2499 years ago, approximately #OTD, the pass at Thermopylai in Central Greece became the site of one of the most famous land battles in history.
You've probably heard a bunch of tall tales about it. @reeshistory and I are here to tell it a little differently.
1/lots
You've probably heard a bunch of tall tales about it. @reeshistory and I are here to tell it a little differently.
1/lots
It was a heroic struggle and a moral victory for the Greeks: 300 Spartans gave their lives for the Greek cause, killing innumerable enemies and teaching the arrogant Persians to fear the indomitable hoplite phalanx. Right?
RIGHT???
Wrong.
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RIGHT???
Wrong.
2/
"300 Spartans"? Nope. There were 1000 Spartans. Probably 300 of them were full Spartan citizens, the rest perioikoi (freeborn non-citizens). There were also an unknown number of helots (possibly thousands).
Here's what we know about numbers: badancient.com/claims/did-300…
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Here's what we know about numbers: badancient.com/claims/did-300…
3/
Still, the allied army was TINY. Less than 10% of their available strength. Why?
Spartans claimed they had been told they were going to die. It was a sacrifice.
But in that case, why send so many?
And why ask allies to send the same share? 4/
Spartans claimed they had been told they were going to die. It was a sacrifice.
But in that case, why send so many?
And why ask allies to send the same share? 4/
More likely answer: this was all they were willing to send. Spartans hadn't marched this far north in 40 years. They weren't keen. Their allies put them up to it.
Their commander was king Leonidas, aged 60, and with no victories to his name. 5/
Their commander was king Leonidas, aged 60, and with no victories to his name. 5/
Leonidas came to the pass, saw Xerxes' army, and thought, "yeah, all right, I might need a few more."
He put out the call - but now the Karneia and the Olympic truce were in the way. No one would come from the Peloponnese for weeks.
His army of 6-7000 would have to do. 6/
He put out the call - but now the Karneia and the Olympic truce were in the way. No one would come from the Peloponnese for weeks.
His army of 6-7000 would have to do. 6/
Meanwhile, nothing says the Spartans used phalanx formations at this time. No ranks and files, no tight manoeuvres. No red cloaks or lambdas on their shields. Not yet! They were just rich dudes and their enslaved servants, all mixed together. 7/
And the Persians? A world-conquering infantry elite, the only professional soldiers at Thermopylai. Armed to the teeth, armoured in scale cuirasses. Many of their allies had even heavier gear. What chance did the Spartans have?
So they built a wall. (not this one.) 8/
So they built a wall. (not this one.) 8/
The Persians attacked this wall for a few days, skirmishing with the sallying Greeks. Stalling. They were waiting for the fleet to win the battle at sea (on which more later). They were waiting to clear the goat path that would turn the pass. 9/
We're told a Greek traitor told them about the path. Really? The Persians knew how passes worked. They had plenty of local guides. They had the Thessalians, who had turned the pass before. They could ask anyone: "Hey, is there like a path around this thing?" 10/
Night of the second day, the Immortals clear the path around this thing. Leonidas had sent 1000 Phokians to guard it, but they fold straight away. Terror? Treason? We'll never know. 11/
The Persians make it down in the morning. Leonidas has lost.
He decides to stay and fight.
Herodotos leaves no doubt: it's not a rearguard action, not a sacrifice. He's a Spartan. He's just following orders. He can't think what else to do.
12/
He decides to stay and fight.
Herodotos leaves no doubt: it's not a rearguard action, not a sacrifice. He's a Spartan. He's just following orders. He can't think what else to do.
12/
The Persians surround the Spartans, Thebans and Thespiaians and finish them off.
It's a great victory. 4000 Greeks are dead; only 1000 Persians. That's what witnesses told Herodotos. He refused to believe them, and claimed Xerxes hid the rest of his dead. 13/
It's a great victory. 4000 Greeks are dead; only 1000 Persians. That's what witnesses told Herodotos. He refused to believe them, and claimed Xerxes hid the rest of his dead. 13/
Xerxes is triumphant. He has won his first land battle. His men dislodged a Greek army from the strongest position in their land and killed a Spartan king. His propaganda machine has a field day. The morale of his men soars. (Probably.) 14/
The Greeks? Not so triumphant. Parts of Phokis and Boiotia are brutally sacked. Thousands of innocents are klled or enslaved. The allies mutter about Sparta's failure and defeat. The Athenians threaten to pack up and sail to Italy. The alliance is breaking. 15/
Sparta stays quiet in the Peloponnese.
To keep their hegemony, they have only one card to play.
They say noble Leonidas and his 300 Spartans gave their lives for the Greek cause.
The rest is history.
/fin
To keep their hegemony, they have only one card to play.
They say noble Leonidas and his 300 Spartans gave their lives for the Greek cause.
The rest is history.
/fin
For more detail on this reinterpretation of the battle (based on scholarship by Hans van Wees, Jeffrey Rop, Michael Charles, and the late Matthew Trundle) check out this podcast I did with @askhistorians:
askhistorians.libsyn.com/askhistorians-…
askhistorians.libsyn.com/askhistorians-…
