What pass did the Spartans defend?

pass of Thermopylae
The Significance of Thermopylae: Why We Ought to Thank the Spartans for the Constitution, Chick-fil-a, and Capitalism. The year is 480. Three hundred Spartans, joined by a small force of Greeks, defend the mountain pass of Thermopylae against the invading Persians.

How many Spartan soldiers were sent to defend the pass?

The Truth Behind the Legend One of the all-time great stories of ancient history involved the defense of Thermopylae, when a narrow pass was held for three days against a vast Persian army by just 300 Spartans, 299 of whom perished. The lone survivor took the story back to his people.

What Spartan survived the 300?

Othryades (Ancient Greek: Ὀθρυάδης) and Othryadas (Ancient Greek: Ὀθρυάδας) was the last surviving Spartan of the 300 Spartans selected to fight against 300 Argives in the Battle of the 300 Champions. Ashamed by surviving his comrades, he committed suicide on the field following the battle.

How did the 300 Spartans hold off the Persians?

The 300 Spartan hoplites never intended to hold the pass alone. They relied on 700 warriors from Thespiae and 440 from Thebes to fill their ranks. When combined with other Greek forces that met up with them at Thermopylae, Leonidas commanded thousands of troops. Depiction of a Greek hoplite and a Persian warrior fighting each other.

How many Spartans died in the defense of Thermopylae?

Updated October 22, 2019. One of the all-time great stories of ancient history involved the defense of Thermopylae, when a narrow pass was held for three days against a vast Persian army by just 300 Spartans, 299 of whom perished. The lone survivor took the story back to his people. This legend flourished in the twenty-first century

Who was the leader of the 300 Spartans?

A compromise was needed between sending a full army and keeping their divine favor: an advance guard of 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas (ca. 560–480 BCE) would go. Instead of taking the Hippeis (his 300 strong bodyguard of the best young men), Leonidas departed with 300 veterans.

Who was the king of Sparta during the Persian invasion?

Training as a Hoplite. Xerxes and the Persian Invasion. Battle of Thermopylae. After the Battle. Leonidas (c. 530-480 B.C.) was a king of the city-state of Sparta from about 490 B.C. until his death at the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian army in 480 B.C. Although Leonidas lost the battle, his death at Thermopylae was seen as