King leonidas and 300 spartans against million persian army. This signified the end of conflict between the two nations, with the greeks coming out victorious. The battle of thermopylae is one of the most memorable battles fought during the persian wars. The battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece.
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. The fight took place in the coastal pass of thermopylae and dated back to late september through early october of the year 480 sacks, 1976. The encounter took place between greece and their allies thespians and thebans which were led by king leonidas, and the persian empire led by xerxes i. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. Battle of thermopylae facts, myths, legends, map, pictures and statistics. Nowadays, ancient ruins attest to its longvanished greatness, but to the greeks of the early 5th century bc, the persian empire was young, aggressive and dangerous.
The pass of thermopylae was not a ravine among mountains, but a narrow space between mountains and the sea. The greek said that his name was ephialtes, and that he came to inform the king that there was a secret path leading along a wild and hidden chasm in the mountains, by which he could guide a body of persians to the summit of the hills overhanging the pass at a point below the greek intrenchment. Mar 19, 2020 thermopylaethe battle for the west vs. Several greek citystates, led by sparta, joined forces to fight the persian invaders. But that has become the enduring legacy of the battle of thermopylae, a battle as unique as it is famous. 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 the previous year the persian. Readers who enjoy ancient history, or those who are interested in knowing more about the foundations western culture will enjoy this book.
The strategic mission of the greeks was to protect the flank of their fellow greeks at thermopylae. Battle of thermopylae facts about one of the most famous battles in world history. This book is a history of the battle of thermopylae and the second greek and persian war. Sources battle of thermopylae 480 bc stories preschool. 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. The mountains landward were steep and inaccessible. 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. Responding, an alliance of greek citystates, led by athens and sparta, assembled. Jan 17, 2014 we explore the second part of the greco persians wars. The persian imperial army stopped at anthela, just west of thermopylae a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea to rest up and wait for the rest of the army to catch up. Battle of thermopylae in the persian wars thoughtco. Greek casualties in the battle of thermopylae during 3 days could be up to 4000 dead soldiers or perhaps even more. The massive army of the persian king xerxes invaded greece from the north with the goal of capturing all of greece.
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, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. That was too wide for pritchett, who attacked the findings in volume vi of his studies in greek topography herodotus says that the pass at thermopylae was narrower than that at alpeni, which he puts at half a plethron or roughly 15 meters wide. The romans were victorious, and as a result, antiochus was forced to flee from greece. Historic battles 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. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica.
Jul 480 bce xerxes i makes extensive preparations to invade mainland greece by building depots, canals and a. 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. This humiliation led to the attempt to conquer greece in 480479 bc. Persia had a huge empire and had every intention of adding greece to it. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. 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. Ephialtes is the name of the legendary greek traitor who showed the persians the way around the narrow pass of thermopylae who was the greek traitor and what did he reveal.
In the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, an alliance of south greek citystates fought the invading persian army in the pass of thermopylae. All consider, this book describes a balanced, factual account of the battle of thermopylae, the conduct of the second greek and persian war, and the legacy the greek victory had on the western world. 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. The passage between them was narrow for many miles along the shore, being narrowest at the ingress and egress. 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. The long path to battle at thermopylae began in what is now iran, heart of the once vast persian empire. King leonidas of sparta and the battle at thermopylae. So when the battle of artemisium commenced, the greek warships were outnumbered by a ratio of about 3 to 1. Battle of thermopylae, august 480 bc military history. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. 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 a member of the agiad house, leonidas succeeded his half brother. Decisive battles thermopylae greece vs persia youtube. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories.
It was the first major battle of the romanseleucid war. The battle of thermopylae between greeks led by leonidas and persians led by xerxes. Ernle bradford it is not just that the human spirit reacts directly and. 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. The battle of thermopylae is a battle in september 480 bc during the greekpersian war 480 479 bc. This printable contains everything you need to introduce the fascinating persian wars to your student, including the battle of marathon and the battle of thermopylae. Simultaneous with the battle at thermopylae, an allied naval force of 271 triremes defended the straits of artemisium against the persians, thus protecting the flank of the forces at thermopylae. While the battle raged at thermopylae, the persian fleet attacked the greek navy, with both sides losing many ships. Learn how a relatively small group of greek warriors held off the persian army for days, during the greco persian wars, before making one of the greatest last stands and demonstrations of bravery in history. The confrontation at thermopylae took place in the late summer of 480. While they were waiting xerxes sent a spy to watch what king leonidass army was doing.
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. Grecopersian wars definition, summary, facts, effects. At that time the persian empire was the largest and most powerful the world had ever known. The battle of artemisium was really a series of sea battles over a period of three days. The battle of thermopylaes 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. In september the persians burned athens, which, however, by that time had been evacuated. Battle of thermopylae, the famous battle of the persian wars in 480 bc, in which an alliance of greek citystates of about 6,700 men fought the invading persian empire, which had an army of about 242,000 men, at the pass of thermopylae in central greece. The odds were in favor of the persians in this battle.
The battle of thermopylae aftermath legio i lynx fulminata. The battle of thermopylae was the first between the persians and greeks during the persian invasion of 480479 bc. We explore the second part of the greco persians wars. The story of the battle and the willing sacrifice of the greek defenders to buy the rest of the retreating greeks time is well known across the world and still resonates with audiences to this day. 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. Xerxes i, who normally respected the persian traditions of treating valiant opponent with honor, was furious at being outfought by the smaller army. The allied greeks judged that the next strategic choke point where the persian army could be stopped was thermopylae. Battle in northern greece 480 bc in the persian wars.
The battle for impeachment, part ii against superior weaponry even the bravest persian immortals must fail, and when those better weapons were wielded by men spartans whose whole life had been nothing but a preparation for war, the outcome was inevitable. Defending the pass have a good breakfast, men, for we dine in hades, king leonidas to his spartan bodyguard by ludwig heinrich dyck urged on by themistocles, the confederate fleet chanced an engagement with the persians in the afternoon of august 18. Vastly outnumbered, the greeks delayed the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. They decided to defend it and send a fleet to artemision, a naval choke point, as xerxes army was being supplied and supported by sea. In a further great storm part of the persian fleet, which had been sent to round euboea, is wrecked off the southern coast of the island. The hot gates is the place of hot springs and in greek. Since their strategy required both thermopylae and artemisium to be held, and given their losses, the greek navy decided to withdraw to salamis. This would give us 1500 300 x 5 helots at thermopylae, but ive seen estimations which say about 900 helots at thermopylae. The persian king darius first attacked greece in 490 bc, but was defeated at the battle of marathon by a mainly athenian force. 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. Battle of thermopylae 480 bc myths vs reality total war. Battle of thermopylae is a symbol of courage and patriotism. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium.
The greek force was very small but was determined to make a stand against the huge persian army. Mar 09, 2010 battle of thermopylae facts, myths, legends, map, pictures and statistics. 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 size of the persian army differs depending on who you ask. From a numerical standpoint, the massive persian force led by king xerxes should have easily wiped out the small greek defense gathered at thermopylae and con. Responding, an alliance of greek citystates, led by athens and sparta, assembled a fleet and an army to. The students can independently or in small groups read the informative text and answer the comprehension questions.
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. The battle was waged by the legendary king leonidas i of sparta leading an allied greek force of 7,000 men, later minimized to his 300 spartans and 700 allied thespians to defend the narrow pass of thermopylae known as the hot gates against king xerxes commanding a massive persian army ranging between about 100,000 and 150,000 soldiers. Jul 480 bce xerxes i makes extensive preparations to invade mainland greece by building depots, canals and a boat bridge across the hellespont. The fifth day of the persian occupation at thermopylae would be the day the conflict began. Descriptive texts and many photos of the battlefield and the modern monuments. In the battle of plataea there were 5000 spartan hoplites and they had 35,000 helots 5 per each spartiate. 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. Last stands are the stuff of martial legends, and thermopylae is the greatest of them all. The length of the actual conflict was only seven days, with a four day stand off before three days of battle. The wars between persia and greece took place in the early part of the 5th century bc. Greek king leonidas, 300 spartans, 1,100 boeotians, and their slaves. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. During the battle the greek navy lured the persians into a narrow pass and obliterated at least 200 persian war ships, thanks to themistocles. Xerxes army, aided by northern greeks who had joined it, marched south.
Here the allied fleet held off the persians for three days. Greece part 6 battle of thermopylae flashcards quizlet. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. Greco persian wars battle of thermopylae 10 youtube. This battle took place at the beginning of the second persian invasion of greece in 480 bc.