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Ancient Lives
Themistocles: The Rise and Fall of Athens’s Naval Mastermind
A portrait of the Athenian politician and general Themistocles, tracing his political development, his victory at the Battle of Salamis, and his exile in Persia
Themistocles (524–459 BC) came of age just as a newly democratic and empowered Athens was emerging. He would become an instrumental political and military figure, fighting in the Battle of Marathon; persuading Athenians to expand their fleet; and engineering the Athenians’ defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Salamis. However, as Michael Scott demonstrates in this biography, Themistocles failed as much as he succeeded.
Scott offers a fully human picture of Themistocles, a man who could be both decisive and heroic as well as uncertain and unprepared. He was loved and hated in Athens, his plans and ideas ignored as often as they were respected. Eventually he was exiled as a traitor, ultimately settling in Persia as an advisor to Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes, his foe at Salamis. And yet, in the aftermath of his death, he emerged as one of Greece’s historical heroes.
In this portrait of a man Thucydides deemed one of the most illustrious Greeks of his time, Scott reveals one man’s struggle to navigate the turbulent world of Athenian politics and the crucial role of historians and biographers in shaping, and distorting, the image of Themistocles that has come down to us through the centuries.
Themistocles (524–459 BC) came of age just as a newly democratic and empowered Athens was emerging. He would become an instrumental political and military figure, fighting in the Battle of Marathon; persuading Athenians to expand their fleet; and engineering the Athenians’ defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Salamis. However, as Michael Scott demonstrates in this biography, Themistocles failed as much as he succeeded.
Scott offers a fully human picture of Themistocles, a man who could be both decisive and heroic as well as uncertain and unprepared. He was loved and hated in Athens, his plans and ideas ignored as often as they were respected. Eventually he was exiled as a traitor, ultimately settling in Persia as an advisor to Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes, his foe at Salamis. And yet, in the aftermath of his death, he emerged as one of Greece’s historical heroes.
In this portrait of a man Thucydides deemed one of the most illustrious Greeks of his time, Scott reveals one man’s struggle to navigate the turbulent world of Athenian politics and the crucial role of historians and biographers in shaping, and distorting, the image of Themistocles that has come down to us through the centuries.
- GenresHistoryAncient History
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2026
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About the author
Michael Scott
12 books69 followersMichael Scott SFHEA (born 1981) is a British classical scholar, ancient historian, and presenter. He is professor of classics and ancient history at the University of Warwick.
In 2015 he was a foundation fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy; he was appointed a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. He was a National Teaching Fellow in 2017, and in 2017–2018 was a Leverhulme Research Fellow.
In 2020 he became the co-director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
He is president of the Lytham Saint Annes branch of the Classical Association.
He was awarded the Classical Association Prize in 2021, this is awarded to the individual who has done the most to raise the profile of Classics in the public eye.
He was named as the International Lego Classicist of the Year in 2022.
He was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Warwick in 2023.
Source: wikipedia
In 2015 he was a foundation fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy; he was appointed a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. He was a National Teaching Fellow in 2017, and in 2017–2018 was a Leverhulme Research Fellow.
In 2020 he became the co-director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
He is president of the Lytham Saint Annes branch of the Classical Association.
He was awarded the Classical Association Prize in 2021, this is awarded to the individual who has done the most to raise the profile of Classics in the public eye.
He was named as the International Lego Classicist of the Year in 2022.
He was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Warwick in 2023.
Source: wikipedia
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