The Battle
The length of the actual conflict was only seven days, with a four day stand off before three days of battle. The fifth day of the Persian occupation at Thermopylae would be the day the conflict began. On this day, Xerxes ordered a large contingent of Medes to attack the Greeks at their position by the Phocian Wall (the narrowest part of the pass). With the defeat of his forces Xerxes then sent his most feared warriors, The Immortals, against the Greeks, once again suffering defeat. The following day saw the bulk of the Persian Infantry being unleashed on the Greek forces, with Xerxes "supposing that their enemies, being so few, were now disabled by wounds and could no longer resist" (Herodotus, 7, 211). The Persians were again overcome by the Greeks and so Xerxes withdrew his forces to camp, unsure of what next to do.
After the repeated defeat of the Persian force comes the point where we encounter Ephialtes the Traitor. Ephialtes, from local Trachis, tells Xerxes of a nearby mountain path that would allow the Persian forces to outflank the Greeks in a wider section of the Thermopylae Pass, a location that would have allowed Xerxes his overwhelming numbers their advantage once more. Hydarnes was given command of an enhanced force of the Immortals - a total of 20,000 men to storm the Greek Base, leaving on the dawn of the third day.
When Leonidas of Sparta discovered they were being out-maneuvered he dismissed the majority of the 7000 man strong Greek force. He stayed behind with his 300 Spartans along with 700 Thespians who refused to leave, 400 Thebans as hostages and a small assortment of volunteers from other city-states. These 1,500 Greeks were the rear guard that Hydarnes and his men would encounter as they stormed the base. This was vital to the eventual success of the Greeks as if the entire force had retreated the Persian cavalry would have been able to chase them down over the open plain, and if all had remained they would have all been killed as the rear-guard was.
After the repeated defeat of the Persian force comes the point where we encounter Ephialtes the Traitor. Ephialtes, from local Trachis, tells Xerxes of a nearby mountain path that would allow the Persian forces to outflank the Greeks in a wider section of the Thermopylae Pass, a location that would have allowed Xerxes his overwhelming numbers their advantage once more. Hydarnes was given command of an enhanced force of the Immortals - a total of 20,000 men to storm the Greek Base, leaving on the dawn of the third day.
When Leonidas of Sparta discovered they were being out-maneuvered he dismissed the majority of the 7000 man strong Greek force. He stayed behind with his 300 Spartans along with 700 Thespians who refused to leave, 400 Thebans as hostages and a small assortment of volunteers from other city-states. These 1,500 Greeks were the rear guard that Hydarnes and his men would encounter as they stormed the base. This was vital to the eventual success of the Greeks as if the entire force had retreated the Persian cavalry would have been able to chase them down over the open plain, and if all had remained they would have all been killed as the rear-guard was.
Key Parties
- Who were the main belligerents involved?
Influential People
- Who had a major role in or influenced the battle?
Decisions and Repercussions
- What were key decisions made that affected the outcome of the battle? What effect did they have?
- Who were the main belligerents involved?
Influential People
- Who had a major role in or influenced the battle?
Decisions and Repercussions
- What were key decisions made that affected the outcome of the battle? What effect did they have?