August 480 BC · Straits of Artemisium, northern Euboea Theater
August 480 BC
Fought simultaneously with Thermopylae, the three-day naval engagement at Artemisium was designed to prevent the Persian fleet from outflanking the Thermopylae position by sea. Greek triremes used the 'periplous' and 'diekplous' tactics — encircling and breaking through enemy lines — to offset their numerical disadvantage. Storms wrecked hundreds of Persian ships before the battle even began, narrowing the odds. The fighting was fierce and losses heavy on both sides. When news arrived that Thermopylae had fallen, the Greek fleet withdrew southward.
Commanders