Where is Thermopylae today?

Thermopylae, Modern Greek Thermopýles, also spelled Thermopílai, 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).

Is Thermopylae still there?

The land surface on which the famous Battle of Thermopylae was fought in 480 BC is now buried under 20 metres (66 ft) of soil. The shoreline has also advanced over the centuries because of the sedimentary deposition.

Can you visit the Battle of Thermopylae?

Anyone can visit the site today. As this is a battlefield site and not a large archaeological site, it won't take long to see and explore the site (no more than 30 minutes). The main attraction is the Memorial of Leonidas and the 300 Spartans together with a huge bronze statue of King Leonidas.

Where are the hot gates from 300?

The Thermopylae, the "hot gates" or also "gates of fire," is a mountain pass at the foot of Mount Kallidromo in modern Greece where legend tells that King Leonidas and 300 of his Spartan warriors fought millions of Persians during Xerxes' invasion of Greece in 480 B.C. They were able to hold the mountain pass for ...

Did any of the 300 Spartans survive?

Yet there was another man, one of Leonidas' 300, namely Aristodemus of Sparta, the only survivor of the epic battle. According to the historian Herodotus, there were only three men out of Leonidas' elite army who did not fight in the epic battle.

Thermopylae - Kolonos Hill and the 300 Spartans (5) - The battlefield and the Greek defences

Where is Leonidas buried?

The tomb of Leonidas is the only preserved monument of the Ancient Agora. The tomb of Leonidas, north to the modern town of Sparta, is an emblem and an important monument, as it is the only monument preserved from the Ancient Agora.

Is the story of Leonidas true?

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 a heroic sacrifice because he sent most of his army away when he realized that the Persians ...

Were there cliffs at Thermopylae?

A small rocky cliff called Melampygos is the characteristic morphological feature of the eastern segment of the pass. Today the cliff is found in contact with the marshy lateral sediments of the basin as determined by the drilling research. A geomorphological survey took place in the site area of Thermopylae Pass.

Where is the statue of Leonidas?

It was found southwest of peribolos of the sanctuary of Athena Chalkioikos on the Acropolis of Sparta. The sculpture is housed in the Archaeological Museum of Sparta, which acquired it from the British School at Athens in 1926.

What is modern day Sparta?

Modern day Sparta, the capital of the prefecture of Lakonia, lies on the eastern foothills of Mount Taygetos in the Evrotas River valley. The city has been built upon the site of ancient Sparta, whose Acropolis lies north of the modern city.

Is it worth going to Thermopylae?

A Feast to Remember

Sure, Thermopylae may not be the traditional travel destination when visiting Greece, but it is nonetheless worth visiting, especially if you love history.

Was Leonidas king of Sparta?

Leonidas I (/liˈɒnɪdəs, -dæs/; Greek: Λεωνίδας; died 19 September 480 BC) was a king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, and the 17th of the Agiad line, a dynasty which claimed descent from the mythological demigod Heracles and Cadmus.

How wide were the Hot Gates of Thermopylae?

The Battle of Thermopylae

Thus, in 480 BC the allied army of 7,000 Greek soldiers who were led by 300 Spartans and King Leonidas reached the Pass of Thermopylae, which at that time was just 12 meters wide. According to Herodotus, the Persians had 5,283,220 men.

What is modern day Thermopylae?

Thermopylae, Modern Greek Thermopýles, also spelled Thermopílai, 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).

Why did Sparta only send 300?

The Spartans may have only sent 300, not because of the Olympics or Carneia, but because they didn't wish to defend so far north, although it does seem unusual they would have sent a King if so.

How long did the 300 Spartans hold off?

The 2006 film 300 told the fantastical story of the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, when a handful of Spartans fought the entirety of Persia's armies for three days.

Does the lion of Leonidas still exist?

The Quarry - The Loop

The rock lion was built on the site of Leonidas' death to commemorate the Spartan king, whose name means "Son of the Lion", but neither the lion nor the epigram survive in the present day.

What happened to the lion of Leonidas?

After the battle in Thermopylae a stone lion was built for everyone to remember the name of the king that died in this location. His body was sent to be buried in Sparta in 440BC.

Who betrayed Sparta?

In the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, Ephialtes was portrayed by Kieron Moore and is depicted as a loner who worked on a goat farm near Thermopylae. He betrays the Spartans to the Persians out of greed for riches, and, it is implied, unrequited love for a Spartan girl named Ellas.

Did Sparta fall to Xerxes?

A Persian army led by Xerxes I defeated Greek forces led by the Spartan king Leonidas in the Battle of Thermopylae.

What happened to Sparta after the Battle of Thermopylae?

After Thermopylae, the Greeks went on to achieve great victories at Salamis and Plataea where they decisively defeated the Persians. Leonidas and his men had reinforced the prestige of Sparta and raised the morale of all Greeks to continue fighting against Persia.

How many Persian soldiers died at Thermopylae?

Aftermath. Casualties for the Battle of Thermopylae are not known with any certainty, but may have been as high as 20,000 for the Persians and around 2,000-4,000 for the Greeks.

Does the Spartan bloodline still exist?

The Maniots (inhabitants of the Mani Peninsula) therefore are considered direct descendants of Spartans. Almost three thousand years ago, Greece consisted of multiple 'polis' that were mostly controlled by Sparta. Spartans, as depicted in the 2006 movie 300, were highly trained fighters.

How much of the movie 300 is true?

The film 300 is an adaptation of a comic book based on historical events, but it makes no pretense of being historically accurate. However, the battle of Thermopylae was a real event, with 300 Spartans at the center of the story.

How tall was King Xerxes?

Xerxes, the king of Persia, is portrayed as seven feet tall. Actor Rodrigo Santoro is only 6'2". Not too shabby, but the other 10 inches are special effects.