Battle of thermopylae facts, myths, legends, map, pictures and statistics. The battle of thermopylae s political origins can be traced back to xerxes predecessor, darius i the great, who sent heralds to greek cities in 491 bce in the hopes of persuading them to accept persian authority. It took place in a narrow gorge, called thermopylae, where a group of 300 spartan hoplites died heroically, blocking a way to the persian army of the tsar xerxes i. In addition, the battle has been taught in military academies as an example of how a small welltrained group of resolute warriors can defend their position against a numerically superior force. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. The battle of thermopylae has been an integral part of the curriculum of many high schools, colleges and universities around the world. The battle of thermopylae was fought in 191 bc between a roman army led by consul manius acilius glabrio and a seleucid force led by king antiochus iii the great. Vector version italian i, the holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license. Mar 09, 2010 battle of thermopylae facts, myths, legends, map, pictures and statistics. Xerxes i makes extensive preparations to invade mainland greece by building depots, canals and a boat bridge across the hellespont. View battle of thermopylae research papers on academia.
This against all odds story is passed to us from the writings of the greek herodotus, who was not present at the battle himself. The battle of thermopylae is a battle in september 480 bc during the greekpersian war 480 479 bc. This website is dedicated to king leonidas, the 300 spartans, 700 thespians and other greek warriors who fought to the death during the battle of thermopylae hot gates in august, 480 b. Vastly outnumbered, the greeks delayed the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. During the first two days, the persians suffered many losses. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. The battle of thermopylae is a classic example of a delaying action the greeks ensured the defeat of the persians, the victory proved an expensive, zerxes would lose a large portion of his fleet at salamis, thus his supply of the army would be at best minimal and a poorly led and poorly fed army does not win many battles, one point most do not bring up is that leonadis was in his fortys if. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas i of sparta, and the achaemenid empire of xerxes i over. How did the historical battle of thermopylae differ from its. Please consult government travel advisories before booking.
The fifth day of the persian occupation at thermopylae would be the day the conflict began. The battle of thermopylae parallels the main characters situation, in which they are outnumbered and realize that victory is unattainable but choose to fight for a purpose beyond the battle itself. Battle of thermopylae is a symbol of courage and patriotism. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. Leonidas i simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an overmatched combined greek force of approximately 4,000 held off advancing persians under xerxes, and the term since has been used to reference heroic resistance against a. Battle of plataea 479 bc and battle of sphacteria 425 bc duration. King leonidas of sparta and the battle at thermopylae. Apr 27, 2008 battle of thermopylae 480 bc part 1 of 3. He relates the story of 300 spartans and 700 thespians defending the pass of thermopylae against almost 2 million.
King leonidas and 300 spartans against million persian army. Stripped of its helmet, leonidas head is framed by his long hair. Gates of fire is a 1998 historical fiction novel by steven pressfield that recounts the battle of thermopylae through xeones, a perioikoi free but noncitizen inhabitant of sparta born in astakos, and one of only three greek survivors of the battle gates of fire is on the commandant of the marine corps reading list. The romans were victorious, and as a result, antiochus was forced to flee from greece. He is most well known for bravely leading a small force of greeks, including the famous 300 spartans, along with a few hundred thespians and thebans against the much larger persian army of xerxes, at the pass of thermopylae in 480 b. Battle of thermopylae 480 bc the battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas of sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i over the course of three days, during the second persian invasion of greece. The battle occured because the forces of xerxes1, king of persia marched through thrace and macedon on their way to greece. The passage between them was narrow for many miles along the shore, being narrowest at the ingress and egress.
Battle of thermopylae 323 bc, a battle during the lamian war between a coalition of greek cities under leosthenes and a macedonian army led by antipater. The main characters refer to the battle of thermopylae twice, including right before engaging in a battle they are almost certain to lose. The lean skin of the warriors face, its color gone, stands out all the more against a short and pointed beard. The spartans and associates defended the pass at thermopylae against the persian army although leonidas lost the battle, his death at thermopylae was seen as a heroic sacrifice. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. Thermopylae was fought between an allaince of greek city states, and the persain empire of xerxes over the course of three days. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. The battle of thermopylae in 480 bc has become the archetype for the courageous last stand.
In addition, the battle has been taught in military academies as an example of how a small welltrained group of resolute warriors can defend their position against a. The greeks chose the narrow pass of thermopylae as the site. And what are the origins of the myth that just 300 spartans fought against the vast persian army. The statue of king leonidas aged 60 at the time of the battlez is a, fitting testament to his. This prezi timeline focuses on the battle of thermopylae, according to herodotus.
The pass of thermopylae was not a ravine among mountains, but a narrow space between mountains and the sea. The battle of thermopylae where the greeks fought the persians. Mar 09, 2010 the battle of thermopylae is a classic example of a delaying action the greeks ensured the defeat of the persians, the victory proved an expensive, zerxes would lose a large portion of his fleet at salamis, thus his supply of the army would be at best minimal and a poorly led and poorly fed army does not win many battles, one point most do not bring up is that leonadis was in his fortys if. Apr 17, 2016 battle of thermopylae is most famous for the last stand of 300 spartans though it is not known by many that it also involved 1100 warriors from other greek states. Moont kallidromon on the left, an the wide coastal plain formed bi accretion o fluvial deposits ower the centuries. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. Excluding the huge problems with the equipment for example spartans fighting with no armour or t. On this day, xerxes ordered a large contingent of medes to attack the greeks at their position by the phocian wall the narrowest part of the pass. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an outnumbered greek force probably of seven thousand including the famous 300 spartans, 500 warriors from tegea, 500 from mantinea, 120 from arcadian orchomenos, from the rest of arcadia, 200 from phlius, 80 from mycenae, 400 corinthians, 400 thebans, phocians and the opuntian locrians held off. Battle of thermopylae is most famous for the last stand of 300 spartans though it is not known by many that it also involved 1100 warriors from other greek states. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. At that time the persian empire was the largest and most powerful the world had ever known. After three days resisting the much larger persian army of xerxes i, greek forces were betrayed by ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, leonidas, who died during a final stand.
Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. I definitely suggest researching this famous battle before you visit. Timeline of the battle of thermopylae teaching resources. Sources battle of thermopylae 480 bc stories preschool. The battle of thermopylae august 480 bc is one of the most famous military defeats in history, and is best known for the fate of the 300 spartans, killed alongside 700 thespians on the final day of the battle. The length of the actual conflict was only seven days, with a four day stand off before three days of battle. It was fought for 3 days in the year 480 bc and was part of the second persian invasion of greece led by xerxes the great. It accompanies and illustrates the battle, and can be used for teaching the aqa gcse paper, the persian wars. Thermopylae museum 2020 all you need to know before you.
The battle of thermopylae was a battle fought in 480 bc during the persian wars battle of thermopylae may also refer to. Its story is based on the famous battle of thermopylae, quote the battle of thermopylae r. Fascinating history about the battle between the spartans and persians that changed the world 480 bc fascinating world history book 2 historyepisode 3. Other than the points already made in the other answers, the battle in the film also did a very poor job in capturing how both sides actually fought. Jul 31, 20 battle of plataea 479 bc and battle of sphacteria 425 bc duration.
It is taught at west point, the united states naval academy, and at the. Leonidas, died 480 bc, thermopylae, locris greece, spartan king whose stand against the invading persian army at the pass of thermopylae in central greece is one of the enduring tales of greek heroism, invoked throughout western history as the epitome of bravery exhibited against overwhelming odds. It was the first major battle of the romanseleucid war. Battle in northern greece 480 bc in the persian wars. The spartan and thespian last stand has been immortalized in the works of herodotus and glorified in the 1962 movie the 300 spartans starring richard egan. The battle of thermopylae took place over a period of three days in midaugust 480 bc. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration. But whats known about the battle between the forces of xerxes and leonidas. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. At thermopylae a king and three hundred of his soldiers set the standard for battle to the death against overwhelming odds.
The mountains landward were steep and inaccessible. Battle of thermopylae in popular culture wikipedia. Discusses the battle of thermopylae several times as part of the studies of the lead character, a spartan named parmenion who idolizes leonidas and owns his. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an overmatched combined greek force of approximately 4,000 held off advancing persians under xerxes, and the term since has been used to reference heroic resistance against a more powerful enemy. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than. Leonidas monument thermopylae 2020 all you need to know. Pages in category battle of thermopylae the following 34 pages are in this category, out of 34 total. In the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, an alliance of south greek citystates fought the invading persian army in the pass of thermopylae. Following the retreat of allied forces from the mountain passes at olympus and servia, british commonwealth forces began to set up defensive positions at the coastal pass at thermopylae, famous for the battle of.