BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE AND THE HEROISM SHOWN BY THE SPARTANS.

 

The first invasion of Greece was launched by the Persian Empire under Darius I in 490 BC. By then it was a large empire, in fact it was the first Empire in the world which consisted of different countries. It then consisted of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Darius set up a system of provinces and Governors and also a postal service. He also made public works likes roads and canals.

The invasion of Greece however, proved unsuccessful and the Persians were defeated at the battle of Marathon. Till that time Darius defeated many kings and never lost a battle. During the battle the greatest runner of Athens Pheidippides was sent running to Sparta for seeking their help which never came.  The Athenians nevertheless managed to defeat Persia at Marathon. Pheiddpides was again sent running to announce their victory to Athens. He conveyed the news to Athens, but so exhausted was he with first running to Sparta and back and thence to Athens where he collapsed and died after conveying the news. The distance he ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens was 26 miles 285 yards which now constitutes or marathon run.   

The 2^nd invasion of Greece came under the son of Darius I known as Xerxes. For the invasion he marshalled about a quarter million men while the Greeks could muster only about 7000 men led by the Spartan king Leonidas. The Greeks held the Persian army which is vastly superior in numbers for 7 days at the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Then one local resident informed the Persians about another path in the mountains through which the Persians marched. Leonidas knew his men were being outflanked. He dismissed the bulk of the Greek army and stood guard at the pass with 300 Spartans to cover the retreat of the Greek army that was sent back. He also had 700 Thespians (from another Greek city), 900 Helots (who were a subjugated tribe by the Greeks) and 400 Thebans (another Greek city). That is a total of 2300 men to defend against the 250,000 Persians. Narrow pass or not, clearly that is an impossible task. Excluding most of the 400 Thebans who surrendered, all the rest 1900 men fought to death. Then the Persian fleet which carried their supplies was defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis in 480 BC. Also Xerxes did not want to get his army trapped in Europe and hence withdrew.   

It is amazing to see Leonidas and his men fearlessly not caring for their lives defend the pass against the odds of 1 to 100. They knew it was certain death, but they fought the Persians to the last man excluding the Thebans who surrendered.