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THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
THE AFTERMATH OF MARATHON Battle of Marathon
490 BC Greeks win.
After Persians leave Marathon- Rush to Athens to catch
them off guard. Miltiades gets troops
back. Persians retreat back to
Asia Minor. Ten years of peace
follow.
192 ATHENIANS DEAD, BURIED IN CEREMONIAL FUNERAL MOUND. STILL THERE TODAY!
BACKGROUND TO THERMOPYLAE The Greek leader
Miltiades wounded- Greeks need leader.
Themistocles steps up- Very strong leader. Can act quickly. Respond to difficult
situations. Silver mines found
outside Athens- Help strengthen military.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE CASH? Themistocles puts lots
of money- Build up army to
100,000-150,000 men. Build 200 warships-
Triremes. Athenians not going
to attack- On the defensive. Wait for Persia to
attack.
PERSIA THIRSTS FOR REVENGE
Persia also has new leader- Darius out (dies). Xerxes in.
Son of Darius. Grandson of Cyrus.
Xerxes grows up vowing to revenge father’s loss- Has slave follow him. Whispers “Remember
the Athenians” for next 10 years!
COOPERATION AMONG GREEKS Athenians hear about
Persians- Look for help.
Many other Greek polis agree to help- 1st time wide scale co-
operation between Greeks.
Sparta & Athens decide to work together- Fight Persians. Sparta has very strong
army Athens has strong navy.
DEJA VU Once again, Greeks heavily
outnumbered- Persians
200,000 Infantry 1200 Navy 20,000 Cavalry
Greeks 7000 Infantry 200 Navy 0 Cavalry
Spartans led by Leonidas- 1 of 2 Kings of Sparta. His troops pretty good.
THE BATTLE AT THERMOPYLAE August, 480 BC. Greeks wait for Persians
at Thermopylae- Persians will have to take
this pass. Xerxes sits on a golden
throne- Atop pass to watch battle.
For two days- Greeks hold off Persians. Slaughter them-
Even Xerxes’ elite “Immortals.”
PASS OF THERMOPYLAE
TRAITOR AMONG THE GREEKS Greek betrays Greeks-
Ephialtes. Show Xerxes path leading
behind Greeks. Leonidas sends
Athenians home- Knows they are going to
lose. 1100 remain. Plus remaining Spartans.
Delays Persians- Athenians can defend city.
Persians slaughter Greeks- All are killed.
“GO TELL THE SPARTANS, STRANGER PASSING BY, THAT HERE OBEDIENT TO THEIR LAWS WE
LIE.”