Damasithymus
King of Calyndos
BornCalynda
(modern-day Kozpınar, Bozüyük, Bilecik, Turkey)
Died26 or 27 September 480 BC
Salamis Island, Greece
GreekΔαμασίθυμος
FatherCandaules (Κανδαύλης)

Damasithymus (/ˌdæməˈsɪθɪməs/; Greek: Δαμασίθυμος; died 480 BC) was the king of Calyndos (Greek: Κάλυνδος), a city in ancient Caria.[1] His father was Candaules (Greek: Κανδαύλης).[2]

Herodotus, in the seventh and eighth books of his Histories and Polyaenus, in the eighth book of his work 'Stratagems', mention him.

Damasithymus was an ally of Xerxes I at the Second Persian invasion of Greece. He fought at the naval Battles of Artemisium and Salamis in 480 BC. He participated as commander of the only Calyndian ship in the Persian navy. He was killed during the Battle of Salamis.

His ship, together with ships from Halicarnassus, Cos and Nisyros, were under the command of Artemisia.[3] Artemisia's fleet, including Damasithymus's ship, had the best reputation in the Persian fleet, next to the ships from Sidon.[4] Herodotus mentions that Damasithymus was one of the most noted of the men commanding the Persian ships.[5]

He was killed at the Battle of Salamis when Artemisia rammed his ship, although they were allies, because it is said that she wanted to escape from an Athenian ship under the command of Ameinias who was pursuing her.[6][7][8] Damasithymus's ship sank and he and all his crew were lost.[9] When Xerxes saw Artemisia sink Damasithymus's ship, he thought that she had sunk a Greek ship[10] and, according to Herodotus, he said: "My men have become women, and my women men."[11] But, according to Polyaenus, he said: "O Zeus, surely you have formed women out of man's materials, and men out of woman's."[12]

According to Herodotus, Artemisia had previously had a disagreement with Damasithymus while they were in the Hellespont. "Now, even though it be true that she had had some strife with him before, while they were still about the Hellespont, yet I am not able to say whether she did this by intention, or whether the Calyndian ship happened by chance to fall in her way."[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Herodotus Book 8.87"...the king of the Calyndians Damasithymus was embarked."
  2. ^ Herodotus Book 7.98 "...and Damasithymus son of Candaules."
  3. ^ Artemisia in Herodotus Archived 2010-06-09 at the Wayback Machine " She led the forces of Halicarnassos, Cos, Nisyros and Calyndos, and supplied five ships."
  4. ^ Artemisia in Herodotus Archived 2010-06-09 at the Wayback Machine "The ships she brought had the best reputation in the whole fleet, next to the ones from Sidon,..."
  5. ^ Herodotus Book 7.98"Of those who sailed in the ships the men of most note after the commanders were these,...,and Damasithymus son of Candaules."
  6. ^ Herodotus Book 8.87"When the affairs of the king had come to great confusion, at this crisis a ship of Artemisia was being pursued by an Athenian ship; and as she was not able to escape, for in front of her were other ships of her own side, while her ship, as it chanced, was furthest advanced towards the enemy, she resolved what she would do, and it proved also much to her advantage to have done so. While she was being pursued by the Athenian ship she charged at full speed against a ship of her own side manned by the Calyndians and in which the king of the Calyndians, Damasithymus, was embarked."
  7. ^ Polyaenus: Stratagems- BOOK 8, 53 "Artemisia, in the naval battle at Salamis, found that the Persians were defeated, and she herself was near to falling into the hands of the Greeks. She ordered the Persian colours to be taken down, and the master of the ship to bear down upon, and attack a Persian vessel, that was passing by her. The Greeks, seeing this, supposed her to be one of their allies; they drew off and left her alone, directing their forces against other parts of the Persian fleet. Artemisia in the meantime sheered off, and escaped safely to Caria."
  8. ^ Polyaenus: Stratagems- BOOK 8, 53.2 "...sank a ship of the Calyndian allies, which was commanded by Damasithymus."
  9. ^ Herodotus Book 8.88 "...not one of the crew of the Calyndian ship survived to become her accuser."
  10. ^ Herodotus Book 8.88 "...secondly it happened that though she had done mischief, she yet gained great reputation by this thing with Xerxes. For it is said that the king looking on at the fight perceived that her ship had charged the other; and one of those present said: "Master, dost thou see Artemisia, how well she is fighting, and how she sank even now a ship of the enemy?" He asked whether this was in truth the deed of Artemisia, and they said that it was; for (they declared) they knew very well the sign of her ship: and that which was destroyed they thought surely was one of the enemy"
  11. ^ Herodotus Book 8.88 "And Xerxes in answer to that which was said to him is reported to have uttered these words: "My men have become women, and my women men." Thus it is said that Xerxes spoke."
  12. ^ Polyaenus: Stratagems- BOOK 8, 53.5"And even in the heat of the action, observing the manner in which she distinguished herself, he exclaimed: "O Zeus, surely you have formed women out of man's materials, and men out of woman's.""
  13. ^ Herodotus Book 8.87
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