5th Century Places

Susa

One of the capital cities of the Persian Empire, serving as an administrative center.

Thessaly

Region that initially sided with Persia but later aided Greek resistance.

Thrace

Area controlled by Persia during Xerxes' invasion.

Hellespont

Location where Xerxes built a bridge to invade Greece.

Medes

Ancient people that were absorbed into the Persian Empire.

Macedonia

Initially submitted to Persia but later fought alongside the Greeks.

Miletus

City that led the Ionian Revolt (499–493 BCE) and was later destroyed by Persia.

Bosporus

Strategic waterway controlled by Persia.

Danube

River crossed by Darius in his campaign against the Scythians.

Lacedaemonia

Another name for the city-state of Sparta.

Peneus

River in Thessaly, crucial during the Persian advance.

Thebes

Initially sided with Persia and later faced Greek punishment.

Peloponnesus

Region controlled by Sparta and key in Greek resistance.

Argos

Neutral during the Persian Wars, suspected of being sympathetic to Persia.

Megara

City that contributed naval forces during the Battle of Salamis.

Euboea

Island burned by the Persians, also the site of the Artemisium naval battle.

Aegina

Naval power that fought alongside Athens at Salamis.

Eleusis

Site of the Eleusinian Mysteries with significant religious importance.

Isthmus

Location where Greeks planned to defend but became unnecessary after Salamis.

Delos

Sacred island that was left untouched by Persia.

Ephesus

Greek city in Ionia that was under Persian rule.

Laurium

Athenian silver mines that funded the navy crucial for victory at Salamis.

Thespiae

City that fought at Thermopylae and was later sacked by Persia.