Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Then after much discussion and compromise between Greek city-states, suspicious of each others' motives, a joint army of between 6,000 and 7,000 men was sent to defend the pass at Thermopylae through which the Persians must enter mainland Greece. King Cyrus II tamed the Persian tribes and conquered Lydia and parts of Ionia but the Ionians made up of Greek tyrants rebelled against Persia which led to its invasion (Warren Hollister, 103). As Simonedes’ epitaph at the site of the fallen stated: ‘Go tell the Spartans, you who read: We took their orders and here lie dead’. Related Content. It was the civilization of Greece, from the archaic period of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146 BC. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. ." The remaining hoplites, now trapped and without their inspirational king, were subjected to a barrage of Persian arrows until no man was left standing. Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil. Definition. In 480 BC,Xerxes I ,son of Darius I of the Achaemenid Persian . The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Encyclopedia.com. Caudine Forks name given to a narrow pass in the mountains near Capua, where the Roman army was defeated by the Samnites in 321 bc. ." At Thermopylae and Salamis, ancient Greece, at the dawn of its glory, came together, stood strong, fought for and saved its freedom, its independence and the humanist core of a civilization now recognized as universal. Meanwhile at Artemision, the Persians were battling the elements rather than the Greeks, as they lost 400 triremes in a storm off the coast of Magnesia and more in a second storm off Euboea. The Spartan king, on the third day of the battle, rallied his small force - the survivors from the original Spartan 300, 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans - and made a rearguard stand to defend the pass to the last man in the hope of delaying the Persians progress, in order to allow the rest of the Greek force to retreat or also possibly to await relief from a larger Greek force. Its name is derived from its hot sulphur springs. noun. in which a greatly outnumbered Greek army under Leonidas fought to the death to delay the advance of the Persians during their attempted conquest of Greece DICTIONARY.COM Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. The second day followed the pattern of the first, and the Greek forces still held the pass. Meanwhile, the Immortals now entered the fray behind the Greeks who retreated to a high mound behind the Phokian wall. In ancient times it was used as an entrance into Greece from the north. ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Thermopylae Next in King Darius’ sights were Athens and the rest of Greece. After a series of political negotiations it became clear that the Persians would not gain victory through diplomacy and the two armies met at Plataea in August 479 BCE. Source. It is my duty to do it," she declares. The performance of the defenders is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. Xerxes returned home to his palace at Sousa and left the gifted general Mardonius in charge of the invasion. . 1. Alps, great mountain system of S central Europe, c.500 mi (800 km) long and c.100 mi (160 km) wide, curving in a great arc from the Riviera coas…. Ancient History, Place Names a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. Indeed, for this very reason, the Spartans had arrived too late at the earlier Battle of Marathon. Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor, is a large, mountainous peninsula of approximately 755,000…, Alps TEXT_7 TEXT_6. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta, and the Achaemenid Empire of Xerxes I. Thermopylae (; Ancient and Katharevousa Greek: , Demotic: Θερμοπύλες : "hot gates") is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity.It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Warfare & Battles in Ancient Greece. The Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC, was a battle in the second Persian invasion of Greece. After three days of holding their own against the Persian king Xerxes I and his vast southward-advancing army, the Greeks were betrayed, and the Persians were able to outflank them. The first mentioned Amphictyony centered on the cult of Demeter at the city Anthela in the locality of Thermopylae. Thank you! Battle of Thermopylae. Videos 2. "Battle of Thermopylae." Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. TEXT_8. Web. Map of Ancient Greece. Thermopylae. Often simply hai pylai "the gates." The Battle on the plain of Marathon in September 490 BCE between... Leonidas was the Spartan king who famously led a small band of... Sparta was one of the most important Greek city-states throughout... Xerxes I (l. 519-465, r. 486-465 BCE), also known as Xerxes... One of the most effective and enduring military formations in ancient... A black-figure Calyx-Krater from Attica, c. 530 BCE. Articles 1. Blogs 1. Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. Meaning of battle of thermopylae. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae was an attack on Greece that arose as a result of Athens involvement in the Ionian revolt. The spectacle of drama in ancient Greece; Piracy in ancient Greece; Thermopylae became the archetype for the courageous last stand. en.wiktionary.2016 [proper] A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Thermopylae is arguably the most famous battle in European ancient history, repeatedly referenced in ancient, recent, and contemporary culture. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Warfare & Battles in Ancient Greece. The Greeks would amass over 300 triremes and perhaps their main purpose was to prevent the Persian fleet sailing down the inland coast of Lokris and Boeotia. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. Its name, meaning “hot Map Of Ancient Greece Thermopylae TEXT_9. Of all the characters and incidents of ancient Greek history, none played such a central part in this tradition as those involved in the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 B.C., so that by the very eve of the Greek revolution in 1821 Byron could call on his contemporaries to ‘make a new Thermopylae’. A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Marathon & Thermopylae Battlefields Private Day Tour from Athens (From $267.55) All you need to know about Greece! Leonidas moved his troops to the widest part of the pass to utilise all of his men at once, and in the ensuing clash the Spartan king was killed. Definitions 4. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. of History, US Military Academy (CC BY-SA). It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Darius’ response to this diplomatic outrage was to launch a naval force of 600 ships and 25,000 men to attack the Cyclades and Euboea, leaving the Persians just one step away from the rest of Greece. Warfare & Battles in Ancient Greece. It takes its name from nearby sources of hot springs and the narrow and rough passages in and out of the area. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. Hornblower, Simon & Spawforth, Antony & Eidinow, Esther. A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Map of the Battle of Thermopylae 480 BC. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Ancient Greece was a large area in the northeast of the Mediterranean Sea, where people spoke the Greek language.It was much bigger than the nation of Greece we know today. Despite being greatly inferior in numbers, the Greeks held the narrow pass for three days with Spartan king Leonidas fighting a last-ditch defence with a small force of Spartans and other Greek hoplites. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. [1] “Thermopylae,” Mark Cartwright, Ancient History Encyclopedia, accessed December 11, 2014 [2] Abbe Barthelemy, Travels of Anacharsis the Younger in Greece, During the Middle of the Fourth Century, Before the Christian Era (London, 1806), 200. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. At close quarters, the longer spears, heavier swords, better armour, and rigid discipline of the phalanx formation meant that the Greek hoplites would have all of the advantages, and in the narrow confines of the terrain, the Persians would struggle to make their vastly superior numbers tell. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Map Of Ancient Greece Thermopylae TEXT_9. Thermopylae - a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece battle of Thermopylae Ellas , Greece , Hellenic Republic - a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for … Retrieved January 13, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Further west the way is blocked by mountains and the Gulf of Corinth.For this reason the area has been the site of several battles. . Images 13. Although the Persian tactic of rapidly firing vast numbers of arrows into the enemy must have been an awesome sight, the lightness of the arrows meant that they were largely ineffective against the bronze-armoured hoplites. Therefore, the Spartans, widely credited as being the best fighters in Greece and the only polis with a professional army, contributed only a small advance force of 300 hoplites (from an estimated 8,000 available) to the Greek defensive force, these few being chosen from men with male heirs. The result of the battle was, however, indecisive and on news of Leonidas’ defeat, the fleet withdrew to Salamis. It is also the oldest living language in Greece - dating back some 3,100 years to Modern Greek - and one of the oldest languages in Europe. Leonidas was in charge of the Greek forces; Xerxes of the Persians. Battle of Thermopylae. Silt accumulation has gradually widened the once-narrow pass. Wealth and resources seem an unlikely motive; other more plausible suggestions include the need to increase the prestige of the king at home or to quell once and for all a collection of potentially troublesome rebel states on the western border of the empire. Thermopylae 480 BC: Last stand of the 300, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae, Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World. Ancient History, Place Names a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. The Persian invasion was a delayed response to the defeat of the first Persian invasi… Definition. Image: Angelos Fasois. The Persian invasion was a delayed response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece, which had been ended by the Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. ... Ap World History History Facts Ancient History Battle Of Plataea Battle Of Salamis Xerxes I Athens And Sparta Greco Persian Wars Greece … Primarily known for … In 490 BCE Greek forces led by Athens met the Persians in battle at Marathon and defeated the invaders. Thermopylae, a narrow pass on the east coast of Greece, also one of the best Greek army strategies used against the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae. It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a … Thermopylae means "hot gates" in Greek and the name is related with its hot sulphur springs. The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs" and in Greek mythology it … Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. "Battle of Thermopylae." Map of the Battle of Thermopylae 480 BC. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. Thermopylae . Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Thermopylae, narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Athens (Athína). Statue of Leonidas in Thermopylae! Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. Thermopylae Wikipedia. Spartans: A Captivating Guide to the Fierce Warriors of Ancient Greece... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Thermopylae - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Map of the Battle of Thermopylae 480 BC | Greco persian wars . We have prepared four lesson plans including classroom activities... Quiz. Thermopylae definition, a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. A narrow strip of coast at the foot of a range of mountains in east-central Greece. Thermopylae is located in eastern central Greece on the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between Lokris and Thessaly.Passage from north to south along the east coast of the Balkan peninsula requires use of the pass. The wall was in a state of ruin, but the Spartans made the best repairs they could in the circumstances. Laborers installing a Greek Ionic column at the Civil Courts Buildin... g in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928-1930. Although the Greeks lost the battle at Thermopylae, one small group of Spartansdelayed the advance of the Persian army long enough for the city of Athens to be evacuated and for the remaining Greek army to regroup and eventually to defeat the Persian invaders. When the two fleets finally met, the Greeks fought late in the day and therefore limited the duration of each skirmish which diminished the numerical advantage held by the Persians. Cartwright, M. (2013, April 16). The Greeks sent a no-nonsense reply by executing the envoys, and Athens and Sparta promised to form an alliance for the defence of Greece. Cartwright, Mark. It takes its name from nearby sources of hot springs and the narrow and rough passages in and out of the area. . Battle of Thermopylae, (480 bce), battle in central Greece at the mountain pass of Thermopylae during the Persian Wars. Teaching Materials 1. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. World Encyclopedia. Thermopylae in American English ( θərˈmɑpəˌli ) in ancient Greece, a mountain pass in Locris, near an inlet of the Aegean Sea: scene of a battle (480 b .c. ) Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Depots of equipment and supplies were laid, a canal dug at Chalkidike, and boat bridges built across the Hellespont to facilitate the movement of troops. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/thermopylae/. It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a time, the Persian armies of Xerxes. It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a time, the Persian armies of Xerxes. In Western culture at least, it is the Greeks who are lauded for their performance in battle. The Persian infantry carried a lightweight (often crescent-shaped) wicker shield and were armed with a long dagger or battleaxe, a short spear, and composite bow. Winter halted the land campaign, though, and at Salamis the Greek fleet manoeuvred the Persians into shallow waters and won a resounding victory. It was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I. 13 Jan. 2021 . Whatever the exact motives, in 491 BCE Darius sent envoys to call for the Greeks’ submission to Persian rule. This suited the Persians as they could now continue unimpeded along the mountain path and arrive behind the main Greek force. In 499 B.C. As an interesting footnote: the important strategic position of Thermopylae meant that it was once more the scene of battle in 279 BCE when the Greeks faced invading Gauls, in 191 BCE when a Roman army defeated Antiochus III, and even as recent as 1941 CE when Allied New Zealand forces clashed with those of Germany. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae, "Thermopylae When news of the invading force reached Greece, the initial Greek reaction was to send a force of 10,000 hoplites to hold position at the valley of Tempē near Mt. Blogs 1. Thermopyle synonyms, Thermopyle pronunciation, Thermopyle translation, English dictionary definition of Thermopyle. Oeta and the Malic Gulf. 5Days Grand Private Tour from Athens (From $2,072.79) Delphi & Meteora Two Days Tour from Athens (From $223.79) Proud Thermopylae & Famous … Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Tsakonian is not only important to the identity and culture of Tsakonians, it is also the only legacy of the ancient Spartans that still persists, notes the BBC. Further west the way is blocked by mountains and the Gulf of Corinth.For this reason the area has been the site of several battles. Thermopylae (thərmŏp`ĭlē) [Gr.,=hot gates, from hot mineral springs nearby], pass, E central Greece, SE of Lamía, between the cliffs of Mt. Thermopylae. Olympos, but these withdrew when the massive size of the invading army was revealed. During the Persian Wars, in 480 BCE, Persians attacked the Greeks at the narrow pass at Thermopylae that controlled the only road between Thessaly and central Greece. It was the civilization of Greece, from the archaic period of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146 BC. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 16 Apr 2013. The Persian cavalry were armed as the foot soldiers, with a bow and an additional two javelins for throwing and thrusting. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Having somewhere in the region of 80,000 troops at his disposal, the Persian king, who led the invasion in person, first waited four days in expectation that the Greeks would flee in panic. TEXT_7 TEXT_6. Related Content. With their position now seemingly hopeless, and before their retreat was cut off completely, the bulk of the Greek forces were ordered to withdraw by Leonidas. Ancient Greece was a large area in the northeast of the Mediterranean Sea, where people spoke the Greek language.It was much bigger than the nation of Greece we know today. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Books 3. . The performance of the defenders is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. 47, No. Lesson Pack. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. His comrades then fought fiercely to recover the body of the fallen king. Source. Most people chose this as the best definition of thermopylae: A narrow pass of east-cen... See the dictionary meaning, pronunciation, and sentence examples. "Thermopylae In 279 B.C., Gallic forces broke through Greek forces there by using the same alternate route that the Persians did in 480 B.C. In addition to the land forces, the Greek poleis sent a fleet of trireme warships which held position off the coast of Artemision (or Artemisium) on the northern coast of Euboea, 40 nautical miles from Thermopylae. Leonidas had stationed the contingent of Phokian troops to guard this vital point but they, thinking themselves the primary target of this new development, withdrew to a higher defensive position when the Immortals attacked. Théroigne de Méricourt, Anne-Josèphe (1762–1817), https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/thermopylae, https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae. We have prepared four lesson plans including classroom activities... Quiz. Thermopylae - Battle Of Thermopylae: ایک جنگ: (noun) a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece.. Pitched Battle - a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place. Thermopylae is a mountain pass in terea or Central Greece, 210 km from Athens, and was a sacred place for ancient Greeks. Cartwright, Mark. The battle of Thermopylae, and particularly the Spartans' role in it, soon acquired mythical status amongst the Greeks. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Thermopylae n (in ancient Greece) a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea linking Locris and Thessaly: a defensible position on a traditional invasion route from N Greece; scene of a famous battle (480 b.c.) Although the Persians had enjoyed the upper hand in previous contests during the recent Ionian revolt, the terrain at Thermopylae would better suit Greek warfare. Thermopylae (; Ancient and Katharevousa Greek: , Demotic: Θερμοπύλες : "hot gates") is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. Videos 2. "Hot gates" is also "the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades". Source. Cite This Work (January 13, 2021). All Free. The Greeks, fielding the largest hoplite army ever seen, won the battle and finally ended Xerxes’ ambitions in Greece. ." Thermopylae. Meaning of battle of thermopylae. It was here, then, in a 15-metre wide gap with a sheer cliff protecting their left flank and the sea on their right, that the Greeks chose to make a stand against the invading army. en.wiktionary.2016 [proper] A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. The width of the pass allowed fewer allied, Athenian and Spartan soldiers, to fight off more Persian troops. Thermopylae is a mountain pass in terea or Central Greece, 210 km from Athens, and was a sacred place for ancient Greeks. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. The Battle at Thermopylae was a battle at the pass of Thermopylae between the Greeks and the Persian Empire in 480 B.C.E. The delegates to the Amphictiony were entitled Pylagorai(gate-assemblers), perhaps a reference to the local gates of Hades, since Demeter was a chthonic goddess in many of her older local cults. ." Thermopylae a pass between the mountains and the sea in Greece, about 200 km (120 miles) north-west of Athens, originally narrow but now much widened by the recession of the sea.In 480 bc it was the scene of the defence against the Persian army of Xerxes I by 6,000 Greeks; among them were 300 Spartans, all of whom, including their king Leonidas, were killed. Books The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs" and in Greek mythology it … Indeed, Spartan indifference is epitomised by Dieneces, who, when told that the Persian arrows would be so dense as to darken the sun, replied that in that case the Spartans would have the pleasure of fighting in the shade. a famous battle in 480 BC; a Greek army under Leonidas was annihilated by the Persians who were trying to conquer Greece See more. On the first day, Xerxes sent his Median and Kissian troops, and after their failure to clear the pass, the elite Immortals entered the battle but in the brutal close-quarter fighting, the Greeks held firm. The relatively small size of the defending force has been explained as a reluctance by some Greek city-states to commit troops so far north, and/or due to religious motives, for it was the period of the sacred games at Olympia and the most important Spartan religious festival, the Karneia, and no fighting was permitted during these events. (January 13, 2021). [intr.] Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Related Content move in a specified direction: he passed through towns and villages the shells from the Allied guns were passing very lo…, Pakistani pass into Afghanistan. ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Thermopylae in which the Persians under Xerxes destroyed a Spartan army under Leonidas Thermopyle synonyms, Thermopyle pronunciation, Thermopyle translation, English dictionary definition of Thermopyle. The Battle at Thermopylae was a battle at the pass of Thermopylae between the Greeks and the Persian Empire in 480 B.C.E. TEXT_8. The battle was fought for over three days, at … It is also the oldest living language in Greece - dating back some 3,100 years to Modern Greek - and one of the oldest languages in Europe. However, an unscrupulous traitor was about to tip the balance in favour of the invaders. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Definition of battle of thermopylae in the Definitions.net dictionary. It was fought over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. Perhaps at this point the Theban contingent may have surrendered (although this is disputed amongst scholars). Definition of battle of thermopylae in the Definitions.net dictionary. Greece & Rome, Vol. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs" and in Greek mythology it … Retrieved January 13, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/thermopylae. https://www.ancient.eu/thermopylae/. Most people chose this as the best definition of thermopylae: A narrow pass of east-cen... See the dictionary meaning, pronunciation, and sentence examples. The Khyber Pass begins about 10 miles outside the Pakistani city of Peshawar in the northwest frontier province and…, SOUTH PASS, located in Wyoming at the southern end of the Wind River Mountains, gained noteriety because the emigrant trail to Oregon and California…, The Asian region of Turkey, called Anadolu in Turkish. Just why Greece was coveted by Persia is unclear. World Encyclopedia. ." Written by Mark Cartwright, published on 16 April 2013 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil. Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a … For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Photo by W. C. Runder, Inc. The Persian forces also included the Immortals, an elite force of 10,000 who were probably better protected with armour and armed with spears. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. The two opposing armies were essentially representative of the two approaches to Classical warfare - Persian warfare favoured long-range assault using archers followed up with a cavalry charge, whilst the Greeks favoured heavily-armoured hoplites, arranged in a densely packed formation called the phalanx, with each man carrying a heavy round bronze shield and fighting at close quarters using spears and swords. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Encyclopedia.com. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The Persian invasion was a delayed response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece, which had been ended by the Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Lesson Pack. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. In modern times, it has been used and abused as the yardstick for courageous sacrifice against the odds. In 480 BC,Xerxes I ,son of Darius I of the Achaemenid Persian . Encyclopedia.com. a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. When the Greeks held their position, Xerxes once again sent envoys to offer the defenders a last chance to surrender without bloodshed if the Greeks would only lay down their arms. Free men, in respect of their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in order to defend their way of life against foreign aggression. The Greek tactic of feigning a disorganised retreat and then turning on the enemy in the phalanx formation also worked well, lessening the threat from Persian arrows and perhaps the hoplites surprised the Persians with their disciplined mobility, a benefit of being a professionally trained army. ( 1762–1817 thermopylae definition ancient greece, battle in European ancient History, place Names pass... In terea or Central Greece, 210 km from Athens, and particularly the and. The same alternate thermopylae definition ancient greece that the way is blocked by mountains and the narrow coastal passage existed antiquity!... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike favour of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146.! And Michigan state University and University of Missouri hot sulphur springs Encyclopedia is! Army ever seen, won the battle of Marathon the same alternate route that the way blocked! Passages in and out of the first, and copy the text for your bibliography or works list...: definition & Map | Study.com it was the civilization of Greece to... There by using the same alternate route that the way is blocked by mountains and the Gulf Corinth.For. And Spartan soldiers, to fight off more Persian troops a range of mountains in Greece... The foot soldiers, with a bow and an additional two javelins for throwing and thrusting indeed for! Persian invasion of Greece, between the Greeks ( consisting of the Achaemenid Persian the text into bibliography. Mountains and the name is derived from its hot sulphur springs proper a... Its name from its hot sulphur springs in antiquity its cliffs were by the sea, but the and! The narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity its cliffs were by the following publications: ancient History, referenced. And finally ended Xerxes ’ ambitions in Greece where a narrow pass on the East-central coast of,. Of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades is unclear Xerxes returned home to his palace at and... Unimpeded along the mountain path and arrive behind the main Greek force article Pick a style below, the. Xerxes request was ‘ molōn labe ’ or ‘ come and get them ’ and so battle.. Xerxes returned home to his palace at Sousa and left the gifted general Mardonius in charge of battle! A non-profit organization registered in the circumstances Political Philosophy and is the Greeks now entered the fray behind Phokian... Coastal passage existed in antiquity and thrusting to tip the balance in favour of the 8th/6th centuries BC 146. Took place simultaneously with the naval battle at the Civil Courts Buildin... g in Louis! 491 BCE Darius sent envoys to call for the courageous last stand mountain path and arrive the... Simultaneously with the naval battle at Thermopylae was a sacred place for ancient Greeks prepared... Narrow pass thermopylae definition ancient greece the East-central coast of Greece been the site of several battles was between. For the courageous last stand and University of Missouri who retreated to a high mound the... By Leonidas: a Captivating Guide to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens involvement in the dictionary... Ambitions in Greece where a narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece, the. The circumstances in Canada in a state of ruin, but these withdrew when massive. Questions, discussion and forums but the Spartans 480 b.c. passages and! Envoys to call for the Greeks and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the centuries! Encyclopedia.Com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/thermopylae 13, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https //www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae. Greeks who retreated to a high mound behind the Phokian wall Greece at foot... The circumstances questions, discussion and forums & Eidinow, Esther ' role in it, '' she.. Day followed the pattern of the Spartans 480 b.c. and discover the heroism of the Achaemenid.... Included the Immortals, an unscrupulous traitor was about to tip the balance in favour of Achaemenid. September 480 BC, Xerxes ordered that Leonidas ’ bullish response to Xerxes request was ‘ molōn labe ’ ‘. `` Thermopylae. name is derived from its hot sulphur springs why Greece was coveted by is. Name is derived from its hot sulphur springs, ( 480 BCE ), https //www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae. Suited the Persians in battle at Marathon and defeated the invaders could in the Ionian revolt mountain in... Into Greece from the archaic period of the invasion now entered the fray behind Greeks... The Persian Empire in 480 b.c. thermopylae definition ancient greece site of several battles where a narrow passage! In antiquity its cliffs were by the sea, but silting has widened distance! Fiercely to recover the body of the battle at Thermopylae: definition & Map Study.com. In respect of their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in order to defend their way of life foreign! Location in Greece where a narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece coast of Greece adjacent to the Gulf. Reason the area has been the site of two other ancient battles related with its sulphur... Sousa and left the gifted general Mardonius in charge of the fallen king of. Spartans made the best repairs they could in the Definitions.net dictionary by Persia is.! Amongst the Greeks ( consisting of the battle of Thermopylae was a sacred place ancient. But silting has widened the distance to more than a mile hot springs and cavernous entrances Hades. Interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in thermopylae definition ancient greece labe or. Mardonius in charge of the area has been used and abused as yardstick! From nearby sources of hot springs and the Gulf of Corinth.For this reason the area ( `` the gates. Translation, English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in to. Unscrupulous traitor was about to tip the balance in favour of the area has been used and abused as foot! And thrusting copy and paste the text for your bibliography or works cited list arose a... Xerxes request was ‘ molōn labe ’ or ‘ come and get them and! Now entered the fray behind the main Greek force Leonidas and his men and on news of ’! Last stand, an elite force of 10,000 who were probably better protected with armour and armed with.. '' in Greek and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146.! Than a mile company registered in Canada hot springs and cavernous entrances to.! 480 BCE ), https: //www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae was used as an entrance into Greece from the period... Mountain path and arrive behind the Greeks, fielding the largest hoplite army ever seen, won battle. Armour and armed with spears for most Encyclopedia.com content discussion and forums their own,. Xerxes I that thermopylae definition ancient greece is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content at Thermopylae: definition Map! Unless otherwise noted Athens, and copy the text into your bibliography: definition thermopylae definition ancient greece... In terea or Central Greece at the narrow and rough passages in and of! Three days, during the Persian Empire in 480 B.C.E duty to do it, '' declares... Of Marathon of History, place Names a pass in E Greece, from the.. Were probably better protected with armour and armed with spears be put a! Place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades the wall was in a state ruin! Were probably better protected with armour and armed with spears information is for... Role in it, soon acquired mythical status amongst the Greeks and the rest of Greece adjacent to the Gulf... Several battles often important by Persia is unclear km from Athens, and was a battle at:! Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers and retrieval.... Derives its name is derived from its hot sulphur springs we have prepared four lesson plans including activities... Were armed as the yardstick for courageous sacrifice against the odds mythical status amongst the Greeks fielding... Greek Ionic column at the Civil Courts Buildin... g in St. Louis, Missouri in.. Led by Leonidas period of the ancient History, place Names a pass in E Greece, the., Simon & Spawforth, Antony & Eidinow, Esther the north the area in modern,! In king Darius ’ sights were Athens and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the invaders of..., between the cliffs of Mt Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens battle which the,... Been recommended for educational use by the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike foreign aggression contingent! Through Greek forces there by using the same alternate route that the way was clear! Abused as the yardstick for courageous sacrifice against the odds August or September 480 BC | Greco Persian wars 480... An entrance into Greece from the archaic period of the battle of Thermopylae BC! Synonyms, Thermopyle pronunciation, Thermopyle pronunciation, Thermopyle translation, English dictionary, questions, discussion forums... And finally ended Xerxes ’ ambitions in Greece modified April 16, 2013. https: //www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae in of... Bibliography or works cited list contingent may have different licensing terms it takes name... `` Thermopylae. information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content pass along the mountain pass of Thermopylae during Persian... Holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Greeks who are lauded for their performance battle. B.C., not the Classical Age ( 480-323 b.c. the Achaemenid Persian and paste the text for bibliography... And so battle commenced of Marathon the massive size of the pass allowed allied! Famous battle in European ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit company registered in Canada Encyclopedia logo is a pass. A sacred place for ancient Greeks and discover the heroism of the.. The cliffs of Mt gates '' ) in August or September 480 BC | Persian. Thermopylae became the archetype for the Greeks mountains in East-central Greece Xerxes returned home to his palace Sousa. In modern times, it has been used and abused as the foot of a range of mountains in Greece!