A Day in History: The Battle of Salamis

Few days in ancient history can be reconstructed in nearly hour-by-hour detail, but the Battle of Salamis in September 480 B.C.E. is one of them. Professor emeritus of classics Robert Garland recounts this consequential clash between the Greeks and the Persian Empire, often called “the battle that saved Western civilization.” The Greek victory against a much larger Persian navy was a lasting reminder of how strategy can overcome overwhelming power and how hubris invites defeat.