Battle of Salamina

 When we travel, not often now, I like to take photos for the blog. Stopping for photos is not on Ks to-do list.

This time I had allies. The 2 little Greek girls.  We passed this memorial to the Battle of Salamis a couple of times . Elli made him slow down so she could photo the memorial and the area overlooking the Straits. This was where 370 Greek ships  beat 700 ships of the Persian Navy in 480BC.

Persian King Xerxes set up his throne on a hilltop overlooking the Straits of Salamis expecting to watch his triremes annihilate the much smaller Greek Navy.

Themistocles, the Greek commander lured the Persians into a trap and achieved a massive victory, forcing Xerxes to retreat to Asia.

It is described as the most important sea battle of the ancient world.

The now peaceful landscape overlooking Greek shipyards

Commemorating the Liberation of the Greek Fatherland, it's women and children and their future Autonomy.

Or words to that effect. 

I've posted this short clip before . Gerard Butler as King Leonidas from the film 'The 300'. He kicks a Persian envoy, demanding  Sparta's surrender, down a well. 

Spartans never surrender. 

In a desperate fight to the death Leonidas, King of Sparta, with his 300 warriors held the pass of Thermopylae against the Persians long enough for Greek forces to retreat. 

Described as one of the 'most historically inaccurate movies ever produced' . 

It's still an epic show.