Salamis Turns Tide: Greeks Sink Persian Fleet
Athenian triremes lured the massive Persian fleet into narrow straits and shattered their formation, compelling Xerxes to retreat with his army intact but his naval dominance broken. This decisive victory preserved Greek independence, allowing Athens to flourish as a cultural hub rather than becoming a satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire.
September 20, 480 BC
Key Figures & Places
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