Thermopylae

ther-mop'i-le, a narrow pass on the eastern coast of Greece. The mountains leave a pass between themselves and the sea so narrow that two carts can hardly pass on firm ground. The name signifies the hot gates. It is derived from a number of hot springs that burst out at the foot of the cliff. Xerxes, the successor of Darius, whose forces were routed at Marathon, invaded Greece again in 480 B. C., this time by way of the Hellespont and Thrace. The Athenians were shamefully deserted before the battle of Marathon, but the Spartans now took the lead in opposing Xerxes. They mustered a force of allies at the famous pass, where the cliffs protected their left and a Greek fleet, largely Athenian, kept their right wing. For three days the battle raged. A storm destroyed 400 Persian ships and Xerxes could not win the pass. Finally a traitor led a force of the enemy through an obscure path over the mountains; the Spartan leader, Leonidas, now gave his allies leave to retire. He, with a Spartan band of 300, held the pass. Xerxes called upon the Spartans to give up their arms. "Come and take them," was the reply. "The Persians are so numerous that the flight of their arrows and javelins will throw a shadow like a cloud," said one. "Then we will fight in the shade," was the reply. Leonidas and his band supported by 700 Thespians held the Persians at bay for a time, but were finally overpowered by numbers and were slain to a man. The bodies of 300 were burned where they fell. A memorial inscription ran thus, "Stranger, go tell at Sparta that we lie here in obedience to her command."