Editing Themistocles (section)

=== Rebuilding of Athens after the Persian invasion ===
[[File:Athenians rebuilding their city under the direction of Themistocles.jpg|thumb|left|Athenians rebuilding their city under the direction of Themistocles.]]
Whatever the cause of Themistocles's unpopularity in 479&nbsp;BC, it obviously did not last long. Both [[Diodorus Siculus]] and Plutarch suggest he was quickly restored to the favour of the Athenians.<ref name = PT19 /><ref name = DSXI39>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23115;layout=;loc=11.40.1 XI, 39]</ref> Indeed, after 479&nbsp;BC, he seems to have enjoyed a relatively long period of popularity.<ref name = DSXI54>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23130;layout=;loc=11.55.1 XI, 54]</ref>
[[File:North wall of the Acropolis with built-in fragments.jpg|thumb|The northern wall of the [[Acropolis of Athens]], built by Themistocles with built-in fragments of destroyed temples]]
[[File:Acropolis North wall Older Partenon columns.jpg|thumb|Column drums of the destroyed [[Older Parthenon]], reused in building-up the North wall of the [[Acropolis]], by Themistocles]]
In the aftermath of the invasion and the [[Destruction of Athens]] by the Achaemenids, the Athenians began rebuilding their city under the guidance of Themistocles in the autumn of 479&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shepherd |first1=William |title=Plataea 479 BC: The most glorious victory ever seen |year=2012 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-1-84908-555-7 |page=88 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFm3CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA88}}</ref><ref name = PT19 /> They wished to restore the fortifications of Athens, but the Spartans objected on the grounds that no place north of the Isthmus should be left that the Persians could use as a fortress.<ref name = DSXI39 /> Themistocles urged the citizens to build the fortifications as quickly as possible, then went to Sparta as an ambassador to answer the charges levelled by the Spartans. There, he assured them that no building work was on-going, and urged them to send emissaries to Athens to see for themselves.<ref name = DSXI40>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;layout=;query=chapter%3D%23116;loc=11.39.1 XI, 40]</ref> By the time the ambassadors arrived, the Athenians had finished building, and then detained the Spartan ambassadors when they complained about the presence of the fortifications.<ref name = DSXI40 /> By delaying in this manner, Themistocles gave the Athenians enough time to fortify the city, and thus ward off any Spartan attack aimed at preventing the re-fortification of Athens.<ref name = DSXI40 /> Furthermore, the Spartans were obliged to repatriate Themistocles in order to free their own ambassadors.<ref name = PT19 /><ref name = DSXI40 /> However, this episode may be seen as the beginning of the Spartan mistrust of Themistocles, which would return to haunt him.<ref name = PT19 />

Themistocles also now returned to his naval policy,<ref name = PT19 /> and more ambitious undertakings that would increase the dominant position of his native state.<ref name = DSXI41>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23117;layout=;loc=11.40.1 XI, 41]</ref> He further extended and fortified the port complex at Piraeus, and "fastened the city [Athens] to the Piraeus, and the land to the sea".<ref name = PT19 /> Themistocles probably aimed to make Athens the dominant naval power in the Aegean.<ref name = DSXI41 /> Indeed, Athens would create the [[Delian League]] in 478&nbsp;BC, uniting the naval power of the Aegean Islands and Ionia under Athenian leadership.<ref>Holland, p. 360</ref> Themistocles introduced tax breaks for merchants and artisans, to attract both people and trade to the city to make Athens a great mercantile centre.<ref name = DSXI43>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23117;layout=;loc=11.40.1 XI, 43]</ref> He also instructed the Athenians to build 20 [[triremes]] per year, to ensure that their dominance in naval matters continued.<ref name = DSXI43 /> Plutarch reports that Themistocles also secretly proposed to destroy the beached ships of the other Allied navies to ensure complete naval dominance—but was overruled by Aristides and the council of Athens.<ref name = PT20>Plutarch, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0182;query=chapter%3D%23236;layout=;loc=Them.%2019.1 Themistocles, 20]</ref>