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What is Salamis in ancient Greece?

Author

Mia Smith

Published Mar 17, 2026

What is Salamis in ancient Greece?

Salamis, Modern Greek Salamís, island, town, and dímos (municipality), Attica (Modern Greek: Attikí) periféreia (region), eastern Greece. On the east, between the island and the mainland, are the straits in which the Greeks won a decisive naval victory over the Persians in 480 bce.

Why is Salamis important in history?

The Battle of Salamis was a great victory for the Greek navy and, in combination with a victory by the Greek army at the Battle of Plataea the next year, led to the complete defeat of the Persians. Many historians cite the Battle of Salamis as one of the most important battles in human history.

What is Salamis called now?

Salamis, principal city of ancient Cyprus, located on the east coast of the island, north of modern Famagusta.

Where was Salamis in ancient Greece?

It resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered Greeks. The battle was fought in the straits between the mainland and Salamis, an island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, and marked the high point of the second Persian invasion of Greece.

What was the consequence of the Battle of Salamis?

Ultimately, the victory of the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis turned the tide of the war, delaying Persian action, and giving the Greeks time to regain strength in their numbers and stopping Persian advances.

When did the Battle of Salamis happen?

September 480 BC
Battle of Salamis/Start dates

When did the Battle of Salamis start?

What did Paul do in Salamis?

“. . . they sailed to Cyprus. When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews” (Acts 13:4,5). The preaching here at Salamis in Cyprus was the beginning of what is usually called Paul’s “First Missionary Journey” (Acts 13-14).

When was Salamis founded?

1180 BC
According to legend, Salamis was founded around 1180 BC by Teucer (Teukros), son of Telamon, king of Salamina, on the Greek mainland. Brother to the hero Ajax, he was unable to return home from the Trojan War after failing to avenge his brother’s death.

Why did the Salamis start?

According to a story by Herodotus that may or may not be true, the Athenian admiral Themistocles, pretending to be a friend of the Persians, lured the enemy navy into the straits of Salamis: he ordered a slave to row to the shore, and tell the Persians that the Greek allies were to abandon their position.

How did the battle of Salamis end?

In 480 BCE, the Greeks defeated the Persian fleet off the island of Salamis in the largest naval battle ever fought in the ancient world. The Greek victory proved to be the turning point in the war, for the Persian king, Xerxes, returned to Asia with his surviving ships and the majority of his land troops.

How long was the battle of Salamis?

12 hours
The Greeks faced off against the Persians in a narrow strait west of the island of Salamis. The battle lasted for 12 hours, but at the end, the Greeks were victorious. It was likely the Greek army’s smaller, more manoeuvrable boats that gave them the advantage in the narrow waters around Salamis.