Question

According to lecture, the Pythia's gave a second response to the Athenians who were asking for advice about Xerxes' invasion. That response seemed to to suggest that the Athenians use a physical barrier for their own protection. What was that barrier?

Answer 1

The Pythia's second response referred to the Athenian fleet of warships as the physical barrier against Xerxes' invasion, culminating in the decisive naval Battle of Salamis which halted the Persian advance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The second response of the Pythia to the Athenians concerning the advice on Xerxes' invasion suggested that the Athenians use a physical barrier for protection. This barrier was a fleet of warships, especially triremes.

Athenian leader Themistocles had earlier convinced his countrymen to invest in a powerful navy after discovering proceeds from a silver mine.

Consequently, Athens underwent a naval-building frenzy and built hundreds of triremes. These ships proved pivotal during the Battle of Salamis, where the Greek fleet, including Athenian triremes, decimated the Persian armada. The naval barrier thus saved Athens and contributed to the eventual Greek victory.