The Athenians distinguished themselves still more in an action which was fought on the same day, near the promontory of Mycale, in Ionia. The wrecks of the Persian fleet having taken refuge on the coasts of Asia Minor, the Greeks followed them. Under these circumstances, the Ionians conceiving this a fa vourable opportunity for throwing off the Persian yoke, applied to them for aid. They did not decline the invitation, but landed, and joining their forces to those of the Ionians, gave battle to the Persians, who had assembled an army vastly superior. After an obstinate combat, the Persians were completely routed. The Spartans pursued those who fled towards the passes of the mountains, while the Athenians stormed their camp. In consequence of this victory, Ionia was freed, and a large portion of the Asiatic coast rescued from the hands of the enemy.
The Athenians followed up their victory, by be sieging Sestos, a large town of Thrace, commanding the straits of the Hellespont, which they took after a long siege.
The first care of the Athenians, after returning A their city, was to rebuild their walls, and to give A them additional strength and solidity. This measure hi was opposed by the Lacedemonians, under pretence tr of its being contrary to the interest of Greece that there should be strong places beyond the isthmus. Their real motive, however, was suspected to be an aversion to the rising greatness of the Athenians. Themistocles conducted himself here with great art. He got himself appointed ambassador to Sparta ; and before setting out, he caused all the citizens, of every age and sex, to apply themselves to the task of build ing the walls, making use of any materials which were within their reach. Fragments of houses, tem ples, and other buildings, were accordingly employed, producing a grotesque appearance, which remained to the days of Plutarch. He then set out for Sparta, but on various pretences_ declined entering on his commission, till he had received intelligence that the work which he had set on foot was nearly completed. He then went boldly to the Lacedemonian senate, declared what had been done, and justified it not only by the natural tight of the Athenians to provide for their own defence, but by the advantage of opposing such an obstacle to the progress of the barbarians. The Lacedemonians, sensible of the justice of this ar gument, and seeing that remonstrance would now avail nothing, were fain to acquiesce.
Themistocles, ever studious of the maritime great ness of Athens, caused a new and more commodious harbour to be built at Piraeus, which in process of time was joined to the city by a very thick wall, five miles in length.
The confederate fleets continued to pursue their advantages. They scoured the shores of Asia Mi nor, and the ]Egean, drove out the Persian garrisons, and enriched themselves by plunder. They also, after an obstinate defence, stormed and took Byzan tium.
The Lacedemonians had hitherto, by common con sent, held the chief command, both by land and sea.
The recent events, however, had thrown a lustre around Athens,. of which no other state could now boast. They had reaped the chief glory both• in the battles of Marathon and Salamis ; they had suffered most ; had ,stood forward generously in the common cause ; while Sparta had too often ob served a cold and selfish policy. These favourable impressions were heightened by the contrast of the consummate justice and good conduct of her com manders, Aristides and Cimon, with the haughtiness and insolence of Pausanias the Spartan king. Moved by these different considerations, the allies unani mously determined to transfer the chief command at sea, now much more important than land, to the Athenians. The Lacedemonians wisely forbore an opposition, which they knew would be vain : and as a common treasury was necessary for the prosecution of a naval tvar, Aristides, in whom entire confidence was placed, was chosen both to fix the quotas of the different states, and to perform the office of treasurer. The allies did not ultimately find much reason to congratulate themselves on this new arrangement.
1 he period, of nearly fifty years, which elapsed from the end of the Persian to the commencement of the Peloponnesian war, is the most splendid in the history of Athens. During this period, she held an undisputed pre-eminence among the slates of Greece ; yet there occur not, in the events by which it was distinguished, any which were peculiarly remarkable by their magnitude or importance. To prevent the confusion of relating a number of detached incidents, we shall divide them into three parts : Her internal affairs ; her maritime operations ; and her operations by land.
The rivalship of Themistocles and Aristides con tinued ; but though the latter held now a prominent character in the eyes of Greece, Themistocles was still the most powerful at home. The power of the people, which had long been preponderant in Athens, was greatly strengthened by the issue of' the Persian war. All offices were now laid open to them. It was only by gaining their favour, that any chief could rise to the head of the republic. All therefore vied with each other in flattering them, and in removing every remaining obstacle to their uncontrouled sway. Themistocles continued to administer public affairs with vigour, attending particularly to the improve ment of the navy. In time, however, envy and jea lousy, with the rising influence of competitors, par ticularly of Cimon, sapped the foundations of his au thority. This soon appeared, when the Lacedemo . nians, always his enemies, preferred an accusation against him, as privy to the treason of Pausanias. It appeared indeed that he had known of it, but he strenuously denied having given his concurrence. He was banished, however, by the ostracism ; was driven, by the combined power of both states, from city to city ; and at length forced to take refuge in Persia, where he died.