How Did The Battle of Thermopylae Happen

Introduction

King Xerxes, son of Darius, ascended to the throne of Persia after his father's death in 486 BC. After securing the throne, Xerxes began to gather forces to invade Greece. By 480 BC, he had an army of approximately 100,000 to 180,000 men and a fleet of nearly 600 ships, a large army by Greek standards. This time, instead of an invasion by sea, this massive army would cross the Hellespont, march around the Aegean Sea, and conquer Greece by land.

Challenges of the Invasion

Crossing the Hellespont proved to be troublesome for Xerxes and his army. They initially attempted to cross the Hellespont with a bridge of boats, but the sea became rough, and the bridge broke apart. When King Xerxes heard of this, he was furious and ordered that the sea should receive 300 lashes with whips. Surprisingly, the sea did calm down, and the second attempt to build a bridge was successful. This incident highlights the challenges of logistics and nature that ancient armies had to face (Herodotus, 440 BC).

Greek Preparations

The Greeks, having learned from past encounters, were better prepared for Xerxes' invasion than they had been during the first Persian War. Athenians and Spartans, along with about 29 other city-states, united under the leadership of Sparta to oppose this powerful army. The Athenians contributed a fleet of 200 triremes to their navy. Themistocles, an Athenian general, urged the army to stop the invasion as far north as they could. Finally, a strategic location was chosen for the first defense of Greece—Thermopylae, a narrow pass only 60 feet wide. This decision reflects the strategic acumen of the Greek leaders (Green, 1996).

The Battle of Thermopylae

The Persian army arrived at Thermopylae, where the Greeks were already waiting. This battle is famously known as The Battle of Thermopylae. The pass at Thermopylae was an ideal place to withstand an attack. Because it was so narrow, even with an army as large as the Persians, only a small number could actually fight at any one time. This enabled a relatively small force to hold off enormous armies for significant periods, showcasing the tactical advantage of terrain (Cartledge, 2006).

The Greek army, about 10,000 strong and led by the Spartan king Leonidas, was already in position when Xerxes and his forces arrived. The Persian Army attacked, but the Greeks held their ground, inflicting heavy losses on the Persians. Time and again, the Persians attacked, only to be repelled by the Greeks. The Greek strategy demonstrated the effectiveness of disciplined, well-trained forces in defensive positions (Holland, 2005).

The Turning Point

All seemed favorable for the Greeks until a Greek traitor named Ephialtes revealed to Xerxes an alternate route around the pass. This route, known to Leonidas, was only guarded by 1,000 volunteering Phocaeans. The Greeks learned of the betrayal and the impending Persian maneuver to surround them. Faced with this dire situation, they decided to retreat, but Leonidas stayed with 300 Spartans to hold the pass long enough to organize an orderly retreat. The last stand at Thermopylae ended with every Spartan fighting until they were killed. This sacrifice provided enough time for the rest of the Greek army to retreat into southern Greece (Bradford, 1980).

Legacy and Memorials

As a memorial to the 300 Spartans who remained to fight, three inscriptions were set up. The first, in honor of all, read:

Here did four thousand men from Pelops' land Against three hundred myriads bravely stand.

Another was dedicated to the Spartans alone:

Go, stranger, and to Lacedaemon tell That here, obeying her behests, we fell.

The third inscription was from a seer of Leonidas:

The great Megistias' tomb you here may view, Whom slew the Medes, fresh from Spercheius' fords. Well the wise seer the coming death foreknew, Yet scorned he to forsake his Spartan lords.

Conclusion

The Battle of Thermopylae remains a symbol of courage and sacrifice. The determination of the Greek forces, particularly the Spartans, continues to be celebrated in history and literature. Their stand at Thermopylae has been immortalized as a defining moment in the struggle for Greek independence (Pressfield, 1998).

References

Bradford, E. (1980). Thermopylae: The Battle for the West. Da Capo Press.

Cartledge, P. (2006). Thermopylae: The Battle that Changed the World. Overlook Press.

Green, P. (1996). The Greco-Persian Wars. University of California Press.

Herodotus. (440 BC). The Histories.

Holland, T. (2005). Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West. Doubleday.

Pressfield, S. (1998). Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae. Bantam Books.