The persian strategy was to overwhelm the greeks with a large army, and xerxes needed his. The battle of thermopylae is one of the romanticized battles in history with more misinformation swirling around then actual concrete information. The greeks, faced with overwhelming numbers, decide on a strategy. It took place in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia, and was fought between an alliance of the greek citystates including sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i allied with boeotians, thessalians, and macedonians. Despite being greatly inferior in numbers, the greeks held the narrow pass for three days with spartan king leonidas fighting a lastditch defence with a small force of spartans and other greek hoplites. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important. Barry strauss is an mhq contributing editor and the author or editor of numerous books on. Including spartan military tactics, the battle of thermopylae, how sparta was ruled, and more captivating history. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world.
During the eighth century bc, sparta became one of the leading cities of ancient greece, conquering the southern peloponnese. Thermopylae was the only gateway into greece for the persian army, and presented the perfect choke point a. It occurred in 480 bc between the invading persian army, led by the selfproclaimed godking xerxes. The battle of thermopylae took place in thermopylae, a mountain pass near the sea, in northern greece in late august 480 bc. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary.
The response of athens and sparta was clear and harsh. The battle of thermopylae is the most famous battle of the second persian. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae. Langel took place over three days during the second persian invasion of greece. Despite their eventual defeat, the greek forces became renowned for. Spartan military secrets and tactics must now be shared among the. The spartan 300 october 25, 2008 by tim nash in the history of ground war strategies and the power of incredible skill, strength and courage against an overwhelming force, the legend of the 300 spartans who held the vast persian army in check in the pass called thermopylae is such an amazing story that to this day we repeat it with awe. In fact, it was not freedom the spartans fought for, but independence, and thermopylae was but one battle among several in the greek war of independence from the persian empire. Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. The bloody stand made there by leonidas and his small spartan army in 480 b. Strategy, tactics and campaigns, 950362 bc rusch, dr. The persian army first encountered a joint force of 10,000 athenian and spartan hoplites led by euanetus and themistocles in the vale of tempe. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have.
An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae by steven. The spartan stand at the battle of thermopylae has been repeatedly cited in a military grand strategy context as a role model on the advantages of training, strategy and bravery against extremely overwhelming odds. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. Battle of thermopylae spartans vs persians western democracy traces its roots to ancient greece, a land of squabbling citystates. After thermopylae after the war concluded, the anphyctionic league set up a memorable plaque to honor the brave sacrifice of the 300 spartans and allied greeks at thermopylae. There are also links to commentary on the battle of thermopylae.
It took place simultaneously with the naval battle at artemisium, in august or september 480 bc, at the pass of thermopylae the hot gates. Thermopylae was a very narrow pass that would prevent the persians from using their cavalry in battle. Excluding the huge problems with the equipment for example spartans fighting with no armour or t. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. Spartans and millions of other books are available for instant access. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian themistocles, met them by sea, most importantly at artemisium. Its character, origins, and grand strategy yale library of military history. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. He betrays the spartans to the persians out of greed for riches, and, it is implied. The battle of thermopylae is believed to have been fought in august 480 bc, during the persian wars 499 bc449 bc. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars.
The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. Responding, an alliance of greek citystates, led by athens and sparta, assembled a fleet and an army to oppose the invaders. Along with battle tactics and weapons, pressfield did a if you like your historical novels on the bloody side, this ones for you. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. 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. Having been turned back at marathon in 490 bc, persian forces returned to greece ten years later to avenge their defeat and conquer the peninsula. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. Sparta the steadfast and selfsacrificing, greece unflagging in its fight for.
Aristodemos is the main figure in caroline snedekers popular historical novel the coward of thermopylae 1911, retitled in 1912 as the spartan. This book creates a timeline of the historical events within the battle and highlights the spartan culture, the military actions, and the societal and cultural impact that the battle had for ancient greece and historically throughout the world. The battle for the west by ernle bradford goodreads. Western democracy traces its roots to ancient greece, a land of squabbling citystates.
King leonidas of sparta and the epic battle of the 300 at thermopylae. Recognizing the greeks strategy, the persians coordinated their attack on. Responding, an alliance of greek citystates, led by athens and sparta, assembled a fleet and an army to. The spartan strategy a battle among persia and sparta thermopylae, a slim pass on the east seacoast of greece, also one of the better greek military strategies employed against the persians in the struggle of thermopylae. Gates of fire is a 1998 historical fiction novel by steven pressfield that recounts the battle of. The persians overran boeotia and then captured the evacuated athens. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian. This activity presents the longest and most challenging reading assignment from herodotus. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. The spartans also used a clever strategy in which they pretended to retreat so that. With xerxes and the persian army set to invade greece, the greeks had little time to plan a defense.
Three hundred of his fellow spartans stayed with him to fight to the end. It may have held been for strategic reasons due to greeces position in the. The 300 spartans, king leonidas, and the battle of thermopylae are legendary in military history. The battle of thermopylae, and what part herodotus. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. 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 grecopersian wars. The battle for the west by ernle bradford is truly a marvelous work dealing with a moment in history that forever changed everything that came after. Analysis of the battle of thermopylae 1528 words bartleby. In this final installment of the spartan way series, well take an expansive, inspiring, and thoroughly fascinating tour of the essential mindset and tactics that allowed these warriors to battle fiercely and come out the victor. Rise of an empire 2014, portraying the glorious naval victories against the persian. Cartledge is wellknown as an expert on spartan culture in ancient greece and the battle of thermopylae. Analysis of the battle of thermopylae 1872 words 8 pages. Only king leonidas, his 300 spartans, and 700 thespians remained to resist the persians while the rest of the greek army could retreat. In 490 the persian emperor darius had sent an invasion force across the aegean to punish eretria and athens for their support of the ionian revolt.
On the battle of thermopylae itself, two principal sources, herodotus and simonides accounts, survive. Gates of fire puts you at the side of valiant spartan warriors in 480 bc for the bloody, climactic battle at thermopylae. In the 1962 film the 300 spartans, ephialtes was portrayed by kieron moore and is depicted as a loner who worked on a goat farm near thermopylae. The battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece. As herodotus claims in his account of the battle in book vii of the. The thermopylae pass was also the site of two other ancient battles.
The edsitement launchpad includes links to maps and images of the soldiers and the terrain on which the battle was fought. At thermopylae a king and three hundred of his soldiers set the standard for. Thermopylae books about the battle of thermopylae thoughtco. Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. This is a professional historians view of not just the battle of thermopylae itself, but the context of the greek and persian worlds it fit into. Battle of thermopylae spartans vs persians youtube. 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, along with many other. So the battle of thermopylae included a land and sea component. The first thing anyone visiting thermopylae will notice is that it looks nothing like it should. A captivating guide to the fierce warriors of ancient. In 490 bce greek forces led by athens met the persians in battle at. Battle of thermopylae, august 480 bc military history. Even several major films have been produced to honor the glorious achievements in battle by both spartan and athenian forces, most notably, 300 2006, showcasing leonidas and his army of 300 spartans fearless last stand at the battle of thermopylae, and 300.
The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian themistocles, met them. Herodotus interrupts his story to digress on a great greek victory, the battle of himera. The battle of thermopylae was one of the most significant battles in all off ancient history. Battle of thermopylae spartans vs persians lectures. Amongst these warring citystates arose athens, and a group of men who had a funny idea. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. The novel is narrated by xeones, a perioikoi and one of only three greek survivors of the battle of thermopylae. The comic book by frank miller, upon which the movie was based, is a. Since the greek strategy required both thermopylae and artemisium to be held, given their losses, it was decided to withdraw to salamis. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between persians and greeks in august 480 bce.
No wonder that a spartan at thermopylae named dieneces is said to have quipped that he did not mind if the persians barrage of arrows was so thick that it blocked out the sun, since he preferred to fight in the shade. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece. Upon hearing this, xerxes sent the army through the sarantaporo strait, which was unguarded, and sidestepped them. They send one army to guard the pass of thermopylae to stop the persian armies from entering greece. Themistocles was in command of the greek navy at artemisium when he received news that the persians had taken the pass at thermopylae. There, a few hundred of spartas finest sacrificed their lives to hold back the invading persian millions. Battles in ancient history between the spartans and persians kindle edition.
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. The book starts at cyrus and ends at platea and the amount of thermopylae content is not so. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. The spartans gained eternal military fame for their stand against the persians at the battle of thermopylae when 300 spartan hoplites held off an entire persian army and inflicted severe damage to it before succumbing to the vast persian forces and dying to a man. Aristodemus charged, berserkerlike, out of the phalanx and fought, in the opinion of herodotus, with the most bravery of all the spartans before falling in battle. The zack snyder film 300, released in 2006, depicts a sensationalized account of the battle of thermopylae, which was fought in 480 bc between persia, under the command of xerxes, and a contingent of greek soldiers led by the spartan king leonidas.
Despite their defeat, the greeks who fought in the battle of thermopylae set the. The greek loyalists battle for six days in a prelude to their ultimate victory. Thus thermopylae is also regarded as being as much a lesson in the importance of favorable terrain and good strategy as it is in good training and discipline. Gates of fire is a 1998 work of historical fiction by steven pressfield centered around the famous battle of thermopylae 480 bc, in which a heavilyoutnumbered force of native greeks led by the spartans held the invading army of the persian empire at bay for several days. Fascinating history about the battle between the spartans and persians that changed the world 480 bc fascinating world history book 2 historyepisode 3. Thermopylae was a triumph of greek military science over persian blundering.
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