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till they died all save one man who returned home to be despised by everyone. Xerxes' loss was more than 20,000. Leonidas the brave commander was caused to be hung by Xerxes who felt enraged at him for resisting him so long. Though Xerxes was apparently successful at the battle of Thermopylae yet Leonidas with the 300 Spartans who fell with him exhibited such daring and noble spirits that the Grecians were inspired with courage to fight on in defence of their country while intimidated the Persians destroying in them every hope of subverting Greece. The Athenians thought it advisable to desert Athens in order better to be able to defend other portions of their country. They had an engagement at Salamin in which place the Grecian fleets were all assembled under Themistocles who succeeded (with the aid of Aristides) in defeating the enemy and causing Xerxes to flee for safety to his own country. Though Xerxes commanded so large an army and engaged in war so often that he was not a brave man but on the contrary was in constant fear for his own personal safety. Mardonius was left with 300,000 men to perform the work that more than 1,000,000 could not do. Mardonius tried to tempt the Athenians with beautiful presents but they informed him that nothing would tempt them to give up their liberty. Aristides gradually gained the favor of his people again and ever acted justly, he addressed one of the ambassadors of Mardonius thus "Be assured that as long as that planet (pointing to the sun) shall continue its course the Athenians will be mortal enemies to the Persians and will not cease to take vengeance of them for ravaging their lands and burning their temples." The next battle was at Plutae in which they were again successful. The Ionians left the Persians and united with the Grecians. There are many interesting accounts relative to Xerxes that might be given. I will only say that the proud and obstinate Xerxes who possessed scarcely a redeeming trait was killed by Artobanus one of his officers