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There fell in this combat Ariabignes, one of the chief commanders of
the fleet, who was son of Darius and brother of Xerxes; and with him
perished a vast number of men of high repute, Persians, Medes, and
allies. Of the Greeks there died only a few; for, as they were able
to swim, all those that were not slain outright by the enemy escaped
from the sinking vessels and swam across to Salamis. But on the side
of the barbarians more perished by drowning than in any other way,
since they did not know how to swim. The great destruction took place
when the ships which had been first engaged began to fly; for they who
were stationed in the rear, anxious to display their valour before the
eyes of the king, made every effort to force their way to the front,
and thus became entangled with such of their own vessels as were retreating.
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