Battle of Salamis

Weeks after Thermopylae, the Greek navy lured Xerxes' massive fleet into the narrow Strait of Salamis in 480 BCE. The Persians' larger ships couldn't maneuver and got absolutely wrecked. Xerxes reportedly watched the disaster from a throne on shore. This naval battle saved Greek civilization and Xerxes bounced back to Persia. Aeschylus, who literally fought in the battle, wrote a play about it eight years later.