Geographical classification

Europe > Turkey

Socio-cultural movements

Antiquity > Greek culture > Classical period

Groups by dedication

Rulers > Vicereines / Lieutenants / Regents

Women-at-arms > Militaries / Soldiers

Character
Mitad

Artemisia of Halicarnassus

(Artemisia I of Caria)

Halicarnassus 5th century B.C.E. | Unknown 5th century B.C.E.

Period of activity: From 480 a.C. until

Geographical classification: Europe > Turkey

Socio-cultural movements

Antiquity > Greek culture > Classical period

Groups by dedication

Rulers > Vicereines / Lieutenants / Regents

Women-at-arms > Militaries / Soldiers

Context of feminine creation

Other famous female rulers were Artemisia II (4th century BC), who, after the death of her husband Mausolus of Caria (377–353 BC), ordered the construction of a grandiose and spectacular funerary monument in his honor, and it was considered one of the seven wonders of antiquity: the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus; Cleopatra Philopator (1st century BC), queen of Egypt, or Zenobia of Palmyra (3rd century AD). Of these, Cleopatra and Zenobia also commanded their armies, in this case against the Romans, and they were joined by others, such as Boudica, queen of the Iceni, who led several British tribes against the Romans. 

 

Review

The tyrant Artemisia I of Halicarnassus participated in the naval battles of Artemisium and Salamis as admiral of the fleet of King Xerxes of Persia, to whom she was an adviser, and the Greeks put a price on her head: ten thousand drachmas for whoever captured her alive, since they considered something inadmissible for a woman to make war on Athens (Herodotus, VIII, 93, 2. Our own translation from Professor Carlos Schrader). 

 

 

 

 

Activities

English

Spanish

Valencian

Justifications

  • Admiral of the Persian fleet in the Second Persian War.
  • Ruler of Caria.
  • Advisor to the Great King of Persia, Xerxes I.

Biography

As the tyrant of a city in Caria, then a satrapy of the Achaemenid empire, she fought for the cause of Xerxes I, the Great King of Persia, against the Greek poleis in the Second Persian War. She personally led her five ships in the naval battles of Artemisium and Salamis, in 480 BC. Xerxes went so far as to ask his advice to the detriment of his official adviser. We know of her existence from the writings of a Greek historian, who claims that she was the only female military leader on the Persian side and praises her initiative and bravery, as well as Xerxes' respect for her. According to the sources (Herodotus, Histories, books VII and VIII), Artemisia was the daughter of Lygdamis, king of Halicarnassus, and a Cretan aristocrat.  

After becoming a widow, she took over the throne of Halicarnassus because her son was still too young to reign. She must have married around 500 BC with someone whose name we do not know and who died shortly after.  

 

 

Works

Bibliography

-Heródoto (2006) Historias, books VII and VIII. Edición elaleph.com

-Mayor Ferrándiz, María Teresa (2014) “Artemisia I, tirana de Halicarnaso” Revista digital de Historia y Ciencias Sociales  artículo nº 417, (retrieved on 20/09/2020), <http://www.claseshistoria.com/revista/2014/articulos/mayor-artemisia-halicarnaso.html >

-"Hydna of Scione (c. 480 BCE – Unknown)", en Ancient Herstories, (retrieved on 20/09/2020), <https://ancientherstories.com/swimming-for-victory-hydna-of-scione-greek-war-hero-c-480-bce-unknown/>

-Sanz, Javier (2013). "Hydna y Artemisia, las protagonistas de la batalla de Salamina", en Historias de la Historia, (retrieved on 20/09/2020), <https://historiasdelahistoria.com/2019/05/23/hydna-y-artemisa-las-protagonistas-de-la-batalla-de-salamina>

-“Hidna de Escíone”, en Wikipedia, (retrieved on 20/09/2020), <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydna >

AUDIOVISUAL

-Priego, J.J. y Sanz, Javier (2020). "La batalla de Salamina", en Historias de la Historia, (retrieved on 20/09/2020), <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqLmnozlD-s >

 

Didactic approach

-Classical culture: Block Classical roots of today's world. History and socio-political evolution; Block Classical roots of today's world. Everyday life.

- Greek Baccalaureate: Block Ancient Greece. 

- History 1st ESO: Block Societies and territories, referring to Greece.

Documents