The Interpretations of the Athenian Prophecy

Since the second prophecy sounded more favourable, this was the one first taken to Athens. At home, opinion was divided on its meaning, particularly in reference to trusting in "wooden walls" for their safety and the "death to women's sons" at Salamis

• The professional interpreters wrongly decoded the prophecy as heralding Athens' defeat at Salamis, and claimed that the "wooden walls" referred to the Athenian Acropolis, which was fenced by a wooden wall at the time
• Themistocles, however, interpreted the prophecy differently - for him the "wooden walls" referred to Athens' fleet, the fleet that he had convinced the Athenians to invest in only a few years previously

Thankfully for Athens, Themistocles' interpretation proved more favourable, and the Athenians trusted in their fleet for the safeguarding of their homeland