The battle of Thermopylae, under the king Xerxes (486-456 BC) the Great son of Darius the Great, was another victory for Persians in the fifth century. The Persians were advancing on the battleground with their full might. Five million, two hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty men excluding the cooks, women, and concubines were ready for an assault on Greeks who were led by Leonidas I (Herodotus VII, 186). The Greeks were less than half of the total army of the Persians and accurately noted by Herodotus the total number was two million, six hundred and forty-one thousand, six hundred and ten. Leonidas, the Great War leader formed this great army along with the Spartans.
The Greeks lose their heart after seeing the mighty army and a great hustle started between them. Horsemen from the Persian side went to view the Greek army and told Xerxes the whole situation which was satisfying news for him. Greeks were not enough courageous to advance and attack, nor they seem to withdraw from the battle (Herodotus VII 210). Xerxes commanded Mendez to attack the Greeks. They were skilled warriors but fought their clansmen. The fight between them was a sight to see; none of the sides was ready to withdraw. The Medes were continuously fighting the Greeks. However, the Greeks started brutally killing them, and to aid Xerxes commanded the Persian Immortals to attack the enemy. They were led by Hydranes. They were the skilled and organized warriors against the unskilled warriors. They forced the Greek army out from the narrows to the open ground. But the Greeks knew their land and secret narrow passages proved hard for Persians to approach their land. The king was presented with another strategy by, Ephialtes son of Eurydemus, a Malian to reach Thermopylae over the mountains. The horsemen with Hydranes were sent with Ephilates on the orders of Xerxes. The Persians with Ephilates and hydrates descended the mountain with all speed. Greeks were informed of their rivals seen on the mountains behind them, they gathered all the nations and clans and held a council. A great fear could be sensed on the Greek's side. Leonidas was not able to keep the army consolidated and his allies were also not agreeing to take such a great risk of fighting an already lost battle. Thespians by Thebans alone stayed with Leonidas and fought along with him to die. (Herodotus VII, 222). Xerxes was assaulted by foreigners who were with him. Greeks with Leonidas advanced further and came outside of the narrows, into a wider part of the strait. The Greeks were thrust into the sea and some were trodden down by the horsemen. The spears were broken, and the Greeks were still fighting with now very less army. Persians also lost two sons of Darius in this battle. The men with Ephialtes arrived in the battleground and Greeks took flight leaving Persians victorious.
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Xerxes passed over the place where the dead Leonidas was lying dead. Being a noble king, he spared his body. The body of Leonidas was left in the ground by the Greeks and they have pushed back into the narrows again. His men and allies left him dead between his enemies, making Xerxes triumphant. The Persians and their ally Medes celebrated in the Thermopylae.
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Historical Essay: General Overview of the Battle of Thermopylae.
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