Battle of Thermopylae
480 BCE · Thermopylae (Malis) · World · Ancient
The Greeks held the pass through three days of bloody fighting, but were annihilated after a mountain path let the enemy outflank them from the rear.
Belligerents
Greek coalition
- Commanders
- Leonidas I
- Strength
- 300 Spartans and about 7,000 Greek coalition troops
Persia
- Commanders
- Xerxes I, Hydarnes
- Strength
- Hundreds of thousands of troops
Background
Xerxes invaded in force, and the Greek coalition used Thermopylae to delay the Persian army.
Course of the battle
- Holding to the lastUsing the terrain of the pass, the Greeks repulsed wave after wave of Persian assaults head-on.
- Outflanking raidA traitor led the Persian army along a mountain path to outflank them from the rear.
- RearguardLeonidas led picked troops in the rearguard and fought to the death.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 480 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Thermopylae (Malis) |
| Result | The Greeks held the pass through three days of bloody fighting, but were annihilated after a mountain path let the enemy outflank them from the rear. |
| Winner | Persia |
| Casualties | Leonidas and the rearguard were wiped out, and Persia paid a heavy price. |
| Territorial change | Persia opened the gateway to central Greece, and Athens was burned. |
Impact
It became a symbol of the few standing against the many and going bravely to their deaths.
See the world in 480 BCE on the map →