We had trodden on the foot of the lion and for three years, it seemed we had gotten away with it.
Long ago, the Greek people had empires that were the envy of the world. We had colonies in Asia, our special colony was called Ionia. My city-state is Athens, named after the goddess of both wisdom and war, Athena. We have the most sophisticated language of all the Greeks - of all the world. We have the greatest navy of them all. We invented Democracy, a radical form of government in which the people governed themselves. Our art is the first art to depict life. Not just rulers and slaves. Not just wars and victories.
However, our Golden Age was suddenly brought to an end by the Colossus of the East - the Persian Empire.
Some time ago, a man named Cyrus unified the tribes of the East. He plundered through Asia, taking down Babylon, Egypt and Mesopotamia. He conquered Lydia. He even conquered Iona. Our children in Iona were subjugated by the Persians. It is the duty of everyone mother to protect her children. That is why, 19 years ago, when the Ionians called for help, we provided it. Together with the revolutionaries, we burnt down the puppet capital of Ionia, Sardis. We killed Persian commanders and inflicted great grief.
Unfortunately, we couldn't keep up the resistance. After 6 years, we had to retreat. We left with our friends from Eritrea and many other states. We went back home. We had trodden on the foot of the lion and for three years, it seemed we had gotten away with it.
Then came the news. Emperor Darius of Persia was very unhappy with us. We burnt down Persian temples. Now, he wanted to destroy Greek temples. He set sail with a massive fleet and subjugated all who stood against him. He annexed the province of Thrake and turned Makedonia into his vassal state - a slave. He attacked our brothers-in-arms in Eritrea. After a six day seige, the gates were opened. He pillaged and looted the temples and surrounding city. Those who did not die were enslaved.
The Spartan cowards offered no resistance. It seemed the barbarians were unstoppable. That's what we call them, barbarians. When they talk, it sounds like they are saying "Bard bard bard." Only one city-state, one tiny state stood in their path. It seemed there was nothing which could stop them. The world would fall back into the dark ages. Only one thing, however. We were that last city-state.
They wanted to besiege Athens, but one of our generals, Miltiades, was determined they would never come close to reaching it. He suggested that we deploy our hoplites (heavy infantry) in the mountainous region of Marathon, where the Persians were to land. He reasoned that we could win on land, but not behind our walls, where the Persian archers would overwhelm us. I served as one of the ten generals under Miltiades and fought on the landing ground. He was a genius tactician, though a terrible politician. We destroyed the Persians. They had no room to manoeuvre their cavalry. Their arrows were useless. They fled and left Greece, never to return.
But if they are never to return, why don't I feel safe? It's been ten years, and I am now 44. I fear their return, but I've not been able to convince anyone else of it. My people have become complacent. "Calm down, Themistocles," they say, "there's no way the Persians are coming back. Not after what happened to them last time. What a humiliation! They'll never return after that."
That's just the problem! Someone humiliates you and shows you up. Shows you are not invincible and can be beaten. You suffer greatly at their hands. Are you going to leave them alone? Of course not! You want revenge. They will come back and they will come back stronger than ever. Darius died a failure. His son is determined not to suffer the same fate. Darius came to punish us first and subjugate us last. I have no doubt that Xerxes will come with a stronger army, with the point of destroying us once and for all.
We can't let that happen. We can't fall into another dark age. We cannot lose democracy or freedom. We cannot let our culture be lost to the world. Otherwise, there is no telling what might happen. The world is on the verge of reverting to barbarism and savagery. Only problem is, nobody believes me!