BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
AUGUST 480 BC

Thermopylae or Thermopílai in Greek, means hot gates. It is so called because of the hot springs in the area.

Pronounce Thermopylae

WHERE IS THERMOPYLAE LOCATED?
Thermopylae, or Thermopylai, is a very narrow pass on Greece's east coast. Back then it was the entrance to Greece from the north. The pass is 4 miles or 6 kilometers long. Here is a map:

MAP OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE, 480 BC
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

At the time of the battle, the cliffs where right by the sea, making the pass a real pass. Today, the water is about a mile away.

WHO FOUGHT?
Greek King Leonidas, 300 Spartans, 1,100 Boeotians, and their slaves vs. Persian King Xerxes and a huge Persian army.

The size of the Persian army differs depending on whom you ask. Some say Xerxes had 200,000 troops, some say it was closer to 400,000.

In any event, the Battle of Thermopylae is most likely one of the most outnumbered battles ever fought.
 

LEONIDAS AT THERMOPYLAE
PAINTING BY JACQUES LOUIS DAVID

WHAT HAPPENED?
In a nutshell, the Spartans kept a much larger Persian army busy, long enough for the Greeks at home to get ready to defeat the Persians.

The battle lasted two or three days and the Greeks might have been even more successful if backstabbing Greek traitor weasel Ephialtes wouldn't have shown the Persians a secret path around the pass. This path enabled the Persians to attack the Greeks from both sides.

THE EXACT DATES OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
The Battle of Thermopylae took place over a period of three days in mid-August 480 BC. The exact dates are not known.

During the first two days, the Persians suffered with many losses. At the end of the second day, the Persians were shown the pass, which led them behind the Greek army.

Parallel to their attack at Thermopylae, the Persians attacked at sea in the naval Battle of Artemisium. When the Greeks heard about the setback at Thermopylae, they withdrew southward.

WHO WON?
The Persians won the battle but the Greeks won the war.

CASUALTIES?
The Persians killed each and every one of their enemies. But the Greeks gave them a heck of a run for their money. Persian King Xerxes ordered to bury some of his fallen soldiers because he was embarrassed by the great number the Greeks managed to slay.

 

The Battle of Thermopylae was part of the Greco-Persian Wars.

Read the story straight from the source:
The History of Herodotus by Herodotus.