( Log Out / At the Battle of Salamis in September 480 B.C., the Greek fleet won a resounding victory over the Persians in one of the greatest naval contests of the ancient world. On that final morning, Pressfield writes that the remaining Spartans “turned to one of their leaders, the warrior Dienekes, and asked him what thoughts they should hold in their minds in this final hour to keep their courage strong.” Spoken like a true warrior, Dienekes told them, “Fight for this alone: the man who stands at your shoulder. Xerxes then sent envoys. Wary of being trapped in Europe, Xerxes withdrew with much of his army to Asia (losing most to starvation and disease), leaving Mardonius to attempt to complete the conquest of Greece. Leonidas and his troops fended off the Persian attacks for seven days straight, including three days of intense battle, … The Athenian politician and general Themistocles had proposed that the allied Greeks block the advance of the Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae, and simultaneously block the Persian navy at the Straits of Artemisium. GreekReporter.com: Molon Labe: Anniversary of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC). ( Log Out / He understands that, “The group comes before the individual,” and stands together with his brothers in arms, fighting with them and for them until the very end. Introduction to my book: Read it here plus top reviews, Captain Robert Falcon Scott & the ill fated Terra Nova Expedition, Signed copy of my book & update on book launch /Promo, Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division: Iconic Songs & the story behind them. and located at the Archaeological Museum of Sparta. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus in The Histories, “they resisted to the last, with their swords, if they had them, and, if not, with their hands and teeth. Although fighting in … He is everything, and everything is contained within him.”, Spartans standing together at the Battle of Thermopylae. After arriving at the pass, the Persian king waited four days, hoping that the sight of his massive army would send the Greeks running. . The Greeks were told that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they would be spared. For the true warrior, selflessness means standing together with your comrades through it all, no matter how profound the danger or the risk of death. Leonidas and the Spartans engaged in fierce fighting at Thermopylae. Answered May 14, 2016 Leonidas, commander of the Hellenic League army brought his entire force to Thermopylae. During two full days of battle, the small force led by Leonidas blocked the only road by which the massive Persian army could pass. Since the Greek strategy required both Thermopylae and Artemisium to be held, given their losses, it was decided to withdraw to Salamis. Others also reportedly remained, including up to 900 helots and 400 Thebans; most of these Thebans reportedly surrendered. In the late summer of 480 B.C., the Spartan king Leonidas and his soldiers epitomized this principle at the Battle of Thermopylae. The virtue of selflessness that they embodied has persisted in select individuals through the ages and remains the central tenet in the life of the true warrior throughout every corner of the world. Located between the mountains of central Greece and the sea, the Spartan king chose to defend the pass of Thermopylae, also known as the “Hot Gates” because of nearby sulfur springs. Change ). The defenders of Thermopylae would not back down. By 480 BC Xerxes had amassed a huge army and navy, and set out to conquer all of Greece. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. (Photo Credit: Weaponsandwarfare.com). The Spartans knew how to kick arse and this battle and the heroics of Leonidas and his “300” has rightly earned its place as one of the greatest battles ever and has fascinated me since i was a child. Spartans locked in combat with Persian soldiers at the Battle of Plataea in August 479 B.C., a clash in which Aristodemus, the only surviving Spartan from the struggle at Thermopylae, distinguished himself through his gallantry in action. Northern Ireland/Belfast Food & Drink – Things I love & miss from home & A few I don’t! As former U.S. Marine and author Steven Pressfield writes in The Warrior Ethos, the true warrior knows in his heart that, “The group comes before the individual.” From the time of spears and shields to the modern age of bombs and bullets, the virtue of selflessness has always flowed through the veins of the true warrior. (Photo Credit: Giuseppe Rava). A statue of a Spartan hoplite warrior dating back to the 5th century B.C. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
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