Once again geography constrained Persia’s quantitative advantage. In the narrow straits of Salamis, the large number of ships could not easily maneuver. The allied Greek navy was lying in wait. It rammed the Persian ships, sinking or disabling an estimated two hundred to three hundred Persian vessels and won a clear naval victory. This was the turning point of the Greco-Persian Wars. Xerxes feared that with its newfound naval superiority, the Greeks might attempt to cut off his retreat, so he decided to return to Persia with the majority of his forces.
