Themistocles

One of the most prominent politicians to rise in Athens at this time was Themistocles.

• He was born of mixed parentage: his father Neocles was a lesser aristocrat while his mother was believed to be a non-Greek, possibly Thracian
• His first post was in 493 BC as Archon, where he began a construction project to fortify the Piraeus, which was the main harbour in Athens. He hoped to eventually unite Athens with the port by creating "Long walls" that would connect the city to the sea. The Persian war put a halt to this construction and it was completed after