The remainder of the night passed in preparations for the battle on both sides.

At daybreak both fleets advanced from their respective shores, the Persians being rather the assailants.

Their thousand vessels were drawn up in three lines, and charged their antagonists with such spirit that the general inclination on the part of the Greeks was at first to retreat.

Some of their ships had almost touched the shore, when the bold example of one of the captains, or a cry of reproach from unknown lips, produced a revulsion of feeling, and the whole line advanced in good order.

The battle was for a short time doubtful; but soon the superiority of Greek naval tactics began to tell.