The events of the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation for the 2500 year anniversary of the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis were kicked off with an international scientific conference, attended by the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Prokopiοs Pavlopoulos and top academics from the world’s largest universities, on Monday, 20 January, 2020, at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Culture Center.
The Conference was titled “Thermopylae and Salamis: Assessing their importance in the modern world”, and it was organised under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic.
The Conference was declared open by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Prokopiοs Pavlopoulos with his speech titled “The timeless message of the Persian Wars”: “2500 years later, the Battles of Thermopylae and of Salamis, together with the Battle of Marathon, an endless and ongoing fountain of clear historical and cultural teachings, emit in all directions without fail the same message, ever since they decided the outcome of the Persian Wars. An outcome which meant the victory of the Greeks, who were defending themselves, against the attacking Persians, as well as the victory of Freedom and Democracy against the authoritarianism and the dogmatism of the Persian despotism. This victory set the boundary, ever since, between the East and the West. This boundary was set in the sense that the dark despotism from the East failed to prevail over the known world of the time, thus allowing the West to formulate, based on Ancient Greece, the Civilisation of the Free Spirit, Representative Democracy and the Fundamental Human Rights. Essentially, this boundary between East and West served and continues to serve as an “advanced outpost” for the defence of Man in his struggle to protect his values and the unhindered development of his personality, on terms of Solidarity and Justice. In a struggle which always did and always will take place in a free “society”, and not under any circumstances, in a closed and by definition hostile to freedom “community”, Mr Pavlopoulos noted among other things.
The President of the Honorary Committee Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis in her speech underlined: “2500 years ago, in a battle between light and darkness, light prevailed. This Victory was not the result of numbers but of Man. And this self-sacrifice of the brave at Thermopylae who gave their lives to stop the enemies who were bringing an entirely different world along with them, became a Symbol of Victory: the victory of Selflessness, Loyalty and Love for the homeland. It became Sacrifice – never defeat! – “for God and country”. On the other hand, the victory in Salamis was the culmination of the strategic skills of the Ancient Greeks. With Themistocles at the lead, this was the most important naval operation of antiquity which became a legend, a lesson for the nations, the beginning of global naval history, and according to the historians, the birth of Western Civilization. The Greek win, despite the incomparably lower number of Greeks, paved the way of the historical progress of the Greek City-States in an environment of creativity and independence, which provided a model and inspiration through the centuries. It gave Pericles and his Golden age the chance to flourish. Athens produced at the time some of the most important and timeless cultural works, which were then spread far and influenced Europe and the rest of the world. This was the time when the Parthenon was built, and unprecedented works of art were created, which are an integral part of the global cultural heritage. This is the land where the freedom of speech was born. This is the birthplace of democracy, which for the past 2500 years has remained the world’s ideal political system, and the longest-living heritage which the Golden Age bequeathed to Humanity. None of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for the decisive victory of the Greeks in Salamis. We humbly bow our heads before this significant heritage, with a deep sense of responsibility. Our goal is for this Anniversary to be meaningful for today’s societies, and particularly the younger generation, in modern terms, with an open spirit and respect for the age-old values which still constitute part of our identity”.
The event was also addressed by the First Lady of Cyprus, Mrs Andri Anastasiadi, and the Minister of Culture, Mrs Lina Mendoni.
“Two and a half thousand years later, these two epic battles continue to promote the global values of peace, solidarity, freedom and democracy. Values which had the chance to flourish after this great victory of the Greeks and become the foundations of the western civilization. Values which have been guiding the progress of our people through time and in our days take on the utmost importance, taking into consideration the challenges we are called upon to face as a Nation”, Mrs Anastasiadi noted.
On her side, Mrs Mendoni referred to the importance of the Persian Wars and the drastic effect they had on historical and cultural developments: “After the Persian Wars, unsurpassed ideals and institutions emerged, which were destined to last through time, serving as the foundations of the Western Civilization”.
The Emeritus Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King’s College London, Mr Roderick Beaton gave a lecture titled “The Persian Wars, the Establishment of Europe and the Beginning of History”.
Professor of History at Cambridge University, Mr Paul Anthony Cartledge, spoke on the subject of: “The ‘Finest Hour’ of Ancient Greece: Salamis 2500 From a Democratic Perspective”, the Professor of Strategy in the University of Piraeus, Mr Athanasios Platias spoke about: “The high strategy of Themistocles”, Mr Giorgos Prevelakis, Professor Emeritus of Geopolitics, Pantheon-Sorbonne University gave a speech on the subject of: “The wooden walls. Geopolitical Challenges and Historical Lessons”. Mr Aggelos Chaniotis, Professor of Ancient History and Classical Studies, Institute of Advanced Studies, Princeton, spoke about: “Tell me which anniversaries you celebrate and I will tell you who you are”.
The event was moderated and the conclusions presented by Mr Loukas Tsoukalis, Professor of International Affairs, Sciences Po, Paris, Professor Emeritus, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President of think tank ELIAMEP.
In attendance were also the Minister of State, Mr Panagiotis Pikrammenos, as representative of the government, Mrs Sissy Pavlopoulou, the Minister of National Defence, Mr Nikos Panagiotopoulos, the Minister of Health, Mr Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister of Tourism, Mr Haris Theoharis, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Fthiotida Mr Symeon, the Hellenic Army General Staff Chief Lieutenant General Haralambos Lalousis, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy, Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, the Co-Chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and former President of Latvia, Mrs Vaira Vike Freiberga, the former Vice-president of the World Bank Mr Ismail Serageldin, the former Prime Minister Mr Loukas Papadimos and his wife Mrs Shanna Papadimou, Sir Magdi Yacoub, the General Secretary of The Presidency of the Republic Mr Giorgos Gennimatas, the former Minister, Mr Alekos Flabouraris and formers heads of State, members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, members of parliament, representatives of the academic and scientific world, of agencies of the local government.
Speech by Professor Loukas Tsoukalis at the scientific conference “Thermopylae and Salamis: Assessing their importance in the modern world
Cultural Center, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, 20 January 2020
I was asked to moderate this evening’s discussion and to try to extract certain conclusion at its closing, after the highly interesting and very diverse speeches we heard.
We are discussing tonight about two very important events that took place 2500 years ago in this small corner of Europe, at these critical crossroads of continents and cultures. These are events which affected to a great extent the history of Europe, and dare I say, the entire world.
Because imagine what would have been the course of history, if the Persians had won in Salamis, if the Athenian democracy had fallen then, if the Golden Age of Pericles that followed this battle had never happened? Because all this was what helped shape the European civilization and European values. But of course, you will tell me, ifs do not rewrite history.
For us, having this grand privilege of being born in this corner of Europe, we feel as the lawful heirs, although at times perplexed in how to manage such a heritage. Because our heritage is very heavy, and sometimes we buckle under this weight.
Roderick Beaton reminds us that the word Hellenes was not so common before Aeschylus used it in his great tragedy about the Persians, which I remind was one of a set of four plays that won the drama competition of Ancient Athens in 472 B.C. and was sponsored by none other than Pericles.
What is it that united Greeks at the time, those Greeks who lived in city states and often waged war with each other? What were the common grounds for Greeks in the 5th century B.C.?
The reply is given by Herodotus three decades after Thermopylae and Salamis, in the famous section of his History, which Aggelos Chaniotis talked to us about.
Herodotus refers to the same blood, the same language, the same religion and gods they worshipped and their shared customs and traditions. This is what united Greeks against their common enemy, which at the time was the Persians, even though this alliance was not stable and did not include the entire Greek territory. These were the common things that brought Greeks to Olympia every four years to compete in the Olympic Games.
The concept of national identity certainly did not exist at the time, as we view it and have experienced it after the birth of the nation states. A concept that is fairly modern, as we are aware. In fact, the nation state counts less than four centuries of history and in most cases a lot less.
So what is the common ground between us, the modern citizens of this small corner of the world, with the ancient Greeks? Allow me to raise this, perhaps provocative to some, question.
The answer is certainly not the same blood. Because we have had many conquerors. But does this matter? Our national identity is no longer verified by DNA – thankfully, I would add. And obviously, it is not even the same religion. The one God replaced the many gods over the years.
But what is true, at least to some extent, is the same way of life. Because many old values and traditions successfully withstood the passage of time, even with unavoidable transmutations.
The Greek Easter, for example, carries strong influences of the celebrations in ancient Greece for spring and the rebirth of nature. Leonidas and the great sacrifice at Thermopylae for a supreme ideal are part of this cultural heritage.
The song of the Greeks during the Salamis battles, as Aeschylus rendered it in The Persians, still inspires awe in the modern Greek, especially those of us a bit more advanced in age who were still taught ancient Greek in school.
Together with everything great and important we inherited from that age, we also got some of the negative aspects that accompany the anniversary we are commemorating today, such as treason and divide. Ephialtes bequeathed us his name as the word for nightmare in our daily vocabulary. And we hope his visits in our dreams are rare and even rarer in reality.
You may say that our heritage from Thermopylae and Salamis, the great heritage of ancient Greece in general, is not exclusively ours. It is certainly an integral part of the European cultural heritage. It can be found everywhere with a strong presence in arts and letters. It was the foundation for the European Renaissance and the Enlightenment which reached us as a counter-gift from Europe, even if belatedly.
And our poet Kavafis, who wrote his verse about honouring those whose life was sacrificed to protect Thermopylae, certainly was not only addressing Greeks. Kavafis wrote about the values the go beyond borders, but he wrote in our language, in Greek. And this inheritance is exclusively ours. So the same language still continues today. Our language is that bright line that connects us to everyone that has lived on this land over thousands of years.
Our other great poet, Odysseas Elytis, in Axion Esti wrote “ The language given to me was Greek,
My house poor on Homer’s shores, My only care, my language”.
The battles of Thermopylae and Salamis symbolize mainly the battle for freedom, the fight of the few against the many, the battle for the protection of our home against foreign invaders. Timeless values, which is why these battles were written in indelible ink in the pages of History and are still commemorated after 2500 years.
They are also linked, as Paul Cartledge and Roderick Beaton remind us, to two great legacies of ancient Greece for the global civilization, namely democracy based on equity and equal rights of free citizens, and not subjects or servants, and History as a record and a reminder of events that are handed down to the next generations.
Aeschylus in the Persians does not mock the defeated, even though he had fought in Marathon and Salamis against the Persians. Aeschylus attributes the heroism of the Athenians in the battle of Salamis to the fact that they were fighting as free citizens for everything that was of value to them, as opposed to the subservience of the Persians to the monarch’s authority.
I imagine Aeschylus was right in this comparison, even though everything we know about these events is from the viewpoint of the Greeks at the time, because we have no written testimony from the Persian side. There is obviously a subjective element in any narrative, whether it is the tragedy of Aeschylus or even Herodotus, the first historian of mankind.
The Athenian fleet, thanks to Themistocles’ forward planning, and the battle of Salamis did not simply save the Athenian democracy. It also broadened its social base because the city needed rowers for the ships, and thus the social class of the so-called Thetes acquired full rights as Athenian citizens. In other words, democracy became stronger when it was faced with an enemy threat.
Themistocles in Salamis saved the Greeks from the foreign oppressor, saved the Athenian democracy using not only his power of persuasion but also tricks against his political adversaries in Athens, the other Greek allies and their common enemy, the Persians. Athanasios Platias tells us that success in war is based on deception. But does this also happen sometimes in peace? Even though I feel fairly uncomfortable with such a conclusion, I have to bring it up.
It is obviously the individuals who often make a difference , even in democracy. And this conclusion is not anti-democratic. In fact, neither do the people always act wisely, nor is democracy on its own a guarantee for rule of law or peace. History also teaches us this.
In modern democracies, we use the so-called institutional counterweights to avoid excessive accumulation of power or its abuse by the majority. These are the essential elements which form a modern liberal democracy that is daily tested in practice.
In ancient Athens they had ostracism as a means to protect democracy from those individuals who could potentially undermine it. But Athenians did not always use this wisely.
Themistocles himself was in fact ostracised a few years after the victory in Salamis. He was exiled from Athens, and he found refuge in the court of the Persian monarch. Doesn’t this development sound like an ancient Greek tragedy?
The gratitude of the Athenians apparently did not last long for the man who had saved them. Neither did the Athenian democracy avoid Hubris, with a capital H, judging from how it mercilessly enforced its rule of force a few decades later during the Peloponnesian war against the citizens of Milos.
In other words, the democracy which was born here in Athens was solidified after the victory of Salamis and passed on many centuries later to Europe and beyond, is an extremely sensitive political construct that needs a lot of attention and constant care. Or, as Winston Churchill said, Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. Therefore, we need to keep a close eye on it.
If there was one positive thing to keep from the recent crisis in our country, that would be that our democracy stood strong. It is a great success and we need to be proud.
There are also two elements in the Histories of Herodotus which I would not keep today. I mean the polarity of Greeks-Barbarians and the clash between Europe and Asia.
The first obviously has no meaning in our modern world. It refers only to extreme forms of nationalism which is the negative aspect of patriotism and leads to extremely dangerous paths.
But neither the clash between Europe and Asia, which in turn refers to a clash of cultures, would be useful today. Because in our times, as the world shrinks day by day, and our problems take on a global dimension, it is not helpful to live with polarity and clashes.
THERMOPYLAE AND SALAMIS A great defeat and a great victory. I believe it is interesting that more weight has been placed on the defeat and the sacrifice, than to a victory that literally changed the course of history. The name of Leonidas is much better known that Themistocles, both in Greece and worldwide.
I would never dare to underestimate the importance of the sacrifice of a hero in history, as well as the myths that shape the national identity in any country, including ours. But sometimes I wonder whether in our collective minds, the heroes that sacrifice themselves and lose, are considered much more important than those who win great battles.
It would be dangerous if we had this attitude not only in the big matters, but also in the smallest ones. Our country’s public life is not a daily battle in Thermopylae or in Arkadi. In most cases, the dilemmas which a country faces require clear thinking, knowledge and organisation – and less heroism. With such a compass in our hands we are not easily at risk of losing our way.
Modern Greece is a relatively small country at an important crossroads and in a very challenging neighbourhood. We are very proud about the older history of our land, but we have good reason to be proud also of our modern history.
If we remember where modern Greece started out from nearly 200 years ago, and where it is today, the outcome is, I think, more than positive, despite the many ups and downs over the years. And any of us who were in doubt, let us compare with what is going on around us.
In its modern history, our country always had an exceptionally outward looking and successful minority of Greeks, who often operated inside and outside the country, while at the same time being an inward looking and rather weak state. A country with many contradictions and great inequalities.
Giorgos Prevelakis reminds us that Ancient Athenians were successful in their defence against the Persian invasion, after Themistocles’ urged them to leave the city’s closed walls and go to sea. Extroversion, is what he was asking in other words.
A small country, in a difficult neighbourhood, needs domestic unity, personalities that inspire others as role models and are wise and intelligent leaders, and certainly not demagogues. We also need a proper understanding of our country’s external environment and strong alliances.
In other words, it needs to negotiate with strength and confidence its position in a rapidly changing world, and not to retreat into its shell. This is I believe what is at stake for our country today.
I don’t want to tire you any longer. I shared with you some random thoughts about the anniversary we are celebrating tonight. I hope that you found some of them at least interesting. Thank you for your patience.