Thermopylae
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Thermopylae
Throughout history, there are few military engagements which match the legendary significance and symbolism than that of the battle of Thermopylae. Here it was told that 300 Spartan warriors gave their lives in an epic fight defending Greece against the largest land force ever assembled at the time. Although the tale has been exaggerated and misinterpreted through the centuries, the event nonetheless remains an extraordinary example of sacrifice and honor against overwhelming odds.
Before diving into the details of the battle itself, it is important to look at the surrounding incidents and situation of Greece as it entered into war with the “Great King” of Persia, Xerxes.
Spartas era of expansionism had ended in the previous century, and it was now satisfied to dominate its southern Greek allies and maintain the status quo at home. Sparta maintained a more rigid social hierarchy than Athens and its minority of full citizens were permitted no other occupation than the profession of arms, or a permanently trained and mobilized military. Both states were fiercely independent and were looked to by other Greek cities for leadership.
When Persian envoys demanded submission from all Greeks, many cities dithered and others quietly offered surrender (“Medized” the Greeks called it) (Demand), but the Athenians and Spartans determined to resist, and their example Gave their fellow
Greeks an example and leader to emulate during the time preceding the inevitable siege by Xerxes army.
In 490 B.C., King Darius of Persia set off on a conquest to capture all of the Peloponnese, however, his seaborne thrust in was stopped short soon after landing in Athenian territory, on the coastal plain of Marathon. For the first time, a major clash was fought between soldiers speaking Greek and soldiers speaking Persian. This conflict that was to last over a thousand years. In close combat, the heavy-armored Greek infantryman (hoplite), fighting in a dense formation called a phalanx, proved a match for the tough but lighter-armed Easterners. The Persians, unable to deploy their superior cavalry and bowmen, were mauled by a smaller army of Athenians and a few allies and forced to abandon their expedition (Hanson). A Spartan army, arriving just too late for the engagement, visited the battlefield and examined the Persian dead with professional interest. Everyone knew the contest would continue.
It took ten years for Persia to gather its might for the rematch. By this time, Darius son Xerxes ruled. He marshaled the largest army to ever enter Europe up until that time; over 200,000 infantrymen by modern estimates, drawn from all the peoples of the empire-and a correspondingly massive fleet of perhaps 1,300 ships (including transports and the pontoon vessels used to bridge the Hellespont (Dardanelles)). In the spring of 480 B.C., Xerxes set forth.
The Delphic oracle, which as we have learned, was consulted on virtually every matter of importance at the time, had earlier hinted that Sparta might be saved at the cost of a king. Leonidas, carrying this prophecy in the back of his mind, seemed to be fully prepared to offer his life as the price of his citys salvation (Herodotus).
When word reached the Peloponnese about the massive invading force, there was a call to mobilize and unite throughout Greece. A sacred religious festival in Sparta however, hampered immediate Greek mobilization, and the Greek leaders may have underestimated the speed of the Persian advance. Leonidas, king of Sparta could take only his personal bodyguard of 300 picked Spartans with him, plus small contingents from other cities collected en route. All told, Leonidas probably had about 7,000 men at his disposal once he encamped at the Hot Gates, but these would have included lightly armed skirmishers, untrained locals, and servants (Bradford). This is one common misconception that the legendary 300 Spartans fought alone. They did in fact have additional allied forces that helped with the initial attack.
King Xerxes and his myriads wound through Thessaly and reached the vicinity of Thermopylae. Finding his progress blocked by Greek soldiers, the Great King encamped just beyond the western reaches of the pass and brought his troops forward. Persian scouts probed toward the enemy and returned with strange news. The Greeks, in their position at the middle of the pass had rebuilt an old wall across the passage to screen their camp. But in front of the wall, the Spartan outposts were taking their ease; exercising, and dressing their long hair. This seemingly nonchalant behaviors baffled the opposing forces, but a Spartan exile explained that it was
customary for the Spartans to take elaborate care with their appearance when they were about to put their lives in peril (Demand 489). Meanwhile, Xerxes sent a demand to Leonidas that he should surrender his arms forthwith. The Spartan king made a reply that has become well known and still feared: “Molon labe”-“Come and take them” (Pressfield)
When camp gossip spread that the Persian archers were so numerous that when they shot, their arrows would hide the sun, the Spartan Dieneces uttered another timeless quote which again portrays the resolve of the Spartan warriors; “So much the better; we will have our fight in the shade” (Pressfield). Despite the fact that the Greeks were vastly outnumbered, they still had several advantages which would work favorably for them during battle: Their armor was far better than that of the Persians, with heavy bronze armor, crested helmet, greaves covering the lower leg and large round shield, their heavy armor protected them very well. Also, the Spartan weapon of choice was a longer thrusting spear made them much better equipped to fight the Persians (Hanson). The imperial infantry was equipped for mobility and speed, neither of which was useful here. They advanced in loose formations, with shorter weapons, and flimsy shields. On the first day of battle, the Greek soldiers held their ground against the advancing forces, and because of their superior equipment and training, in the beginning days of battle, Xerxes troops were slaughtered by the impenetrable phalanx.
At the end of a long and bloody day, the shattered Persian divisions withdrew, to be replaced by the armys elite, the Immortals, serving as the royal guard and primary shock troops. The Immortals numbered 10,000 foot soldiers and were so named because losses were always made up so that the corps never fell below its authorized strength. This elite fighting force was also renowned for their fighting ability; here however in the depths of the “Hot Gates” they met their match. Herodotus claims that Xerxes,