The Athenians and the Persian War in 456 BC

After Athens' success in 457 BC, Xerxes decided that a military response was needed. He sent an army of 300,000 men overland into Egypt under the command of Megabysus and Artabasus. The Egyptians quickly capitulated and lifted the siege forcing the Athenians to seek sanctuary on Procypetus,. A terrible disaster befell the Athenians as fighting in Egypt ended with almost the complete annihilation of the Athenian fleet and army. Only a few survived by fleeing through Libya to Cyrene and from there they managed to return to Athens.