Battle of the Eurymedon
Mouth of the Eurymedon River (today's Köprüçay), southern Turkey
What happened
The Delian League, led by the Athenian general Cimon, fought the fleet and army of the Persian Empire. Cimon sailed east with 200 warships and persuaded the city of Phaselis to join the League. He then attacked the Persian fleet at the mouth of the Eurymedon River. Most Persian ships fled to the shore, and the Greeks went on to defeat the Persian army there and capture its camp.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It probably ended the threat of another Persian invasion of Greece. The Persians did not campaign in the Aegean again until at least 451 BCE.
What came next
In 460 BCE the League sent forces to support a revolt in Egypt, which ended in disaster for the Greeks six years later. Cimon himself had been voted into exile from Athens in 461 BCE.
Did you know?
Cimon was so fond of Sparta that he named one of his sons Lacedaemonius.
Timeline
- 476 BCECimon besieges Eion.
- c. 466 BCECimon wins at the Eurymedon.
- 461 BCECimon is ostracised and exiled from Athens.
- 460 BCEThe League supports a revolt in Egypt.