The Delphians do a vanishing act leaving only the priests behind. Meanwhile, the Athenians hurriedly evacuate their city of women and children and take refuge on neighboring islands including Salamis. The Persians march into Attica, occupy Athens and plunder the Acropolis. In Greece, only the Peloponnesian cities now stand free. It is four months since the Persians crossed the Hellespont.
Panic strikes the Peloponnesian fleet as it prepares to withdraw further away from Athens.
A tough battle ensues and in the narrow straits of Salamis, the smaller, nimbler Greek triremes soon gain an upper hand over the Persian fleet. Taking active part aboard a Persian ship is Artemesia, the consort of Xerxes. Artemesia distinguishes herself even when the Greeks win a decisive victory and rout the Persians. Herodotus comments on the culpability of the neutral nations of the Peloponnese, 'Seven nations inhabit the Peloponnese. Two of them are aboriginal and still continue in the regions where they dwelt at the first to wit, the Arcadians and the Cynurians.