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.”