THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLÆ

PERSIA

• Led by King Xerxes
• 100,000 men
• Wanted to conquer all of Greece
• Was a delayed response to the first Persian Invasion of Greece

GREECE

• Made up of allied Greek city-states
• Led by Sparta (King Leonidas)
• 300 Spartans and 6,700 other Greeks
• Blocked pass of Thermopylæ, which was required to enter Greece
• Greatly outnumbered

WHAT HAPPENED

• The Spartans held off the Persians for 7 days
• Greek native named Ephialtes told Xerxes of a pass around the mountains
• Xerxes ambushed the Spartans, but Leonidas sent most of the Greeks back
• The Spartans fell after two days od fighting, but their brave stand inspired many Greeks

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