THE WOODEN WALLS OF ATHENS. 157

nians, though not one to inspire them with courage
and hope.

The fleet of Greece consisted of three hundred and
sixty-six ships in all, of which Athens supplied two
hundred, while the remainder came in small numbers
from the various Grecian states. The Persian fleet,
despite its losses by storm, far outnumbered that
of Greece, and came sweeping down the Attic coast,
confident of victory, while the great army marched
southward over Attic land.

And now two councils of war were held,—one by
the Persian leaders, one by the Greeks. The fleet of
Xerxes, probably still a thousand ships strong, lay in
the Bay of Phalerum, a few miles from Athens; and
hither the king, having wrought his will on that
proud and insolent city, came to the coast to inspect
his ships of war and take counsel as to what should
next be done.

Here, before his royal throne, were seated the
kings of Tyre and Sidon, and the rulers of the many
other nations represented in his army. One by one
they were asked what should be done. “Fight,” was
the general reply ; “fight without delay.” Only one
voice gave different advice, that of Queen Artemisia
of Halicarnassus. She advised Xerxes to march to
the isthmus of Corinth, saying that then all the
ships of the Peloponnesus would fly to defend their
own homes, and the fleet of Greece would thus be dis-
persed. Xerxes heard her with calmness, but declined
to take her prudent advice. The voice of the others
and his own confidence prevailed, and orders were
given for the flect to make its attack the next day.

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