Battle of thermopylae in the persian wars thoughtco. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae by pressfield, steven from amazons fiction books store. I love history but who likes boring textbook type information. The battle of thermopylae is believed to have been fought in august 480 bc, during the persian wars 499 bc449 bc. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. The battle of thermopylae august 480 bc is one of the most famous military defeats in history, and is best known for the fate of the 300 spartans, killed alongside 700 thespians on the final day of the battle. During the first two days, the persians suffered many losses.
During an indecisive battle near plataea on august 27, 479 bce. The battle of thermopylae has remained a cultural icon of western civilization ever since it was fought. He has the persians attack with 10,000 men on day 1, then 20,000 on day 2, and 50,000 on day 3 this rising tricolon is a folktale motif, so completely ahistorical, and all three fail. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. It is one of ten battles in this book, ranging from thermopylae in ancient greece to the battle of britain during world war ii, chosen because of their lasting effect on world history by oxlade, c in ad 732, near the town of tours, france, a frankish army defeated the invading islamic army and stopped the advance of the islamic empire into europe. Rupert matthews is a professional historian with over 150 books, articles and other publications to his name.
The battle is revisited in countless adages and works of popular culture, such as in films e. This is information but told in a way that brings the people alive. The greek loyalists battle for six days in a prelude to their ultimate victory. During the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, a greek force of approximately 7,000. Sources battle of thermopylae 480 bc stories preschool. In my head, i imagined each piece of equipment and felt the anticipation of oncoming battles that have become legends. The battle of thermopylae of 480 bce has long been a subject of cultural fascination, as it is. It was a pleasure to read as it makes other books of other wars and battles by other authors that much easier to get. Antiochus had crossed into greece from asia minor at the head of small army, hoping to find allies amongst the greeks. Battle of salamis 480 bc persian invasion of greece. The battle of thermopylae is one of the most famous battles in human history. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. The battle of thermopylae 300 spartans and the forgotten citizensoldiers who fought with them by. The battle of thermopylae by charles river editors available from rakuten kobo.
The battle of artemisium, or battle of artemision, was a series of naval engagements over three days during the second persian invasion of greece. Thermopylae in the classroom environment the 300 spartans. Battlebox the battle of thermopylae of 480 bc set an alliance of greek citystates against an invading persian army. Top battle of thermopylae and artemisum books persians under xerxes had both a land and a sea force with which they attempted to defeat those greeks who wouldnt willingly accept persian domination, as many greek citystates had already done. Have there been any battles similar to the battle of. Athens was evacuated and the spartans and corinthians walled off the peloponnese. Historic battles battle of thermopylae 480 bc the battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas of sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i over the course of three days, during the second persian invasion of greece.
Thermopylae books about the battle of thermopylae thoughtco. The encounter took place between greece and their allies thespians and thebans which were led by king leonidas, and the persian empire led by xerxes i. After three days resisting the much larger persian army of xerxes i, greek forces were betrayed by ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, leonidas, who died during a final stand. Following the retreat of allied forces from the mountain passes at olympus and servia, british commonwealth forces began to set up defensive positions at the coastal pass at thermopylae, famous for the battle of. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source. Battle of thermopylae, august 480 bc military history.
May 31, 2014 decisive battles thermopylae greece vs persia. Though vastly outnumbered, the greeks held back the persian advance until a defector informed the persians of an alternate route, leading to the defeat of the greek army and the sacking of athens. The battle of thermopylae took place over a period of three days in midaugust 480 bc. It was the first major battle of the romanseleucid war. On one side was a vast army assembled by the persians to avenge their defeat at marathon.
Sep 28, 2016 the battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas of sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i over the course of three days, during the second. The first battle that comes to my mind is the battle of melantias. The battle took place simultaneously with the more famous land battle at thermopylae, in august or september 480 bc, off the coast of euboea and was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, including sparta, athens, corinth and others, and. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an outnumbered greek force probably of seven thousand including the famous 300 spartans, 500 warriors from tegea, 500 from mantinea, 120 from arcadian orchomenos, from the rest of arcadia, 200 from phlius, 80 from mycenae, 400 corinthians, 400 thebans, phocians and the opuntian locrians held off. The battle that changed the world cartledge, paul on. A captivating guide to one of the greatest battles in ancient. The first thing anyone visiting thermopylae will notice is that it looks nothing like it should. As herodotus claims in his account of the battle in book vii of the histories, the.
Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. Discusses all of the colorful quotes and legends about the battle but also analyzes what is historical fact and what is. The name of it is gates of fire written by steven pressfield. The battle of thermopylae has also been compared to various battles of the anglozulu war. This battle has been immortalized in time by the hollywood blockbuster film 300. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
But the greeks, led by king leonidas and a small army of spartans, took the battle to the persians at thermopylae and halted their advance, almost. Battle of thermopylae in popular culture wikipedia. A timeline of the peloponnesian wars major battles. His books include england versus scotland in the great british battles series, and alexander the great at the battle of granicus and the battle of crecy in spellmounts campaign in context series. I know this book is fiction, but it is on the usmc commandants reading list, is taught to the corps of cadets at west point, annapo. The athenians had fled to salamis after the battle of thermopylae in august, 480. Their attempt to stop xerxes invasion had failed, and many were thrown into despair. The romans were victorious, and as a result, antiochus was forced to flee from greece. The battle of thermopylae aftermath legio i lynx fulminata. How herodotus might have come to know about the battle of. Last stand of the greeks military history animated.
So the battle of thermopylae included a land and sea component. The battle of thermopylae is one of the most memorable battles fought during the persian wars. In his book thermopylae, cartledge references the contrasting language that. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. The spartan victory at the battle of thermopylae opened the door for american. It was a pleasure to read as it makes other books of other wars and battles by other.
A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than treachery of. The result of the battle was, however, indecisive and on news of. Fascinating history about the battle between the spartans and persians that changed the world 480 bc fascinating world history book 2 historyepisode 3. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. The spartan and thespian last stand has been immortalized in the works of herodotus and glorified in the 1962 movie the 300 spartans starring richard egan. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. The battle of thermopylae was the first of the many battles that happened between the persians and greeks. Themistocles argued in favor of fighting at salamis, as the persian fleet would be. He drew directly on persian sources, but his entire treatment of the battle of thermopylae is wildly unreliable. In the annals of heroism, the battle of thermopylae is an archetype, a classic. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. Whats the best book youve read on the battle of thermopylae.
Strangely enough, its a book of historical fiction. What were the effects of the battle of thermopylae on the. Narrated by the sole survivor of the epic battle a squire in the spartan heavy infantrygates of fire is a mesmerizing depiction of one mans indoctrination into the spartan way of life and death, and of the legendary men and women who gave the culture an immortal gravity. Having been turned back at marathon in 490 bc, persian forces returned to greece ten years later to avenge their defeat and conquer the peninsula. Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. Decisive battles thermopylae greece vs persia youtube. Xerxes i makes extensive preparations to invade mainland greece by building depots, canals and a boat bridge across the hellespont.
The battle of thermopylae, on 2425 april 1941, was part of the german invasion of greece during world war ii. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. Furthermore, this idea also neglects the fact that a greek navy was fighting at artemisium during the battle of thermopylae, incurring. The battle of thermopylae was fought in 191 bc between a roman army led by consul manius acilius glabrio and a seleucid force led by king antiochus iii the great. Test your understanding of the battle at thermopylae, a legendary episode in the ancient persiangreco wars, with an interactive quiz and printable. This website is dedicated to king leonidas, the 300 spartans, 700 thespians and other greek warriors who fought to the death during the battle of thermopylae hot gates in august, 480 b.