Editing Themistocles (section)

=== Fall and exile ===
[[File:AGMA Ostrakon Thémistocle 1.jpg|thumb|[[Ostracon]] with inscription: "Themist[h]ocles, son of Neocles"]]

It seems clear that, towards the end of the decade, Themistocles had begun to accrue enemies, and had become arrogant; moreover his fellow citizens had become jealous of his prestige and power.<ref name = PT19 /><ref name = PT22 /> The Rhodian poet [[Timocreon]] was among his most eloquent enemies, composing slanderous [[skolion|drinking songs]].<ref>David Campbell, ''Greek Lyric Poetry'', Bristol Classical Press (1982), p. 406</ref> Meanwhile, the Spartans actively worked against him, trying to promote [[Cimon]] (son of Miltiades) as a rival to Themistocles. Furthermore, after the treason and disgrace of the Spartan general [[Pausanias (general)|Pausanias]], the Spartans tried to implicate Themistocles in the plot; he was, however, acquitted of these charges.<ref name="DSXI54" /> In Athens itself, he lost favour by building a sanctuary of [[Artemis]], with the [[epithet]] ''[[Aristoboule|Aristoboulẽ]]'' ("of good counsel") near his home, a blatant reference to his own role in delivering Greece from the Persian invasion.<ref name = PT22 /> Eventually, in either 472 or 471&nbsp;BC, he was ostracised.<ref name = PT22 /><ref name = DSXI55>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23131;layout=;loc=11.54.1 XI, 55]</ref> In itself, this did not mean that Themistocles had done anything wrong; ostracism, in the words of Plutarch, "was not a penalty, but a way of pacifying and alleviating that jealousy which delights to humble the eminent, breathing out its malice into this disfranchisement."

[[File:Franc Kavčič - Temistokles išče zatočišče pri kralju Admetu.jpg|thumb|left|Themistocles finds refuge with King [[Admetus (king)|Admetus]].]]
Themistocles first went to live in exile in [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]].<ref name = DSXI55 /><ref name = PT23>Plutarch, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0182;query=chapter%3D%23239;layout=;loc=Them.%2024.1 Themistocles, 23]</ref> However, perceiving that they now had a prime opportunity to bring Themistocles down for good, the Spartans again levelled accusations of Themistocles's complicity in Pausanias's treason.<ref name = DSXI55 /> They demanded that he be tried by the 'Congress of Greeks', rather than in Athens, although it seems that in the end he was actually summoned to Athens to stand trial.<ref name = DSXI55 /><ref name = PT23 /> Perhaps realising he had little hope of surviving this trial, Themistocles fled, first to [[Kerkyra]], and thence to [[Admetus (king)|Admetus]], king of [[Molossia]].<ref name = PT24>Plutarch, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0182;query=chapter%3D%23240;layout=;loc=Them.%2025.1 Themistocles, 24]</ref><ref name = DSXI56>Diodorus [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084;query=chapter%3D%23132;layout=;loc=11.57.1 XI, 56]</ref> Themistocles's flight probably only served to convince his accusers of his guilt, and he was declared a traitor in Athens, his property to be confiscated.<ref name = PT25>Plutarch, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0182;query=chapter%3D%23241;layout=;loc=Them.%2024.1 Themistocles, 25]</ref> Both Diodorus and Plutarch considered that the charges were false, and made solely for the purposes of destroying Themistocles.<ref name = DSXI55 /><ref name = PT23 /> The Spartans sent ambassadors to Admetus, threatening that the whole of Greece would go to war with the Molossians unless they surrendered Themistocles.<ref name = DSXI56 /> Admetus, however, allowed Themistocles to escape, giving him a large sum of gold to aid him on his way.<ref name = DSXI56 /> Themistocles then fled from Greece, apparently never to return, thus effectively bringing his political career to an end.<ref name = DSXI56 /><ref name = TI137>Thucydides [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0200;query=chapter%3D%23137;layout=;loc=1.136.1 I, 137]</ref>