In 480 B.C., Athens learned that a huge Persian army and fleet were coming to get revenge for the Battle of Marathon. The chances of defeating the Persians were small. Many Greek city-states gave “earth and water” symbolizing surrendering to Persian control. It was that or be sacked. Some of the city-states, led by Athens and Sparta, refused to give in. They would not give up their freedom without a fight. The Spartans famously threw the Persian diplomats who demanded submission down a well. “You want earth and water? Here, have both.” Having decided to stand up to the Persian horde, Athens then had to decide what to do. When city-states sometimes were faced with a dilemma, it was common to consult the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle was a temple to Apollo, the god of prophecy. You brought gifts (some would call this bribery) and were allowed to ask a question. A priestess called the Pythia would hear the question and go into a trance. Her mumblings would be interpreted by the priests. Athens sent a delegation to the Oracle and asked the question: “Should we fight the Persians?” The answer they got was bone-chilling.
Wretched ones, why sit you here? Flee and begone to remotest Ends of earth, leaving your homes, high places in circular city [Athens]; For neither the head abides sound, nor the body; Nor at bottom do the feet stay firm, nor the hands, Nor does the middle remain uninjured. All is lost. Fire pulls all down, and sharp Ares, driving his Syrian-bred horses. Many a fortress besides, and not yours alone shall he ruin. Many the temples of god to devouring flames he shall consign. There they stand now, the sweat of terror streaming down them. They quake with fear; from the rooftops black blood pours in deluging torrents. They have seen the coming destruction, and evil sheerly constraining. Get you gone out of the adyton [the inner sanctum of the temple]! Blanket your soul with your sorrows.
Holy, Zeus! Athens was clearly doomed. However, when the Athenians came out of the adyton with heads bowed and tears in their eyes, a man named Timon called them over. “Psst, I have a suggestion. If you didn’t like the answer, give more gifts and ask again.” They took his advice. Sure enough, the second prediction was more favorable, but also more enigmatic.
A wooden wall alone shall abide undestroyed by the foemen; Well shall it serve yourselves and your children. Do not await the charge of horses and foot that come on you, A mighty host from the landward side, but withdraw And turn your back in retreat; on another clay shall you face them. Salamis, isle divine, you shall slay many children of women.
When the delegation returned to Athens, the Assembly opened debate on what the Hades did the Oracle mean by “wooden wall.” Some argued it was a reference to the Acropolis which had originally had a wooden palisade. We should take refuge there and weather the storm. Themistocles argued the reference was to the fleet. After Marathon, Themistocles had convinced the public to spend a recent silver discovery on a fleet of triremes instead of just dividing the wealth among the citizens. He argued the Persians were going to come back and Athens would need a navy to defeat them. He must have been a very persuasive speaker because the public agreed and 100 triremes were constructed. He needed that talent again. He managed to convince the Assembly that the Oracle’s “wooden wall” referred to the fleet. We must rely on the fleet to defeat the Persians. And the Oracle also advised to abandon Athens and take refuge on the island of Salamis. Themistocles convinced his peers that the reference to many men being slayed was referring to the Persians. If they followed his advice, many Persian sailors will die.
History confirms Themistocles was right. The Athenians who refused to evacuate and instead rely on the “wooden wall” of the Acropolis were all killed when the city fell. In the naval battle in the strait separating Athens from the island of Salamis, the Greek fleet defeated the Persian fleet and saved Greece. Western Civilization was not killed in the cradle because one man was able to put the proper spin on a prophecy.
https://www.u.arizona.edu/~afutrell/w%20civ%2008/gkrelhdtdelphi.html
https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/future/deconstructing-oracle
https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2015/9/29/the-battle-of-salamis-themistocles-and-the-birth-of-strategy
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