Battle of Artemisium: Persians Defeat the Greek Fleet
The Battle of Artemisium in 480 BCE lasted three days and ended in a draw that got called a Persian victory. The Greek fleet absorbed punishment, gave some back, and held the line long enough for news to arrive: the pass at Thermopylae had fallen. They withdrew. The fighting bought time, not territory. Sometimes that's enough.
August 11, 480 BC
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