When the messengers told the words that they had heard and written down to the people, there were many and various opinions among those who sought to interpret the oracle. Some of the older men said that it seemed to them that the god bade them fortify the citadel, for that in old time the citadel of Athens had been surrounded with a fence. And this fence they supposed to be the “wooden wall.” And there were others that said the “wooden wall” signified their ships; but these were confounded by the last words of the oracle:
These words troubled them much, for the readers of oracles declared that it was signified by them that they should fight in ships and be worsted at Salamis.
Now there was at Athens a certain man that was but newly risen into the front rank of the citizens. This was Themistocles the son of Neocles. He then coming forward affirmed that the oracle-readers did not read the words aright, for that, if they had been really spoken concerning the Athenians, the god would have said, “Sad Salamis,” rather than “Holy Salamis,” it being decreed that the dwellers in the land should die there. It was manifest, therefore, he said, to one that interpreted the words aright that they were spoken concerning the barbarians, and not concerning the Athenians. Wherefore he advised his fellow-citizens that they should make ready to fight in ships, for that these were their “wooden wall.” When Themistocles had set forth these opinions, the Athenians judged them to be better than the opinions of the oracle-readers.