This harsh and unjust treatment seems to have led to an estrangement
between the Persians and the foremost of the naval nations subject to
them, which lasted for fifteen years. The Persians naturally distrusted
those whom they had injured, and were unwilling to call them in to their
aid. The Phoenicians probably brooded over their wrongs, and abstained
from volunteering an assistance which they were not asked to furnish.
The war between Persia and Greece continued, and was transferred from
Europe to Asia, but no Phoenicians are mentioned as taking part in it.
The Phoenician ships retired from Samos on the approach of the Greek
fleet under Leotychides.[14311] No Phoenicians fought at Mycale. None
are heard of as engaged at Sestos, or Byzantium, or Eïon, or Doriscus,
or even Phaselis. It was not until--in B.C. 465--the war passed from
the Ægean to the southern coast of Asia Minor, and their dependency,
Cyprus, was threatened, that the Phoenicians again appeared upon
the scene, and mustered in strength to the support of their Persian
suzerain.
The Persian fleet which fought at the Eurymedon is said to have
consisted of three hundred and forty vessels, drawn from the
three subject nations of the Phoenicians, the Cyprians, and the
Cilicians.[14312] It was under the command of Tithraustes, a son of
Xerxes. Cimon, who led the fleet of the Athenians and their allies,
attacked it with a force of 250 triremes, of which Athens had furnished
the greater number. The battle was contested with extreme obstinacy
on both sides; but at length the Athenians prevailed, and besides
destroying a large number of the enemy’s vessels, took as many as a
hundred with their crews on board. At the same time a land victory was
gained over the Persian troops. The double exploit was regarded as one
of the most glorious in the annals of Greece, and was commemorated at
Delos by a tablet with the following inscription:--[14313]
Since first the sea Europe from Asia severed,
\ And Mars to rage ‘mid humankind began,
Never was such a blow as this delivered
\ On land and sea at once by mortal man.
These heroes did to death a host of Medes
\ Near Cyprus, and then captured with their crews
\ Five score Phoenician vessels; at the news
All Asia groaned, hard hit by such brave deeds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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