Quick questions on Themistocles, Pausanias, and Cimon: key personalities of the Greek world 500 to 440 BC

Themistocles son of Neocles, of the deme Phrearrhioi, was born around 524 BC. His family was modest by Athenian aristocratic standards.

Pausanias son of Cleombrotus was a Spartan of the Agiad royal house. He served as regent for his cousin Pleistarchus, the young son of King Leonidas.

Cimon son of Miltiades, of the deme Lakiadai, was born around 510 BC. His father had won Marathon. His mother Hegesipyle was a Thracian princess. He inherited substantial wealth and a public debt of 50 talents from his father's later prosecution.

Archon (chief annual magistrate) in 493/2 BC. He began the fortification of Piraeus and recognised it as Athens's future naval base.

Probably one of the ten strategoi (generals); junior to Miltiades. The Plutarch tradition records his ambition: "the trophy of Miltiades will not let me sleep."

A series of ostracisms removed Themistocles's political rivals: Hipparchus son of Charmus (487 BC), Megacles the Alcmaeonid (486 BC), Xanthippus (484 BC), and finally Aristides (482 BC). Aristides was recalled for Salamis.

A new vein of silver at Laurion in southern Attica produced a windfall of 100 talents annually. Themistocles persuaded the Athenian Assembly to spend it on 200 triremes, framed as preparation for the war with Aegina but in reality for the Persian war.

The strategic architect of the Hellenic League position at Salamis and the tactical victor through the Sicinnus stratagem. See greek-world-xerxes-invasion for detail.

After Salamis the Spartans urged Athens not to rebuild its walls, framing it as a panhellenic concern that walls could be used by an enemy. Themistocles travelled to Sparta as ambassador and delayed the Spartan response while Athenian women, children, and slaves rebuilt the walls behind him (Thucydides 1.89 to 93). He revealed the fait accompli once the walls were defensible.

Themistocles also fortified the Piraeus as Athens's naval base. The deep-water harbours at Cantharus, Zea, and Munychia replaced the open beach at Phaleron.

Athenian politics turned against Themistocles. He was accused of arrogance and of accepting bribes. The Assembly ostracised him.

Themistocles took refuge in Argos and then, when condemned for medism in absentia (around 466 BC, on the same case that involved Pausanias), fled through Corcyra, Epirus, and Macedonia to Persia. The new king Artaxerxes I received him and granted him the cities of Magnesia, Lampsacus, and Myus for his support, on the understanding that he would assist Persia against Greece. Themistocles died at Magnesia around 459 BC.

Themistocles created the institutional and physical basis of fifth-century Athenian power: the fleet, the walls, the Piraeus, the strategic alignment against Sparta. Thucydides (1.138) calls him "the man of all his contemporaries the most outstanding in natural intelligence."

Pausanias commanded the Hellenic League army at Plataea, the largest Greek army ever assembled, and won the decisive land battle of the Persian Wars. Herodotus (9.64) writes that he won "the most splendid victory of any man we know."

Pausanias led the Hellenic League fleet to Cyprus and then to Byzantium, which he captured. At Byzantium his behaviour changed. He adopted Persian dress, Persian guards, and Persian table customs.