1. She fought as an ally of Xerxes I, King of Persia against the independent Greek city states during the second Persian invasion of Greece. She personally commanded her contribution of five ships at the navel battle of Artemisium and in the navel Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.
2. In the 400s B.C. The Persians attempted to conquer Greece. She is also known for giving Persian King Xerxes advice when he assembled he leaders of his fleet to discuss fighting the Greeks. According to Herodotus, Artemisia “gave to Xerxes sounder counsel [better advice] than any of his other allies.”
3. She advised him not to attack; leave it at a stand-off, and the Greeks would either starve through the autumn and winter, or else disperse.
4. They are running out of land.
5. The Artemisia of Herodotus was Complex. Herodotus believed her five ships, which commanded, were among the best of Persian fleet (7.99). Artemisia was unique among her peers as she was the only non-Persian, Greek, female commander in Xerxes’s council (8.101).
