Hot Gates of Thermopylai
- "Thermopylai... They say you can't walk this battlefield without getting blood on your toes."
- ―Kassandra[src]
The Hot Gates of Thermopylai is a narrow passage upon a hill[1] which comprised a region in the 5th century BCE Malis, Greece. The region is named after the hot springs in the area, with the word Θερμοπῠ́λαι (Thermopúlai) being Greek for 'hot gates'.
History
In classical antiquity, the passageway served as the main route between Thessaly and Lokris, and thus it witnessed numerous battles, among them the infamous Battle of Thermopylae, in which the Spartans led by the King Leonidas I fought against the forces of Xerxes I of Persia.[1][2]
Following the battle, King Leonidas was buried at Thermopylai, and a statue of a lion was erected there in his honor.[1]
Decades later in 431 BCE, the Spartan misthios Kassandra visited the passageway at the request of the historian Herodotos. They met at the Lion of Leonidas, where Herodotos requested Kassandra to draw out her spear. As Herodotos touched the tip of the spear, they received a glimpse of Leonidas' final moments in the Battle of Thermopylae. This seemingly confirmed Herodotos' suspicions about Kassandra and her spear's connection to Leonidas.[3]
Locations
Gallery
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Concept art of the pass -
A view of the Malian Gulf with the Hot Gates of Thermopylai on the right
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Malis: Lion of Leonidas
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Thermopylai
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Memories Awoken