Editing Themistocles (section)

=== Archonship ===
[[File:Beeld, Themistocles - Unknown - 20408396 - RCE.jpg|thumb|Profile view of an ancient Greek bust of Themistocles]]
Themistocles probably turned 30 in 494&nbsp;BC, which qualified him to become an archon, the highest of the magistracies in Athens.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ostwald |first=Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EC74HjT_aTIC |title=Language and History in Ancient Greek Culture |year=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-0609-8 |page=178}}</ref> On the back of his popularity, he evidently decided to run for this office and was elected [[Eponymous archon|Archon Eponymous]], the highest government office in the following year (493&nbsp;BC).<ref name = h164 /> Themistocles's archonship saw the beginnings of a major theme in his career; the advancement of Athenian sea-power. Under his guidance, the Athenians began the building of a new port at [[Piraeus]], to replace the existing facilities at [[Phalerum]].<ref name = h164 /> Although further away from Athens, Piraeus offered three natural harbours, and could be easily fortified.<ref name = PT19>Plutarch, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0182;query=chapter%3D%23235;layout=;loc=Them.%2020.1 Themistocles, 19]</ref> Since Athens was to become an essentially maritime power during the 5th century&nbsp;BC, Themistocles's policies were to have huge significance for the future of Athens, and indeed Greece. In advancing naval power, Themistocles was probably advocating a course of action he thought essential for the long-term prospects of Athens.<ref name = h164 /> However, as Plutarch implies, since naval power relied on the mass mobilisation of the common citizens (''[[thetes]]'') as rowers, such a policy put more power into the hands of average Athenians—and thus into Themistocles's own hands.<ref name = PT19 />