Greece, beach holidays in greece, islands of greece. Salamis island: the story of the great battle Isle of straw in greece map
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A visit to this amazing country will leave indelible, pleasant memories in your soul. The trip will be an extraordinary event, even for the most sophisticated traveler. Greece is the cradle of Western European civilization. The influence of its ancient culture on modern world undeniably.
Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, it was in this country, more than two and a half thousand years ago, that the concept of democracy appeared. But even if you are absolutely not interested in the history of Greece, the sun, sea and air will still be able to touch the strings of your soul, because this country is impossible not to fall in love with. The colorfulness of customs, traditions, the richness of nightlife and amazing cuisine, everything is created in order to bring joy to those who enter this land - the colors of ripe wine.
Greece is located in the southeast of Europe and occupies the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula. Administratively, Greece is divided into 52 nomes (regions), which, in turn, are divided into 264 dimes (districts). In addition, the country is divided into several historical and geographical regions.
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Mainland Greece: Attica (Athens), Central Greece (Sterea Hellas), Peloponnese , Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia, on the territory of which the peninsula of Chalkidiki, Thrace is located.
Island Greece:
Crete - the island is located on the Mediterranean Sea, where the best resorts in Greece are located. It is the largest and most picturesque among the other Greek islands.
Ionian Islands: Kerkyra (Corfu), Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxi.
Saronic Islands: Solomina, Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses.
Aegean islands: Euboea (Evia) - is the second largest island in Greece, located on the east coast, its mainland.
Northern Sporades: Skyros, Skopelos, Jura.
Cyclades: a total of 39 islands that form a ring. Main islands: Amorgos, Andros, Ios, Kea, Kythnos, Myloe, Naxos, Paros, Serifos, Sifnos, Thira (Santorini).
Southern Sporades(Dodecanese): Rhodes, Astypalea, Karpathos, Kos, Leros, Patmos, Tilos. in the Aegean Sea - in its northeastern part, in addition to these archipelagos, there are five more large islands - Lemnos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria.
Islands of Greece - It is considered to be the best of all holiday destinations on the entire globe, and this is quite true, since these picturesque fairy-tale islands have an extraordinary beauty of nature that will captivate you with the brightness of colors and magnificent landscapes. On the islands you will find gentle, azure clear sea, sandy sparkling beaches and all kinds of entertainment. In addition to the most famous islands - Crete, Corfu and Rhodes, in Greece there are several more wonderful places - islands, they are not so popular, but they are also known for their individual characteristics that attract tourists from all over the world to them for vacation.
The Mediterranean climate prevails in the main territory of Greece. Dry hot summers and cool rainy winters, and the mountainous regions of the central part of the country are characterized by a temperate continental climate. The driest and hottest days are in July and August. At this time, the average air temperature in the lowlands is 25.5 °C - 28 °C, but often rises to 40 °C - 45 °C. But sea breezes noticeably soften the summer heat.
Tired of Athens beaches? Urgently go to the island of Salamis! Only 15 minutes from the capital of Greece, and so many things!
Once upon a time, Salamis was uninhabited. Only pine trees grew and wild animals ran. Now the place is quite populated: according to official estimates, there are almost 30 thousand inhabitants. Plus tourists, mostly from Athens. The cheapest and fast way to get to the island - travel by boat. The boat leaves from Salamis Port of Palukia every half hour, Monday through Saturday. The journey takes about 40 minutes. Even faster - just 15-20 minutes - sail from Peram, a small port near Piraeus. Ferries run between the piers daily every quarter of an hour.
Photo: Shutterstock In Palukia, taxi drivers will meet you with open arms and take you to any resort on the island. But it is much more profitable to rent a car. Daily car rental will cost at least 40 euros plus the cost of gasoline. The third, most budget option is to ride with the breeze on an intercity bus of the KTEL company. You can check the bus schedule by calling +3 2104671333.
Photo: Shutterstock 
Photo: from the personal archive of Ioannis Kotidis
How to start a tour of the island? Perhaps from its capital of the same name! The locals nicknamed the city of Salamis "kouluri", which means "bagel" in Greek. It is he who resembles the island from a bird's eye view.
In summer, all nightclubs work in the capital. They are concentrated in the area of Agios Nikolaos.
After that, we recommend that you look at Selinia , Eandio , Vasilika and Palukia- also noble towns.
Ioannis Kotidis, resident of Salamis:
In Kouluri there are excellent taverns where the fish is straight from the sea. And seafood for every taste: shellfish, cuttlefish, squid - you are always welcome! The only thing is that there are few hotels: I know about four, but two are very good. One is located in Selinia, directly opposite Piraeus, and the other is on the road to Eantio. Selinia is very cool in the evening: the area is beautiful, full of taverns, mountains nearby are interesting.
Photo: Shutterstock 
Photo: Shutterstock Now about the beach holiday. There are as many as ... two municipal beaches on the island! The first, Zefyros, is located in the Aentio area. The second, Spithari, look to the northwest in the Resti area. All the rest are wild. However, only by status, because there are a lot of vacationers on them. The most crowded beaches are in the south of Salamina, so don't count on peace and quiet on Kanakia, Peristeria and Pirtakoni! But there you are guaranteed a clear sea, fine sand, a lot of entertainment (jet skis, bananas, slides, etc.), umbrellas, sun loungers and, of course, fish taverns where you can refresh and refresh yourself.
Ioannis Kotidis, resident of Salamis:
If you crave a secluded beach holiday, you are in the northwest of the island. There are very good beaches, and the further - the better. Eantio, Sutherly, Eas Club, Lambrano (the last one is the coolest!). But I warn you: it takes a long time to get there and there is no good road there.
Photo: Shutterstock Among the native Greeks, Salamis is not very popular. The fact is that there is an oil refinery not far from the island. They say that because of this, haze constantly hangs over Salamis. Although, why pretend, many Greeks have long bought villas here. They themselves live in Athens, and for the weekend they go to the dacha - to the nearest island.
Irina Kakomitas, real estate agent:
Here you can find inexpensive houses with a garden in a traditional Greek style worth 50,000 euros, as well as luxurious villas that are not inferior in price to villas in the Peloponnese and popular islands. Houses, depending on the area, size of the plot and proximity to the sea, will cost you from 120,000 to 300,000 euros. And for magnificent villas with an area of 250 m² or more, you will have to pay about 400 - 450,000 euros and more. Plots for building a single-family house start from 50,000 - 80,000 euros for 600 m². But if they are located on the first coastline, the price is much higher - up to 160,000 euros and more!
Photo: Shutterstock What to watch
In the capital of the island there is the Archaeological Museum (the main street P. Lembessis) and the Museum of Folklore, which is located in the building of the Salamis administration on Kon / nou Karamanli street, 1. And 8 km from the city is the impressive open-air Euripides Theater, designed for 3000 seats . An almost reduced copy of the Athenian.
Photo: Irina Papoyan / Shutterstock
By the way, a whole story is connected with Euripides! According to legend, the great tragedian of antiquity was born on the island of Salamis. And archaeologists found evidence - they opened a cave in which Euripides allegedly lived. It is quite possible that the playwright wrote his tragedies here. You can take a look at the cave yourself and even go inside (it goes 47 meters deep!). The Cave of Euripides is located in an area called Peristeria, 13 km south of the city of Salamis.
Photo: Ath76 
Photo: Ath76 In addition, there are many monasteries and temples on the island: the Faneromeni Monastery of the 17th century (northwest of Salamina), the monastery of St. Nicholas of the 15th century (on the way to Kanakia), the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin of the 12th century (in Eandio) and others.
The Saronic Gulf (Saronikos, Saronic Sea, Aegina Gulf) is a gulf of the Aegean Sea, in Greece, which separates Attica from the Peloponnese.
The water area of the bay is 740 sq. Km.
In the northeast corner of Saronicos is the Eleusinian Bay, covered by the island of Salamis.
Islands of the Saronic Gulf - Salamis, Aegina, Poros are part of the nome of Attica.
Nearby islands are often included among the islands of the bay. Alexandros, Dokos, Trikeri, Spetses, Specopoula, for they are also included in the prefecture of Attica.The abundance of islands in the bay was one of the reasons for the development of navigation in ancient times.Characteristics of hotel real estate (according to the statistics of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels):
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Hydra |
Poros |
aegina |
Salamina |
Spetses |
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4* |
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1* etc. |
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How to get to the islands:
From the port of Piraeus (Athens) by ferry.
Poros
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| Poros island, Greece |
area - 33 sq. km
length of the coastline - 42 km
Poros is an island of delightful scenery, with an abundance of low, pine-covered mountains, endless lemon gardens, and many windmills. Located opposite the coast of Argolis. The green island of Poros is divided by a canal into 2 parts: a smaller one - Sferia, where the main city of Poros is located, and a larger one - Kalavria.
The southern coastline of the island is indented with lagoons and bays.The most famous: Neorio Bay, there is a water-ski base that attracts athletes from all over Europe, the Russian Bay, in the 19th century. it housed the Russian naval base, which helped Greece in the development of its navy, and the famous Bay of Love, framed on all sides by weeping willows, a place of romantic meetings at sunset. On the other side of the canal lies Askeli beach - a favorite vacation spot for tourists.
The nightlife of Poros is calm and measured, people relax in the cafes and taverns of the island's capital, enjoying the soft rustle of the waves.
Spetses
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| Spetses island, Greece |
The area of the island is 22 sq. km
A small picturesque island with many fragrant pine groves, mosaic streets and beautiful equipped and secluded beaches for swimming in the purest sea water.The island is located at the entrance to the Argolic Gulf.The island has a good tourist infrastructure, hosting many visitors in the summer, mainly Athenians, who come here to relax on the quiet shores or for the intense nightlife of the island.Private vehicles are prohibited on the island.
The capital of the island of Spetses is located on the northeast coast opposite the Costa in the Peloponnese. In front of the port is Dapya Square. Until now, next to the cafe tables, there are cannons that took part in the battles of the war of 1821. Of interest is a visit to the Museum and some of the restored old rich houses, which are reminiscent of the former splendor and wealth of the island. You should also visit the churches of All Saints and the Virgin.
As for the beautiful beaches of the island, which can be reached by boat, they are located in the areas of Vrellas and Zonkeria on the northern coast of the island, where pine trees literally hang over the sea.The picturesque bays of Agia Paraskevi and Agia Anargyri with magnificent sand are located on the west coast. The beaches of Kunipitsa and Agia Marina are located near the port.
Spetses is an island known since ancient times as the center of ship construction and even today the beautiful old port is full of ships in various stages of construction. Along the coastline, there are charming small beaches and grottoes - an idyllic setting for relaxing, swimming in crystal clear waters or sunbathing.
The location of the island (5 minutes by boat from the coast of the Peloponnese) is ideal for day trips to the archaeological and historical sites that abound on the island, as well as to the picturesque villages, one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
Salamina
Area - 95 sq. km
The length of the coastline - 104 km
population - more than 28,000 inhabitants
Salamina is the closest Argo-Saronic island to Athens.
The natural beauty of the island - its beautiful sandy beaches, rocky shores and rich vegetation - attracts more and more tourists every year.
Once, the island, densely overgrown with pines, has now become filled with many settlements. However, there are secluded sandy beaches with picturesque fish taverns, especially in the western part of the island.
There are 2 beautiful coniferous forests on the island - Faneromeni forest (wonderful for walking and for morning and evening jogging) and Kanakion forest (for mountain bike and where competitions in this sport are also held).
Attractions:
Faneromeni Nunnery, which was built in the 17th century and its main church in the 11th century; a museum of folk art and history, which presents exhibits dating back to the Mycenaean era, mainly ceramics, as well as ship models - a collection that deserves special attention; Evripidi Cave, which is approximately 47 meters long and which is located in a rock 115 meters high; the theater of Euripides (8 km from the city), which was built in 1993 following the example of ancient Greek theaters, can accommodate 3,000 people and hosts theatrical performances and various concerts; secluded sandy beaches with picturesque fish taverns, especially in the western part of the island.
Aegina (Aegina Island
The area of the island is 85 sq. km
The length of the coastline - 57 km
Aegina is located in the center of the Saronic Gulf. In the coastal plains, framed by volcanic mountains, there are extensive groves of almonds, olives, grapes and pistachio trees. The population of the island is mainly engaged in the cultivation of pistachios. The famous "Aegina pistachio" is the main product of the island.
Aegina is an island overgrown with pine trees, on which the temple of Aphaia rises. If you draw imaginary straight lines from this temple, connecting it with the Parthenon and the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, you will get an equilateral triangle, the most beautiful of what has been created in Attica from antiquity to this day. This Doric temple with the famous pediment sculpture groups (kept in the Munich Glyptothek) was built in the 5th century. BC. and has come down to us in the best preservation of all the ancient temples of Greece. Below the temple of Aphaia are picturesque bays and sandy beaches.
The port of Aegina, the main city of the island, is picturesque. Churches, old houses, many of which are surprisingly well preserved in their original state, yachts, boats, a crowded embankment - all this makes up a lively picture that creates a pleasant mood. Attractions of the city of Aegina: Archaeological Museum; The column, which is the only remnant of the temple of Apollo next to the port; The cathedral where the first government of Greece took the oath.
At a distance of 1.5 km from the city is the Church of St. Theodores or the Beautiful Church of the XIII century with wonderful frescoes. In the interior of the island, halfway to the temple of Aphaia, to the left of the road, is Paleochora, a ruined medieval village built by the Aeginetes to protect against pirates, and the Women's Monastery of St. Nectarios, in which this saint spent the last years of his life, where his remains are kept. Another monastery of the Mother of God Chrysoskalitissa (Golden Step) is located near the village of Dzikides. From this village to the southeast is the village of Pakhia-Rakhi at the foot of the conical mountain Oros, the highest on the island, at the top of which the ruins of the temple of Zeus Hellanius have been preserved.
Agistri (Angistri)
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| Agistri, Greece |
The island is located just
45 min ferry ridefrom Piraeus, the main seaport of Athens.Immersed in greenery, the island of Agistri is located in the center of the Saronic Gulf. Small, charming, the island is literally overgrown with pine groves, reaching to the very edge of the sea waters.
The best time to visit Agistri is in the spring, when the greenery of tropical trees mixes with a colorful variety of wild flowers, and there are not so many tourists yet. The tourist season starts already in April, but even when it reaches its peak, Agistri remains a fairly calm place.
The hotels are located almost on the beach. There are almost no cars on the island, the air is clean and transparent. This is an ideal place for lovers of silence and unity with nature. At the same time, the proximity to Athens, without a doubt, distinguishes Agistri from many other Greek islands.
Hydra (Idra, Hydra, Idra)
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| Hydra island, Greece |
The area of the island is 55 sq. km.
population about 3,000 people
length of the coastline - 55 km
Charming little rocky island. Modern Greeks have chosen this area for their "country" recreation - it is easy to get here by ferry from Piraeus and the Peloponnese.
From the harbor itself, up the side of the mountain, a panorama of the city rises in an amphitheater, with dazzling white stucco houses and orange-brown roof tiles.Flowers on windows, balconies and patios, narrow stairs. Unlike the other islands of the Saronic Gulf, Hydra is mostly devoid of vegetation, only in the southwest do pines grow. A notable feature of the island is the absence of cars on it. Locals prefer to stay on their island as pedestrians. Here you can ride a donkey or a horse through the narrow streets of the city. Impressive buildings of strict forms are visible from afar on the hillside. These are "archondica" - houses built in the Middle Ages mainly by the owners of ships, which were the color of the local society.
Now the population is engaged in petty trade, tourist services, and the extraction of sea sponges.There are two monasteries on the island, located at an altitude of 500 m above sea level: male - Elijah the Prophet and female - St. Eupraxia. From the territory of the monasteries, the coast and the sea with islands are perfectly visible.
Hydra is a favorite vacation spot of the capital's bohemia. Writers and artists come here in winter, when the flow of tourists subsides.
Salamina is the closest island to Athens, from the Argosaronic Islands. Here in 480 BC. e. one of the most famous battles of ancient history (the Battle of Salamis) took place, in which the Greeks, under the command of Themistocles, defeated the Persian fleet. Salamina is also ajax island- the Homeric hero who led the Salamis in the Trojan War.
Description and attractions
The natural beauty of the island - its beautiful sandy beaches, rocky shores and rich vegetation - attracts more and more tourists every year.
Convent of Faneromeni, built in the 17th century, with a cathedral dating back to the 11th century. The monastery was founded Joseph Lawrence, who allegedly saw the image of Panagia 3 times, indicating to him the place where her icon is located. And in fact, this icon was located exactly there, therefore, the monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, that is, Panagia the Appeared, was built on this place.
Museum of Folk Art and History, which presents exhibits dating back to the Mycenaean era - mainly ceramics, as well as ship models - a collection that deserves special attention.
Euripides Cave, which is approximately 47 meters long and which is located in a rock 115 meters high. She opened archaeologist Jan Lolu. It is believed that this cave was the retreat of Euripides.
Theater of Euripides, built in 1993 following the example of ancient Greek theaters, with a capacity of 3,000 people, where theatrical performances and various concerts are held. Located 8 km. from the city.
Secluded sandy beaches with picturesque fish taverns, especially in the western part of the island.
Forests of Salamina. The island has 2 beautiful coniferous forests - Faneromeni forest(great for walking and for morning and evening runs) and Kanakion Forest(for mountain bike classes, where competitions in this sport are also held).
How to get there
(Area - 95 sq. km., length of the coastline - 104 km., population - more than 28.000 inhabitants)
By ferry from the port of Piraeus to the villages of Palukia, Kamatero, Seligna and Peristeria (to the last two - only in summer), as well as by ferry from Perama to Palukia and from Perama near Megara to Faneromeni.
Who has watched this movie? Probably not many. Yes, and those (like me) watched it probably only because of the first part, in the hope of at least some kind of similarity. But that's not what it's about. It turns out that I didn't know the historical background of this film at all. Some percentage of it is still based on real historical events. And here they are.
The Battle of Salamis (480 BC) is a battle at sea that took place between the army of the Persians and the Greeks during the famous Greco-Persian War. The battle took place near the island of Salamis, which is located near Athens. According to some reports, the Greek fleet consisted of 311 or 380 ships, which were able to easily defeat a much larger fleet of 1,000 Persian ships in a narrow strait. It was the battle of Salamis that became the turning point in the course of the Greco-Persian wars.
Let's remember these historical events in more detail ...
The battle was preceded by a series of events that could significantly affect the further course of the war. The Persian army occupied and destroyed Athens. Residents of the city were previously evacuated to the nearby island of Salamis. The entire allied Greek fleet was concentrated in the narrow straits between the island and the mainland. There are different opinions about the number of both fleets, only the point of view is unchanged that the Persians had a numerical superiority. The most frequently mentioned figures are: approximately 310 Greek trireme rowing ships (according to Aeschylus - 311 ships, Herodotus - about 380), against 1200 Persian ones. However, the well-known Soviet historian, Professor S. Lurie, believes that no more than 500 Persian ships actually took part in the battle. But the following point should also be noted: the ships of the Persians were for the most part heavier and larger than the Greek ones. Naturally, there was no talk of any naval artillery in that era, the main means of fighting the enemy at sea were ramming and boarding (if the latter was successful, the enemy ship could be set on fire and sunk). So the size of the ship and the number of warriors that fit on it were essential.
Serious disagreements arose among the Hellenes. Most of the military leaders offered to leave Salamis and direct all forces to the defense of the Isthmus of Corinth. The Athenian strategist Themistocles pointed out that only in the conditions of narrow straits could the Greeks defeat the Persian fleet, which was superior both in the number of ships and in the quality of the training of sailors. Seeing the impossibility of influencing the decision of other military leaders, he decided on a trick. Having sent his trusted messenger to Xerxes, he ordered to tell him that the Greeks were going to flee, and if the king wants to destroy the Greek fleet, then he should immediately start the battle.
For the Greeks, the only possibility of a decisive naval victory was a battle in a narrow space, where the numerical superiority of the enemy was leveled. Entering the straits between the mainland and Salamis, the Persians deprived themselves of their advantages. For them, the beginning of the Battle of Salamis was a decisive strategic mistake that determined the outcome of the battle and the further course of the war.
The main source that has survived to this day, describing the sea battle at Salamis, is the VIII book of the "History" of Herodotus. Regardless of Herodotus, the event was described by Ctesias of Cnidus, who lived at the court of the Persian king Artaxerxes II, in his work “Persian History”. Of historical interest is also the tragedy "Persians" by the ancient Greek playwright and participant in the battle of Aeschylus. In it, a direct witness of the Battle of Salamis described his feelings from the death of the Persian fleet.
The battle of Salamis and other events of the Greco-Persian wars were given considerable attention by the ancient historians Diodorus, Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos who lived much later.
The Greek city-states of Athens and Eretria helped the related Greek cities of Ionia in their unsuccessful rebellion against the power of the Persian king Darius in 499-494 BC. e. The Persian Empire at that time was quite young. It was often shaken by uprisings of conquered peoples. The rebels, together with the Athenians, managed to capture and burn the important city of the empire and the capital of the satrapy of Sardis. Darius wanted to take revenge on the Greeks who participated in the uprising, who were not subject to him.
Darius also saw an opportunity to conquer the scattered ancient Greek cities. In 492 BC. e. During the military expedition of the Persian commander Mardonius, Thrace was conquered, Macedonia recognized the supreme power of the Persian king. Thus, the Persians provided their ground army with a passage to the territory Ancient Greece. In 491 BC. e. Darius sent envoys to all independent Greek cities demanding "land and water", which was consistent with submission and recognition of the power of the Persians. Realizing the strength and military power of the Achaemenid state, all the cities of ancient Hellas, except for Sparta and Athens, accepted humiliating demands. In Athens, the ambassadors were put on trial and executed. In Sparta, they were thrown into a well, offering to take earth and water from there.
In 490 BC. e. The Persian fleet under the command of Datis and Artaphernes was sent to conquer Athens. On the way to Athens, Eretria was conquered and destroyed. The army landed on the territory of Attica, but was defeated by the Athenians and Plataeans at the Battle of Marathon. After this unsuccessful expedition, Darius began to gather a huge army to conquer all of Greece. His plans were thwarted by an uprising in Egypt in 486 BC. e., and soon Darius died. The throne was taken by his son Xerxes. Having suppressed the Egyptian uprising, Xerxes continued to prepare for a campaign against Greece.
Themistocles came to power in Athens. The interval between the battle of Marathon and the invasion of Xerxes, the antiquarian Surikov calls the "epoch of Themistocles." While the Persians were gathering an army to conquer Hellas, the Athenian politician contributed to the creation of a powerful fleet. It was the custom of the Athenians to divide among themselves the profits from the silver mines at Lavrion. The state was the owner of these mines. After the fall of the tyrants, state property began to be considered the property of all citizens. If, after covering all state needs, significant amounts remained in the cash registers, then this surplus was divided among the Athenians. Themistocles offered to direct the funds received to the construction of ships. The proposal was received very ambiguously. By accepting it, every Athenian was deprived of a small, but sure, cash benefit provided by the state. Preparing ships for the war with the Persians, Themistocles understood that the Athenians would not agree with him, since they did not consider the barbarians defeated at Marathon to be a serious threat. Therefore, he convinced his fellow citizens that new ships and a powerful fleet were needed for the war with Aegina, an island that was in continuous war with Athens. It was this policy that ultimately led to the crushing defeat of Xerxes' army.
In 481 BC. e. Xerxes sent ambassadors to most of the Greek city-states demanding "land and water", except for Athens and Sparta. At the end of the autumn of 481 BC. e. A Greek assembly was held in Corinth. In the face of a common danger, an alliance was concluded on it and internecine wars were stopped. Embassies were sent to the Greek colonies asking for help. Technically, it was difficult to fulfill the resolutions of the all-Greek congress due to the fragmentation of the ancient Greeks, hostility between them and internecine wars.
In 480 BC. e. Xerxes' army began crossing from Asia to Europe. In addition to the land army, Xerxes had a powerful fleet equipped with coastal and island peoples that were part of his state.
Throughout the spring and summer of 480 BC. e. The campaign of the Persian army along the coast of the Aegean Sea continued. An attempt by a Greek detachment led by the Spartan king Leonidas to block the Persian army from entering the Thermopylae Gorge ended in failure. The Persians broke into central Greece. The Greek fleet, which met the Persian ships at Cape Artemisia, was forced to withdraw to the south and stood off the western coast of Attica.
The position of the Greek fleet at Salamis, according to all the rules of maritime art, seemed from the outside as unfavorable as it could be. Judge for yourself: the fleet stands in a narrow space, both exits from it are easily controlled by the enemy, there is nowhere to deploy triremes for battle, there is nowhere to retreat in case of an attack. But Themistocles deliberately took the risk - let this "unfavorable" position serve as a bait for the enemy! And the trick was that the Greeks took into account the conditions of the area. They knew perfectly well all the currents, reefs and shallows in the bays and straits of Salamis. Persian ships were mainly driven by the Phoenicians - excellent sailors, but it was off the coast of a little-known island that all their thousand-year experience turned out to be useless!
But "positional cunning" was only half the battle for Themistocles. The problem was that the Persians in such a situation did not really need a fight. Some naval commanders of Xerxes (for example, the ruler of the city of Halicarnassus, Artemisia, who commanded a detachment of five ships) reasoned quite sensibly: let the Greeks sit in a trap, and when they get bored, they crawl out and attack themselves, this is where we will turn around! These arguments are mentioned in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. King Xerxes, despite the apparent superiority of his fleet, also hesitated.
Themistocles, as an experienced military leader, probably guessed what his opponents were thinking about. In addition, there was also no unity among the Greeks about the position of Salamis. Eurybiades, who commanded the ships from Sparta and formally stood "above" Themistocles on the ladder of military leaders (the Athenian, however, had his own weighty argument in the form of 200 triremes - that is, most of the fleet), persistently offered to relocate closer to the Peloponnese, to the Isthmus of Corinth, and even ordered to prepare for a breakthrough. For Themistocles, who, not without reason, believed that the Greeks were doomed to defeat on the high seas, there was only one way out: to immediately lure the Persians into battle! And the Athenian applied a cunning that was unprecedented until that time, which can be called "false betrayal."
The educator of his children, a slave named Sikinn (curiously, of Persian origin) went to Xerxes and promised that in battle, Themistocles' detachment would go over to the side of the Persians. “In proof of his devotion, Themistocles informs the king of the plans of the Greeks. The king should block both exits from the Salamis Strait and prevent the Greeks from leaving, ”the slave said. Xerxes believed these words. And the Persian ships climbed into the trap of Themistocles, blocking the exits from the strait, including the narrowest and most inconvenient for large ships - at Cape Kamatero. It was there that the main events unfolded.
The battle itself went according to Themistocles' plans. Some Persian ships ran aground safely, where they were captured by the Greeks. Several ships stumbled upon reefs and sank without enemy intervention at all. And most of the advanced Persian ships fell victim to another trick of Themistocles: the Athenian naval commander pretended that his ships in the center of the position were retreating, and “dragged” the Persians behind him into a place in the strait where they had nowhere even to turn around physically. When the Hellenes stopped and rushed into a furious counterattack, the Persians were forced to retreat in disorder, colliding with other ships of their own fleet and drowning them. By evening, the Persian flotilla, which had decreased by at least half, hastily left Salamis, which was fatal to her. The Greeks regained dominance of the sea, and a year later, at the Battle of Plataea, they defeated the foot army of Xerxes, putting an end to the plans for the conquest of Greece.
Well, as for the film, then of course there is little historical truth. For example, Paul Cartledge, professor of antiquity at the University of Cambridge, noted that in reality neither Xerxes nor Darius were present at the battle of Marathon, and the latter could not have been killed in Greece by Themistocles, as shown in the film. In contrast to the film, Artemisia actually opposed the naval battle with the Greeks in the straits and did not die in the Greco-Persian Wars. The Spartan fleet added only 16 warships to the total Greek fleet of 400 ships, and not at all a huge armada
sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5% D0%B2:_%D0%A0%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%86%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B5% D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B8
http://voenternet.ru/artofwars/2013/04/03/%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0 %BA%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%83%D0 %BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B8-%D1%84%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE/
http://www.muzffam.ru/articlematerial19
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