In this incident her role is that of a tragic warner, as she gave Xerxes advice which he praised, but refused to follow. The only one to advise him against fighting at sea was Artemisia. (Herodotus 7.99)Īfter the battle of Thermopylae and the Persian occupation of Attica, King Xerxes consulted his naval commanders about fighting a battle against the Greek fleet, which was gathering off Salamis. I have listed the cities that she led I have evidence that they all belong to the Dorian group, as the people of Halicarnassos come from Troizen, and the rest from Epidauros. The ships she brought had the best reputation in the whole fleet, next to the ones from Sidon, and of all the allies she gave the king the best advice. She led the forces of Halicarnassos, Cos, Nisyros and Calyndos, and supplied five ships. Her name was Artemisia she was the daughter of Lygdamis, and was of Halicarnassian stock on her father’s side and Cretan on her mother’s. Because of her courage and spirit she went to war although she had no need to do so. She took power on the death of her husband, as she had a son who was still a youth. I consider her to be a particular object of admiration because she was a woman who played a part in the war against Greece. There is no reason for me to mention any of the other commanders, except for Artemisia.

The translation is based on the Oxford Classical Text (1962), edited by C. Herodotus presents her as a remarkable woman and the shrewdest of Xerxes’ commanders. In 480 Artemisia led a small squadron of eastern Greek ships in Xerxes’ invasion force against the Greek mainland states.

The following excerpts from Herodotus, Books 7 and 8, tell the story of Artemisia, queen of Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, a city which was said to be the birthplace of Herodotus himself. Translation and notes copyright 2001 Caroline L.

Herodotus the histories book 7