THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE, 480 BC:

THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE, 480 BC:

"Come back with your shield - or on it." (Plutarch, Mor.241) 

The battle of Thermopylae is steeped in myth and legend. The epic story of a numerically inferior Greek army fighting against a mighty Persian army has echoed through history. But beneath the layer of myth, legend, and ridiculous exaggerations—which have distorted the story—there was a real battle, a significant battle; a battle that saw an allied Greek army defend a narrow pass against overwhelming numbers for several days, only to be defeated and annhilated in one of the greatest last stands in history. The real battle of Thermopylae needs no exaggerations.

King Leonidas of Sparta (Lacedaemon) was born c. 540 BC in Sparta. His name means "lion", or "son of the lion." He had two elder brothers, thus it was unlikely that he would become king; he would, however, go on to become the most famous Spartan king of them all. Yet little is known of Leonidas' life, and without the battle of Thermopylae, it is probable that he would not have achieved any lasting fame.

In 490 BC, shortly before Leonidas became king of Sparta, Darius the Great, king of the Persian Empire, invaded present-day Greece in response to Athens' involvement in the Ionian Revolt. The invasion resulted in a crushing victory for the Greeks and the Persians fled to their boats—but they would come back.

By 480 BC, another Persian invasion was imminent, this time led by Darius' son, Xerses. King Leonidas of Sparta was chosen to lead the allied Greek land army against the threat. He accepted, and Sparta consulted the Oracle at Delphi. She prophesized: 

"For you, inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta,

Either your great and glorious city must be wasted by Persian men,

Or if not that, then the bound of Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king, from Heracles' (Hercules) line." 

The prophecy was clear: Leonidas was going to have to die or else Sparta would fall. According to Herodotus, Leonidas knew death awaited him at Thermopylae, and so he chose 300 Spartan soldiers who all had living sons.

Contrary to popular belief, King Leonidas was a very old man when he fought at the battle of Thermopylae. He was 60 or older, very old for the time. Since he was chosen to lead the Greek coalition, he must have been a reliable and experienced leader, although we know nothing of any campaigns that he might have led previous to Thermopylae. 

In the summer of 480 BC, Leonidas set out north to meet the Persians with 300 Spartans and 900 Helots (slaves in Spartan society). On the way his numbers swelled and by the time he had arrived at the Pass of Thermopylae his army numbered approximately 7,000, including Thebans and Thespians. 

The size of the Persian army is still debated. Herodotus tells us that it was over two-million-strong and that it drank rivers dry. This is clearly an outrageous exaggeration, since it is highly unlikely that an army of that size could have been moved, fed and hydrated in antiquity. Most modern historians suggest numbers anywhere between 70,000 and 300,000 soldiers. In my opinion, the Persian army probably comprised of no more than 80,000 soldiers plus a large entourage. Whatever the true size, it was clearly a very large force and the Greeks were outnumbered by at least ten-to-one. 

The site of the battle has changed significantly since 480 BC. Deposition of sediment has caused the sea to recede, and thus the shoreline is several kilometres from where it was in antiquity. In 480 BC the sea came up to the foot of the mountains leaving a narrow pass flanked by sea and mountain (map and picture in comment section). It was called the Pass of Thermopylae, meaning "hot gates", due to the volcanic springs nearby. In Greek mythology, one of the entrances to the underworld was at Thermopylae.

When he arrived at Thermopylae, Leonidas set up camp near the narrowest section of the pass, where he intended to do battle with the Persians. He also sent a detachment of Phocians to guard a secret route through the mountains in case the Persians became aware of it and tried to outflank the Greek army. And then he waited for the Persians. 

Eventually, after what must have been a nerve-wracking wait, the Persian host appeared across the Malian Gulf. According to Tom Holland in his book, Persian Fire:

"Soon enough, clattering up through the West Gate, there came a Persian outrider. None of the three hundred [Spartans] looked up. Some combed their hair, as was the Spartan habit when preparing to face death. Others, their naked bodies slippery with oil, ran or grappled with one another; not strenuously, however, for 'on campaign, the exercising required of the Spartans was always less demanding than normal . . . so that for them, uniquely, war represented a relaxation of military training.' The Persian scout, having seen this scene in an astonishment, then wheeled round and galloped way. No attempt was made by the Spartans to stop him."

The ancient historian Plutarch tells us that Xerses sent an ambassador to Leonidas who demanded that the Spartan king and his army lay down their weapons and retreat in peace. Leonidas apparently replied, "come and take them". 

Eventually, after several days, Xerses ordered an attack but his army was held for two days by the Greek coalition in the narrow pass. Early on the third day of battle, Leonidas was told that the Persians had discovered the mountain route around the pass and were in the process of moving around his position. The Phocians had failed to stop the Persians and Leonidas knew he would soon be trapped, and so he called a council of war. After a brief discussion, Leonidas decided to allow the retreat of the majority of his army to fight another day, while he and the remaining Spartans, Helots, and over 1,000 other Greeks, remained behind to cover the retreat. It is also very likely Leonidas had the Oracle's prophecy on his mind and stayed to fulfil it, choosing death over the destruction of his beloved Sparta. Moreover, the mythical Greek hero Heracles, from whom Leonidas claimed descent, had died on Mount Oeta not too far away. Thus, Leonidas and his Spartans welcomed death at Thermopylae.

Early in the fighting on the final day, the Greek soldiers met the Persians in the wider section of the pass. Fierce fighting ensued, which resulted in the death of Leonidas and the remaining Greeks being pushed back to Kolonos Hill. What followed was one of the greatest and most famous last stands in history. As the Persians closed in from all sides, the Spartans apparently surrounded the body of Leonidas on the hill and fought with everything they had, until they all perished under relentless vollies of arrows. 

King Leonidas was dead; his head was hacked off and displayed on a spike. But the majority of the Greek army survived Thermopylae and the Greek city-states ultimately survived the Persian threat.

While the battle of Thermopylae was fought on land, the Greek navy had held the Persian navy at the equally important battle of Artemisium, which had prevented the Persian ships from reaching Thermopylae. But following the defeat of Leonidas, the Greek navy headed south and evacuated Athens. Later that year the Greeks, under Themistocles, defeated the Persian navy at the pivotal battle of Salamis and Xerses finally headed for home, never to return. 

Leonidas' end was brutal, but the prophecy had been fulfilled. 

In 1939, 2,419 years after the battle, archeologist Spyridon Marinatos excavated around Kolonos hill and discovered many arrow and spearheads—the last remnants of a brutal last stand that has echoed through history. Today, on top of the small hill, there is a little monument marking the spot where the last of Leonidas' army died. On it an inscription reads, "Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie." – Simonides of Ceos (c. 556–468 BC)

Author: International Man of History2 (Facebook page name)

. . .

Artist unknown, sorry.