Rivalry with Aristides

Themistocles' proposal did not go unchallenged. He had to overcome his main political rival, Aristides.

• Themistocles, knowing the Athenians would not understand the long-term investment against Persia, appealed instead to the anger felt in the immediate war with Aegina
• With a careful use of propaganda, Themistocles was eventually able to have Aristides ostracised, thus paving the way for Athens to spend the Laurium silver on naval investments
• Herodotus said that this decision "saved Greece by forcing Athens to become a maritime power"