Themistocles of Athens
In a half-hearted attempt to improve my mind, I started reading the History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides. I was given the "Landmark Thucydides" edition by a friend, who rightfully noted that its extensive footnotes, chronological guide, and maps make it more understandable for the modern reader.
I'm stuck though. I haven't really gotten into the war yet, because I am hung up on Themistocles. A great man of Greek history, he led the people of Athens through war and peace, making decisions that not only saved Athens from annihiliation, but grew the city-state into a power that rivaled Sparta. After doing this, he was eventually ostracized from Athens, then convicted of treason in absentia. Chased all over the Greek world by Hellenistic Tommy Lee Joneses, Themistocles eventually fled to Persia for amnesty.
Some thanks. Doesn't seem right, does it? It certainly didn't to me, mostly because my early conclusion is that Themsitocles was innocent of the charge of treason.
I'm not sure what I want to "do" about it. Something in me wants to tell his story and in someway "rehabilitate" his image. But to what end? It was 2,500 years ago, for goodness sake! Who cares?
Part of it lies in the fact that his life makes for a very compelling story, more of which I have pieced together by reading Plutarch's short biography of him. The arc of his life seems suited for a Shakespearean drama.
To date, I have written a short (fictionalized) outline of his story. I will append that outline as a comment to this post.
I'm stuck though. I haven't really gotten into the war yet, because I am hung up on Themistocles. A great man of Greek history, he led the people of Athens through war and peace, making decisions that not only saved Athens from annihiliation, but grew the city-state into a power that rivaled Sparta. After doing this, he was eventually ostracized from Athens, then convicted of treason in absentia. Chased all over the Greek world by Hellenistic Tommy Lee Joneses, Themistocles eventually fled to Persia for amnesty.
Some thanks. Doesn't seem right, does it? It certainly didn't to me, mostly because my early conclusion is that Themsitocles was innocent of the charge of treason.
I'm not sure what I want to "do" about it. Something in me wants to tell his story and in someway "rehabilitate" his image. But to what end? It was 2,500 years ago, for goodness sake! Who cares?
Part of it lies in the fact that his life makes for a very compelling story, more of which I have pieced together by reading Plutarch's short biography of him. The arc of his life seems suited for a Shakespearean drama.
To date, I have written a short (fictionalized) outline of his story. I will append that outline as a comment to this post.
posted by B.V. at 12/14/2004
1 Comments:
Working Title - "Goddess of the Bronze House"
During the time of the Persian War, Themistocles of Athens and Pausanias of Sparta were leaders of men in battle. Themistocles was the architect of the Greek victory over Xerxes’s navy at the battle of Salamis, and Pausanias was hailed as the mastermind of the victory of the Persians at Plataea.
Following the Persian war, Themistocles returned to Athens and convince the populace to rebuild the city walls. His diplomatic tactics ensure that the Athenian wall is built before the Spartans (who are against seeing Athens well-defended) can do anything about it. Themistocles is made Archon and steers Athens towards focusing on building their naval power, he presides during a time of peace that sees Athens grow in strength and influence. He is eventually ostracized and goes to live in Argos for ten years.
At the same time, Pausanias continued gaining victories for Sparta against the Persians, but was recalled from service at the Hellespont for heavy-handed tactics (which lead to dissolution of the Greek armada under Spartan control), and other accusations of having been secretly dealing with the enemy. He is acquitted, but not sent back in an official capacity.
Pausanias hops a private boat back to Persia (Byzantium) and continues his negotiations with the Persians. He had in fact been scheming to make an alliance wit the Persians to take control over all of Hellas. An encouraging letter from Xerxes made Pausanias act even bolder. He was expelled from Byzantium and moved to Colonae, starting to make deal with the barbarians there. Pausanias stops by Argos during one of his trips to and from Persia and visits Themistocles. He had written Themistocles several letters and came in person to urge Themistocles to join him. Themistocles declined.
Finally, rumors kept reaching the Ephors of Sparta, and they sent an envoy to recall Pausanias. He had to return to Sparta or be declared an enemy. Having beat the charges once before, Pausanias returns to Sparta. They leveled many of the same charges about Medism (becoming more Persian than Greek), planning a revolt, even talking with the Helots (Spartan slaves) about joining the revolt. They still had no hard evidence.
A trusted servant of Pausanias then turns informer (Pausanias was going to have the servant killed) and the Ephors use him to overhear damning evidence straight from Pausanias’ mouth. The Ephors plan to arrest him in public in the city, but secretly alerted, Pausanias runs for the Temple of the Goddess of the Bronze House, and took sanctuary there in a small chamber. The Ephors starve him in, and bring him out at the moment of death. They were going to toss him in the river or bury him, but the oracle at Delphi insisted they bury him at the temple. Since his death was a curse, they had to build two bronze statues to be placed by the burial site at the temple.
As the investigation concluded, the Spartans found evidence implicating Themistocles in Pausanias plot. They showed this evidence to the Athenians and demanded that Themistocles be dealt with. Although the evidence was thin, and Themistocles innocent, the ruling Athenian Archons decided that it would make a nice permanent fix for keeping Themistocles out of their way. A team of Athenian and Spartans set out to capture him.
Themistocles, warned by friends and realizing he was being set up, fled Argos and arrived at Corcyra, with his pursuers close behind. While the people of Corcyra felt that they owed Themistocles a debt for past help he had given them, they could not hold him against Athens’ and Sparta’s wishes. They helped him flee to Molossia. While Themistocles was not friendly with the King Admetus, his clever and humble begging worked on the King. When the pursuers arrived, King Admetus refused to give them Themistocles. The King, also not able to hold him for long, helped him get inland passage to Pyda, where he could catch a merchant ship to Persia.
After some adventure (a run in with part of the Athenian navy), Themistocles arrived in Persia and sent a letter to King Artaxerxes (Xerxes’ son). He asked for a year’s freedom in the land, at the end of which time he would appear at court and present himself to the King. The King agreed. Themistocles immersed himself in Persian language and culture, and made quite an impression at court. He is appointed Governor of Magnesia and ruled there until his death. Some say he dies of disease, others say because he poisoned himself when he could not follow the King’s order (perhaps some order that would have hurt Athens?). His body was carried back to Athens and secretly buried there.
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I also mucked around with some dialogue between Themistocles and Pausanias (to occur at Argos). This would be part of the most fictionalized section, because I cannot find evidence that Pausanias communicated with Themistocles but something other than couriered letter, but a meeting is possible. The meeting also helps establish that Themistocles absolutely turns down Pausanias' offer to join him in revolt.
P “Join with me. Help me to build and lead the force that will break the weak and slippery hold off those unworthy leaders. Imagine, I King of Sparta and you King of Athens! At peace with the Persians, but a peace built on strength and respect. Not one built on submission.”
T “Pausanias, I have received your letters and given much thought to your words. But understand this, I will never lift one finger against Athens, even if it means, as you say, its ultimate liberation and success. I do not believe a worthwhile good can come from acts of evil.”
P “We were removed not for incompetence, not for disloyalty, not even simply for our age or lack of energy. We were busy leading our cities into the future; securing them, strengthening them, giving them power and influence. But our enemies, unable to lead by their own qualities, found the means to get us out of the way. For their own good they threw us out, just at the height of our talents. You are wasted here, Themistocles. You are a fully outfitted trireme sitting in a lovely garden. Impressive, surrounded by beauty, but useless.”
T “I have not set foot in Athens for nearly five years now. The time has passed slowly, so slowly. I have filled the time with travel, learning, and this garden. Travel, to broaden my experiences and gather knowledge of how other cities are run, their strengths and weaknesses. I have met many fine leaders from whom I have gained much. Learning, from the scholars and the libraries of these many lands. I have read the histories of many cities, so that upon my return to Athens, I will know what mistakes were made whilst I was away, how to correct them, and continue to contribute towards the majesty of Athens.”
P “My friend, why do you continue this allegiance to a people have utterly abandoned you? Do you honestly believe that in five years they are going to welcome you back with a parade, hold a festival in your name, or offer you back you position as Archon? Or is it more likely you will return to a city lead by young men who have barely heard of you, and who won’t have one bit of interest in your grand schemes. It will be their navy, their walls, their city… but who gave it to them? You did, Themistocles!”
T “That is why I have this garden. I gathered many unique and rare plants on my travels, and carefully encouraged them to grow in this soil at Argos. The garden has taught me much. Some plants need only be set in soil once. They flourish, then recede, and in the next season they flourish again. Other plants grow, flourish, fruit, then wither and die, never to grow again. These live on only in the seeds they produce in their fruit, which must be replanted each season. Both kinds are useful and important in their own way. And I realized, Pausanias, perhaps we are men who have borne our fruit, and perhaps all that is left for us is to sit back and watch those seeds take hold and grow.”
P “You have wealth and comfort, Themistocles, but not power.”
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