Battle of Thermopylae
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The Battle of Thermopylae, also known as the Battle of the 300, was a military engagement in 480 BCE at Malis, in northern Greece, between the forces of the invading Persian army of Xerxes I and a combined Greek army, whose supreme commander was King Leonidas of Sparta.
A victory for the Persian Empire, the battle cost Leonidas his life but paved the way for an eventual Greek victory over the invaders. This, in turn, gave birth to the legend of Leonidas.
Gallery
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The Spartans bracing a Persian attack
Behind the scenes
- Although it is widely believed that only 300 Spartans fought against the invading Persians at Thermopylae—a belief propagated in popular culture—contemporary historians placed anywhere from 5,100 (Herodotus) to 11,200 (Pausanias) Greeks at the battle. Modern estimates place 7,000 Greeks at Thermopylae.
- Likewise, estimates of the strength of the Persian forces vary depending on the source, with Herodotus claiming in excess of two million Persian soldiers taking part. Modern estimates claim anywhere between 120,000 to 300,000.