‘The shield drills protected us against sling-shot and arrow. Not all of you use spears as long as the Athenian style, but they were effective. When it came to the shield wall, the Persians were brave enough, but they carried no hoplons of their own and they were vulnerable. If they bring the same armour and arms to another battle, I would bet every drachm I can earn or borrow on us beating them.’

There were nodding heads and smiles enough at that. More than a few bent close to others and a dozen conversations began. Themistocles found himself clearing his throat once more, interrupting. His people! He loved them, but given time, they would talk a man to death, Athenian or not.

‘I have two reasons to doubt my own judgement,’ he said. ‘Between us, we can put … how many? Athens will offer two hundred ships, eight hundred archers … eight thousand hoplites. Can Sparta match that last?’

He waited for the Spartans to dip their heads reluctantly. They were famously reticent on the strengths of their army, but he had to know. Themistocles hid his relief.

‘The rest of you can field thirty or forty thousand between you – at most. Not all will be fully armed hoplites, not all will be experienced. When we stand together, we will have no more than sixty, perhaps seventy, thousand Hellenes.’

He paused for a moment. What he was about to say was not news to them, but the comparison was still stark.

‘The Persians can put at least five times as many in the field. Some reports are of half a million.’ He waited through the murmur of disbelief and dismay. ‘Not all will be fully armed warriors, not all will be experienced, but there are so many, we will be hard pressed.’

He saw by their expressions that he did not need to elaborate further. They knew the stakes, just as he did.

The Megaran stood up at the back, a short warrior with a black beard close-cropped. He looked around thirty, in his prime.

‘How can we stand against such a host?’

‘I don’t know that we can,’ Themistocles replied. ‘I know that Athens will. We will meet them at sea and I pledge our one hundred and eighty ships in service of all Greece. Forty thousand rowers and hoplites, gentlemen. We have trained every son – and we will hold nothing back, nothing at all. Understand that. We will ram their ships and drown anyone attempting to make landfall. Gentlemen!’

He had to call again to interrupt the nervous conversations breaking out across the room. With bad grace, Themistocles gave way to one of the Corinthians. He did not know him, except by the reputation of his city.

‘Corinth can add forty galleys to this alliance.’

Themistocles blinked in surprise as the man sat down. He had not intended to request ship numbers, but he rode the moment and gestured calmly to another as he rose, a man of surpassing ugliness and a broken nose that suggested a youth spent fighting.