Untitled - 24grammata.com

1 ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. xii.whole fleets consisting of triremes. 1 In these, many improvements may have been made but as no essential ;changetook place, we leave this and subject, many others relating tonaval matters, to the industry of the antiquarian.We would only add a few remarks on the naval tactics ofthe Greeks. Did they receive a scientific form earlier thanthe military? And if so, through whom, and by what means ?And here the reader must not forget,that we are treating ofthe times previous to the dominion of Macedonia.It is apparent from the preceding observations, that theGreeks had more reason to improve their naval than theirmilitary tactics. They were often obliged to contend withfleets, not only superior to theirs in number, but also in theexcellence of the vessels; for in the Persian wars, thesquadrons of the Phoenicians were arrayed against them.Even when the victory had been gained, the safety of Greecestilldepended on its maritime force. This formed the foundation of the greatness of the first of the Grecian cities.Naval actions, more than battles by land, decided the destinyof the states. What circumstances and relations could bemore favourable to the display of great talents ? And wheremay we indulge greater expectations, especially when welook through the lists of the men to whom Athens andSparta intrusted the command of their squadrons ?We can best commence the history of the naval tactics ofGreece, at the period in which we have descriptions of theirengagementsat sea. The earliest account which we possess,is of the battle which took place near the island Lada, offMiletus, between the Ionian fleet and that of the Phoeniciansin the service of Persia. The navy of the lonians had thenreached its best state ;it consisted of not less than threehundred and fifty triremes, while that of the Phoenicians wasalmost twice as large. We find that a premeditated positionwas taken in the days before the battle. In the divisions ofthe first line, there were intervals, through which those ofthe second could sail. 2But the battle itself is not instructive,as the Persians previously succeeded in dividing the fleet ofthe allies.When Xerxes invaded Greece, Themistocles gained thel. Thucyd. I 14 Herod, vi 12, etc. Here too we have aninstance of how little could be effected by the commander.