The Athenians Don't Want to Stay in Athens

The Persians came in and just destroyed everything which I think is stupid could they not have stayed there the winter if they wanted to like oh we've got this city and these people's houses we can stay here no let's just burn it all that's crazy to me so it wasn't about occupation well let me say this they could have stayed there if they could control the seas but the one reason they can't stay there is because though the Athenians gave up their city voluntarily I mean they just forfeited it they completely pulled back. As long as you have that fleet Xerxes doesn't really own anything he's standing in Athens for the moment but he can't keep it he can't