Salamis

American  

[sal-uh-mis, sah-lah-mees] / ˈsæl ə mɪs, ˌsɑ lɑˈmis /

noun

1. an island off the SE coast of Greece, W of Athens, in the Gulf of Aegina: Greeks defeated Persians in a naval battle 480 b.c. 39 sq. mi. (101 sq. km).

2. an ancient city on Cyprus, in the E Mediterranean: the apostle Paul made his first missionary journey to Salamis. Acts 13:5.

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Salamis British  

/ ˈsæləmɪs /

noun

1. Modern Greek name: Salamina.  an island in the Saronic Gulf, Greece: scene of the naval battle in 480 _bc , in which the Greeks defeated the Persians. Pop (municipality): 28 423 (2001). Area: 95 sq km (37 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• Salaminian adjective

Example Sentences

It was these rowers, whose only qualifications were their citizenship and their being able-bodied, who dealt the blow to the Persians at Salamis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

The warship's welcoming ceremony outside the naval base of Salamis included a copy of an ancient Athenian trireme and the Georgios Averof, a historic cruiser that fought in the Balkan Wars.

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

The Athenians abandoned their city and withdrew to the nearby island of Salamis, where they put their faith in their fleet to protect them.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Visitors do all the rowing on the Olympias’ two-hour-long public trips, conducted near Salamis island where, in 480 B.C., outnumbered Athenian triremes vanquished a Persian armada in one of the world’s most famous sea engagements.

From Washington Times • Oct. 16, 2018

Except for Aeschylus’ Persians, written to celebrate the victory of the Greeks over the Persians at Salamis, all the plays have mythological subjects.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton