Battle Of Thermopylae

Battle of Thermopylae In general – 480 B.C. –

Reason – The persian invasion was delayed by the Athenian victory at the battle of Marathon and Xerxes wanted to fullfil his father´s will ○ The battle took place at the pass of Thermopylae (Hot gates) lasted for 3 days ○ Fought between the aliance of Greek city led by Sparta and the Persian Empira of Xerxes I ○ It took place over three days simultaneously with the naval battle at Artemisium ○ The idea came up from the athenian goral Themistocles, who had proposed to block the Persian advance at the pass of Thermopylae ○ ○

Xerxes had amassed a huge army – (5mil Herodotus) – 250 000 according to today´s researches The Greece army – greatly outnumbered – managed to hold up the Persians for 7 days in total The Greece army comprised of approx. 7000 soldiers including 300 Spartans

The composition of Athenian army – Spartans, Lacedaemonians, spartan Helots, Thespians, Arcadians, Thebans and others ○ ○

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Eventually betrayed by a local resident called Ephialtes by revealing a small path leading behind the Spartans  Aware of being outflanked, Leonidas dismissed predominant part of the army, so they could defend other cities – by doing so, he prevented them from getting caught up and killed by the Persians  Remained with 300Spartans, 700Thespians, 400 Thebans and some others  Got closed from both sides One of the Greeks warned that Persians have so many arches that thein arrowes would block out the sun.. : „well, said the Spartan Dionikies: we will fight in shade  - very pugnacious

The weapons and battle tactices ○ ○

Persians – arches, infantry, wicker shields and short swords Greeks – the dominan military arm in ancient Greece was infantry and the Spartan one eclipsed all others.  spears (phalanx – like a forest of pike of seven and a half to nine feet in length) short, short swords (Ziphos)  They stood shoulder to shoulder with a forest of the spears • This formation undefeatable

Battle of Thermopylae 

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Their shields were so large they could serve for carrying wounded This shield protected its bearer's left side and front, and extended far leftward to protect his neighbor's right side Dependence upon a neighbor's shield encouraged each hoplite to keep rank

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Course of the battle First day –

The battle started on the fifth day ot Persian´s arrival at Thermopylae hen Xerxes finály resolved to attack ○ At first, he just sent Medes and Cissians against the Greeks to take them prisoner and bring them before him. Then they found themselves launching a frontal assault on the Greek position. ○ The Greeks fought in front of the Phocian wall, at the narrowest part of the pass

○ Second day Third day The consequences – –

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Both of Xerxes´ brothers died After every Greek was dead, Xerxes ordered to find Leonidas´ body, cut his head off and stick it to a pole – scarce act – Persians usually treated the defeated enemies with respect When Xerxes saw the result of the first assault, he sent his Immortals, an elita corps of 10,000men – however, Immortals fared no better than the Medes had