Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Eurybiades was the Spartan commander in charge of
the Greece|Greek navy during the Persian Wars.

He was the son of Eurycleides, and was chosen as
commander in 480 BC because the other Greek
city-states did not want to serve under an
Athens|Athenian, despite the Athenians' superior
naval skill. He was, however, assisted by the
Athenian Themistocles, who led most of the
fighting.

His first act as commander was to sail the fleet
to Euboea to meet the Persian Empire|Persian
fleet. When they arrived the Greeks found that the
Persians were already there, and Eurybiades
ordered a retreat, although the Euboeans begged
him to stay. Instead, they bribed Themistocles to
keep the fleet there, and Themistocles used some
of his bribe to pay off Eurybiades (at least
according to Herodotus, who is biased against
Themistocles). The subsequent Battle of Artemisium
was indecisive, and the Greeks removed their fleet
to Salamis Island.

Eurybiades did not want to fight at Salamis
either, but once again Themistocles convinced him
to stay by threatening to withdraw the Athenian
fleet (the largest contingent of the Greek
forces). The Battle of Salamis was a decisive
victory for the Greeks. After the battle
Eurybiades was opposed to chasing the Persian
fleet, and also to sailing towards the Hellespont
to destroy the bridge of ships that the Persian
king Xerxes I had built there. He wanted Xerxes to
be able to escape rather than have him remain in
Greece where he would possibly renew the land war.

Back in Sparta Eurybiades was rewarded with an
olive wreath for his success at Salamis;
Themistocles was given a similar reward.