The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in 480 BC between the Achaemenid Persian Empire under Xerxes and an alliance of Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I, as part of the second Persian invasion of Greece. Lasting over three days, around 7,000 Greeks, including about 300 Spartans, held off a much larger Persian army before being outflanked by a mountain path revealed by the local resident Ephialtes, ending in a Persian victory and the deaths of Leonidas and his remaining rearguard.
Facts
Battle TypePitched land battle at a mountain pass 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Thermopylae
Lead section, para 1Quote, Lead section, para 1
one of the most prominent battles of both the second Persian invasion of Greece and the wider Greco-Persian Wars
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Thermopylae
Lead section, para 2Quote, Lead section, para 2
Around 7,000 Greek forces, including approximately 300 Spartans, held off a much larger Persian army
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Thermopylae
Infobox: DateQuote, Infobox: Date
21-23 July, 20 August, or 8-10 September 480 BC
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Thermopylae
Infobox: LocationQuote, Infobox: Location
Thermopylae, Greece (38 47 45N 22 32 13E)
1. Wikipedia: Battle of Thermopylae
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