wars.

Main stages	Description	Dates
Revolt of Miletus	Miletus and other cities of Ionia rebelled against Persian despotism.	500 - 494 BC.
Battle of Marathon	Darius I invades the Balkan Peninsula and fights the Greeks at Marathon.	492 - 490 BC.
Campaign of Xerxes	Decisive battles in Salamis and Plataea.	480 - 479 BC.
Delian (Athenian) military alliance	The Greek city-states unite in an alliance to confront the Persians at sea.	478 - 449 BC.
End of the Greco-Persian Wars	The conclusion of the truce and the demands of the Greeks.	459 - 449 BC.

The meaning and results of the Greco-Persian wars

The Greco-Persian wars have always been cited as an illustration of the victory of the democratic system of the Greek city-states over oppressive Persia. Indeed, the Greeks had a democratic structure of society, but the same Sparta was an aristocratic state, so one cannot talk about these wars as a symbol of the absolute confrontation of two foundations.

Despite the fact that during the war the Greeks had to unite into alliances, the strife between the policies did not end, and the resulting agreements did not last too long after the signing of peace.

Looking back at the course of hostilities and their outcome, we can say with confidence that the Greeks won:

policies in Asia Minor received autonomy;
the Persians no longer organized campaigns to the shores of the Aegean Sea, which allowed the Athenians to become full-fledged rulers of this region.

Athens became the strongest and richest polis in all of Ancient Greece, although this served as the basis for conflicts with Sparta, which did not want to give up its leadership.

Contemporary thinkers understood perfectly well that Hellas won thanks to unity, albeit very shaky, but this did not entail the strengthening of common positions - in a century, Ancient Greece would become an even easier prey, now for Macedonia.

We are left with a legacy in the form of an example of incredible courage and bravery of three hundred Spartans under the leadership of Leonidas and in the form of a marathon distance, which participants in sports games run to this day.

These were the main events in such a historical episode as the Greco-Persian Wars (brief table, results and reasons for the victory of Greece). Now you know how the battles ended and who the heroes were. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.

Invasion of Xerxes. The Persian invasion of Greece did not take long to arrive. In the spring of 480, Xerxes, at the head of an army of several hundred thousand,1 moved towards the Hellespont, where the Persian fleet also arrived, also containing many hundreds of ships. Here, across the bridges built across the strait, the royal hordes crossed from Asia to Europe. The army moved further along the coast, and the fleet accompanied it and supplied it with supplies as needed. The best way The war for the Greeks was to delay the movement of enemy forces in tight gorges and narrow straits, where the Persians could not operate with the mass of their troops and all the ships of their fleet at once. Therefore, the first resistance was offered by the Greeks to the Persians at Thermopylae, where the Spartan king Leonidas successfully fought off the onslaught of a huge army. When the Persians, thanks to one traitor, found a mountain path bypassing the Greek position and appeared in the rear of Leonidas, he released the detachments of the allied cities and fell on the spot with the three hundred Spartans who remained with him. The Persians could now freely enter Central Greece.
The Boeotians submitted, the population of Attica fled, Athens itself was destroyed by the enemy, and Xerxes was preparing to break through a new defensive line of the Greeks, who decided to fortify themselves on Isthmus. The position of the Greeks here, however, was precarious. The Persian fleet, which contained many Phoenician ships with experienced sailors, could always land an army in the rear of the Greeks, and they would find themselves in the same position as at Thermopylae. It was therefore necessary to act against the enemy fleet. Even at the time when the battle at Thermopylae was taking place, the Greek fleet had already given battle to the Persian naval forces at Cape Artemisia in the strait between the northern tip of Euboea and Thessaly, but the outcome of this battle was uncertain. Now, after the Persian fleet, having rounded Attica, was already not far from Isthmus, Themistocles, who was at the head of the Athenian detachment, began to convince other Greek leaders of the need to again give the Persians a naval battle in the narrow strait that separated the island of Solomin from Attica. The comrades did not listen to Themistocles, and then he, pretending to be a friend of the Persians, sent word to Xerxes to attack the Greeks, who were about to leave. Xerxes succumbed to Themistocles' cunning and ordered his fleet to attack the Greeks, while he himself watched from the shore as the battle went on, being quite confident of a brilliant victory. The Battle of Salamis was, on the contrary, a complete defeat for the Persians. In a narrow strait, among rocks and shallows, it was difficult for the Persians to turn around, their ships interfered with each other, and even between the Phoenicians and the Greeks of Asia Minor, who made up main force royal fleet, great agreement in general actions it couldn't be. After the defeat at Salamis, Xerxes retired to Asia, leaving, however, three hundred thousand troops in Boeotia under the command of Mardonius. The next year (479) the Greeks went on the offensive. The Greek land army headed to Boeotia under the command of the Spartan commander Pausanias (guardian of the young king) and here they defeated the Persians and the Thessalians and Boeotians who united with them at Plataea. At the same time, another Spartan king (Leotichides) and the Athenian Xanthippus sailed with a fleet to the shores of Asia Minor and at Cape Mycale (between the island of Samos and Miletus) won a brilliant victory over the Persians1. The consequence of this double defeat of the Persians was not only their expulsion from European Greece, but also the liberation of the Greek colonies in Asia Minor from their power.
127. End of the war with the Persians. Persia was not soon able to recover from three costly and unsuccessful campaigns of conquest in European Greece. Not daring to undertake further conquests in Europe, Xerxes thought only about once again subjugating the Greeks of Asia Minor, and for this purpose he was preparing for a new war, gathering large forces to the southern coast of Asia Minor, which remained in his power. Cimon, son of Miltiades, who was at this time the most prominent statesman in Athens, decided to resume the fight against the Persians and with a large fleet went to the southern coast of Asia Minor, where in 466 he won a double (sea and land) victory over the Persians at the mouth of the Eurymedon River. In addition, Cimon made another brilliant campaign on the island of Cyprus with the goal of taking it away from the Persians, while acting in concert with the rebel Egyptians. (The Athenians even helped the leader of the Egyptian uprising, Inar, with their army, but it was suppressed by the Persians). The end of the Greco-Persian wars is considered to be 449, and then, apparently, peace was concluded (“Kalliev”), according to which the Persian fleet lost the right to appear in Greek waters.
128. The significance of the Greco-Persian wars. The wars with the Persians, which filled the history of the first half of the 5th century, were of enormous importance in the life of the Greek people. Victories over the powerful monarchy of the “great king” inspired the Greeks with the proud consciousness that they were the first people in the world called to freedom and even to domination over the barbarians. This rise of national patriotism was accompanied by a brilliant development of spiritual culture, making the 5th century BC. one of the most important eras world history. And in fact, the Hellenes defeated the Persians because culturally they stood immeasurably higher than the barbarians: material quantity had to give way to spiritual quality. Further, before the Persian wars, the leading role in the Greek world belonged to Asian Ionia; now the primacy passed to the European Greeks and among them to the Ionians of Attica. Suppression of the Asia Minor uprising at the beginning of the 5th century. and the period of wars that followed dealt a blow to the former prosperity of Ionia, and when times of peace came, the former favorable relations between the coastal cities of Asia Minor and its internal regions could no longer be restored. But a great change also occurred among the European Greeks. At the beginning of the Persian wars, the most strong state Greece had Sparta, and therefore it initially had hegemony in the fight against Persia. Since the Persians saw that they could conquer Greece only with the help of the fleet, the war took on a naval character, and in it main role should have received Athens, which just at that time itself had turned into a maritime state. In addition, the defeat inflicted by the Greeks on the Persian sea power, was essentially a defeat for the Phoenicians, who participated with their fleet in the campaigns of the Persian kings. Finally, along with Persian rule, tyranny, which enjoyed the patronage of the “great king” and in turn supported the foreign yoke over part of the Greek nation, also fell.
129*. The struggle of the Greeks with Carthage. At the same time that in the eastern part of the Mediterranean the Greeks were fighting the Persians, in the western part the Greeks were also engaged in a very stubborn struggle with Carthage. The inhabitants of this Phoenician trading colony, which reached at the end of the 7th and beginning of the 6th century. of great importance, found allies in the person of the Etruscan people who inhabited part of Italy, since both of them equally sought to prevent the Greeks from spreading their colonies. This forced the Western Greeks to unite to fight Carthage. Its main theater became Sicily, where both Phoenician and Greek colonies existed simultaneously. When the tyrant Gelon rose in Sicily, the Carthaginians, encouraged, as they thought, by Persia, decided to attack the Greeks. The war began in 480, i.e. at the same time as Xerxes’ invasion of Hellas, but Gelon repulsed the Carthaginian army, which was under the command of Hamilcar, and his victory at Himera received in this part of the Greek world the same significance as the Battle of Solomin had for another part of it.