Thermopylae/ the 300 Flashcards
During which Persian invasion of Greece did the battle of Thermopylae take place?
The 2nd Persian invasion of Greece.
How many days did it span?
3 days.
Approximately how many Greek soldiers were there at Thermopylae in total?
7,000.
Approximately how many Persian soldiers were there at Thermopylae in total? (plus brackets)
Between 100,000 and 150,000 (though contextual sources claim over a million).
What year was the battle of Thermopylae fought, and how do we know? Similarly, why was the Greek army so small?
480 BC, because it coincided with the Olympic Games, at which time there was an Olympic truce. This explained why the Greek army was so small, as most cities/ city states did not want to break the truce and fight.
Who led the Spartan army?
Leonidas, one of the kings of Sparta.
Who led the Persian army?
Xerxes I, the king of the Persia Empire.
Who was the father of history, and our primary source of info on what happened at Thermopylae?
Herodotus!
How many Spartans remained at Thermopylae to fight the Persian army?
300.
How many Thespians remained at Thermopylae to fight the Persian army?
700.
How many Thebans remained at Thermopylae to fight the Persian army?
400.
Soldiers from which cities stayed at Thermopylae to fight the Persian army?
Sparta, Thebes, Thespiae, and perhaps others who provided a hundred or so warriors.
Who was Xerxes’ expedition specifically directed against, but what was his real objective?
Athens, but conquest the whole of Greece.
Why does Herodotus state that the Athenian decision to join the war against the Asian invaders was especially courageous?
Because the oracle of Delphi had predicted imminent doom if Athens stood firm to the attack.
What were the two outcomes stated by a Delphian prophetess that could befall Sparta if they fought?
They would either see their city in ruins or a dead king.
