 A Greek fleet under the Spartan king Leotychides had sailed to Samos to challenge the remnants of the Persian fleet.The Persians, whose ships were in a poor state of repair, had decided not to risk fighting and instead drew their ships up on the beach at the feet of Mount Mycale in Ionia.An army of 60,000 men had been left there by Xerxes and the fleet joined with them, building a palisade around the camp to protect the ships.