Characters

• Xerxes


  Persian King responsible for the Second Expedition.

  Built the Gate of All Nations, Hall of One Hundred Columns, a palace in Persepolis and completed the Apadana.
• Artemisia


  Queen of Halicarnassus a Satrap under Xerxes, where Herodotus grew up.

  Half ionic Greek, half Carlan Persian.

  Rammed a Persian ship to get away from a Greek pursuer.
• Eurybiades

  The general and leader of the Greeks.

  Spartan King.

  Presented fairly positively, but a bit indecisive.

  Wanted to flee at the Battle of Salamis, but was bribed by Themistocles.
• Themistocles

  Admiral in the Athenian navy, fights in both the First and Second Expeditions. Very sketchy - takes credit for not fighting at Salamis and going for Salamis instead.

  Later attempts to become a tyrant in Athens, gets kicked out, and becomes a Persian Satrap.
• Mnesiphilos

  Athenian soldier.

  Warns Themistocles to not fight at Isthmus.
• Darius

  King of Persia, Xerxes' father. Took the throne from Cambyses, Cyrus' legitimate son, through trickery and propaganda.

  Launched the First Expedition of the Graeco-Persian Wars and lost at the Battle of Marathon. Didn't go personally.
• Demaratus

  An exiled king of Sparta who fled to Persia.

  Advices Xerxes against invading Greece.
• Artabanus

  Xerxes' uncle.

  Initially advised against invading Greece.

  Heard the same dream as Xerxes convincing him to invade Greece and agreed it was an omen that should be obeyed.
• Aristides


  Athenian noble and politician, known as Aristides the Just.

  Personal vendetta with Themistocles.

  Convinced the Greeks armies to fight at Salamis not Isthmus.