300: Last Stand of The Spartans (Part 2)

Transcript 

Elliot 

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to Anthology of Heroes, the podcast sharing stories of Heroic figures who altered the course of history. Anthology of Heroes is part of The Evergreen Podcast network. I'm your host Ellie Gates, and today I'm joined again by Mark Pimenta, the host of the Outstanding Warlords of History Podcast. In this episode, Mark and I will be walking you through the famous. Battle of Thermopylae, where almost 2500 years ago a handful of Greek warriors gathered in a dry, dusty gorge, determined to hold back the tide of the Persian men. In the frontline was King Leonidas and a 300 champions ready and willing to die as heroes in what would later be remembered as probably the ultimate battle of all time. Ooh, I've got goosebumps already. So this is Part 2 of Marks and my collaboration part one was very much about the lead up to the battle. There's so many myths and legends about Spartan society, it's hard to know exactly where story ends and facts begin. Together, Mark and I talked through the Spartan training programme, the Agoge. A brutal 20 year or so training programme that turned boys into hardened warriors. We shed light on the Spartans, brutal treatment of the population that they'd enslaves, a group of Greeks known. As the helmets. And we spent some time discussing the unique roles both men and women played in civil life. As we proceeded, Mark shed some light on the man of the hour, King Leonidas, including how the dual royal families worked and the vital role of oracles and religion within the government. Finally, we got to lead up to the battle itself. We spoke about Xerses, the King of Kings, who supposedly commanded armies in such multitudes that they would drink rivers dry. We detailed his. Creeping March towards Greece and the unlikely alliance between Sparta and Athens. Two city states usually spent more time fighting the Greeks as opposed to outside. Thinking back, it was really quite a full on episode and if you want to hear the full story, I'd recommend going to check. That episode out first. But if you just want to hear about Leonardo's carving up row after row of Persians, then. Listen on. As a reminder, our last episode concluded with this looming threat of surges heading into the Greek heartland from the north. Rulers were deposed, alliances were shifting not just in Athens and Sparta, but every Greek city had to figure out whether they were siding with the Greek coalition or bowing down to Xerses? And they better do it fast, because ready or not, Xerses and his army was coming. In our previous episode, it was mentioned that there were similar acts of deposing rulers who submitted to the Persians, and this was happening kind. Of all throughout Greece. With Xerses he's approaching Greek city states had to decide whether to submit to surges by offering them earth and water remain neutral or standard fight. All knew this was not going to be a. Their fight Xerxes's Empire reached from the north of Greece all the way through Anatolia, throughout North India and even into Afghanistan. I mean, this is so much larger than the Greek world, isn't it? 

Mark 

Ohh yeah definitely. 

Elliot 

I reckon you said this in episode one, but all the Greek city states were mostly quite insular. They were fighting their own battle, so this was going to be David versus Goliath. I mean, in all sense of the word. 

Mark 

You're right, and using your analogy could be described as one Goliath versus many Davids. Since this brings us back to an important point that we referenced in part one in that the city states of Greece, largely due to the geography of their peninsula. And the relatively small pockets of arable land had pretty much right from the onset, always been in fierce competition with one another. Sometimes forming alliances amongst each other, but typically only for short periods of time. Fiercely protective of their full sovereignty and political independence. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Mark 

Granted, the Spartan LED Peloponnesian League was a bit of a departure from that, but that was still quite a new institution, formed only around some 50 years prior and regional only applicable to some of the states of southern Greece. So I think it's more than fair to argue that when considering the whole of the Greek world at the time, they remained divided, which was essentially the de facto lay of the land or the norm for the political landscape in Greece. 

Elliot 

Hmm. And so this was the first time they really needed to kind of they had to get their act together. It was, you know, stand or die in a way, wasn't it? 

Mark 

Right, yeah. Yes, they had done it. I guess you could say to a limited degree during the first Persian invasion, but even that Greek coalition, not sure if we can even call it that was extremely narrow in scope since it was only really the city states of Athens and Platea that had banded together to fight. And defeat the Achaemenids at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, a decade prior. But Fast forward, now, 10 years later, understanding the dire problem that they were now facing and the size of the army that Xerxes had been building, this was truly the first time that the fiercely independent minded city states of Greece were forced to put their differences aside. In view of such a terrifyingly powerful foreign enemy. 

Elliot 

Yeah. Would you say this was kind of the birth of greekness in a way? 

Mark 

You know, it's a good question. And in a way, yes. Since the Persian Empire formed a singular external and overarching threat to all of the states within ancient Greece, forcing not all but many of them to work together, creating a sense of, to borrow your term, greekness or Greek cooperation. Versus this for an overarching adversary. But on the other hand, if anything, this ended up not being much more than a fleeting notion, a temporary sense of unity. Since, as we'll get to later on in this episode, there was still a lot more bloodletting to occur, some tremendously bitter and prolonged conflicts between the city states after the Persian threat had been dealt with. 

Elliot 

That immediate threat has dealt with, and now we can go back to fighting. Each other, right? Absolutely, yeah. But yeah, I I think we touched on this as well, but it it's worth emphasising that submission to Persia wasn't overly brutal. Right. You kept your religions, you kept your government. Usually you kept your figureheads, everything more or less stayed the same, but I think for you know, Spartans being such a kind of. Minor yes or no culture. If they weren't the masters, then in their mind they they were slaves. Did you kind of get? 

Mark 

That idea, definitely. And yeah, I think there's a lot to unpack here in what you just said. Typically, as you mentioned, the only things that the academics would demand of those that they conquered were troop contributions and financial tribute on an ongoing basis. A bit of a simplification, of course, but otherwise free to go about their business as they did before. And while this configuration certainly stood in contrast to the normally fiercely independent city states of the Greek world, the scale of the Persian threat, aside from driving some of them to work together. It seems to have also resulted in many city states reevaluating their comfort level with being conquered, either accepting that as their fate or face utter ruin and destruction. Slavery as well. Whereas I think you put it well when you said that even if not facing actual slavery, the Spartans, if not the masters of their own destiny, would have considered that slavery. Not to mention that the Spartans clearly considered themselves a master race in accordance to the divine will of the gods justified in their domination of every one that they encountered, be it Persian or fellow Greeks, or anyone else for that matter. And in no way was this supposed to work. In any other order than that. And So what living under a canid rule would have ultimately represented to the Spartans was in essence, the unravelling of their entire world. 

Elliot 

Their way of life really square peg in a. Round hole kind of thing. 

Mark 

That's right. That's right. 

Elliot 

So in 480 BC Xerses launches the second Persian invasion of Greece. Essentially, to complete what his father had. Xerses's Land forces numbered 1.7 million according to Herodotus, but modern estimates kind of go within the ranges of 120 to 300,000. But still this is a this is an enormous army. Yeah, right. Even by by those standards, by these standards. It it's it's huge. 

Mark 

You're absolutely right. I love herodotus's. Description of the Persian army. Me. He referred to it as being so vast that it stretched from sunrise to sunset, draining rivers and lakes as they travelled deeper into Greece. Phenomenal. 

Elliot 

That's right. Hmm. Yeah, just that image of just drinking rivers dry is, you know, terrifying, right? 

Mark 

Definitely. What do you think was the more accurate number of troops that they had coming into Greece? 

Elliot 

From what I've read and from the historians that I've seen that are a bit more palatable, I would say it probably 150,000 I I kind of just like. Go in the middle. I mean on the lower side, I I think even at best they were outnumbered 17 to 1 and that's at best, right that's I think that's going by 120 or something so. 

Mark 

Yeah, based on my research and more modern estimates, I've seen similar numbers anywhere from 100,000 land forces according to others, as high as 300,000 Persian troops. But any way you slice it, this is a ridiculously large army by the standards of the time. And to top it all off, Zirkles also bringing along a huge naval Armada, a rather impressive naval force of about 1200 warships. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Elliot 

Yeah, that's right, that's right. Cause they they straddled the coast as they went, right? Yes. So the Spartans already received this prophecy from the Oracle. It obviously had a significant impact on the very religiously minded Spartans, stating that either the city would be wasted by the Persians or they were bound to mourn a lack of Devonian dead king, essentially. 

Mark 

This is quite the important piece to leonidas's story and the Battle of Thermopylae, isn't it those words that he received from the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi? I think that you are completely correct when we consider how deeply religious the Spartans were. This prophetic guidance would have been extremely impactful to Leonidas and the Spartans, and upon receiving that guidance, this would have undoubtedly weighed heavily in their unfolding defensive plans. 

Elliot 

Obviously it says a lot about him, but. Just kind of takes this news and any kind of that's his purpose now. He doesn't try and shy away from it. He's king and he decides well, OK, if that's, that's my destiny. That's what we have. To do right, yeah. 

Mark 

And his sense. Of responsibility to the state of Sparta itself we talked about in the last episode, how how of lesser importance. Ones individuality was when it came to. Their presence within the state of Sparta, the state of Sparta, their needs took precedence over everything. But even within that fold there was this adherence to overarching law, but also religion as well. 

Elliot 

They're all. They're all just cogs. That kind of keep Sparta moving, aren't they individual cogs? 

Mark 

Right. 

Elliot 

They're assembled. Greek forces numbered probably around 7000. That's kind of the number I saw is, is that on par with what you got to? 

Mark 

Yeah, same here. 

Elliot 

About 7000. So obviously Leonardus has got his famous 300 Spartans that were selected for the mission. They were considered the greatest warriors in Greece and these 300 Spartans were considered the greatest warriors in Sparta. So I mean really, really this is an elite top of. The line task. Force. They were known as hip peers, the hippies. Were young men who in the Agogi training programme, you know, these were the best of that. So they were the strongest, the bravest and the most patriot. The Leonidas mandated that every man of the 300 must have a son to continue the bloodline, and as a lot of Spartans didn't have kids. So after 30, there were probably a lot of men within the 300 who were much older. I mean, Leonidas himself was, what, 50? 55? 60? , something like that. 

Mark 

Yeah. I think at the time as we near towards. The timing of the Battle of Thermopylae, if the numbers in terms of his birth date around 5:40 are correct, he would have been about 60 years old. Certainly far older than I think. Most accounts of this battle tend to place the Spartan king right, but I I would agree that that notion. Would also be extended to that of the 300 Spartans. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Mark 

Being that they had that requirement, those requirements that were placed in front of them, that they all had to have living heirs, I would tend to say that this group would be older than. And would be typically seen in the spread of a Spartan army. 

Elliot 

Hmm, right. So at the end of the day, Leonidas had effectively 300 Spartans at around 7000 men onto at minimum, 120,000 at Max, probably around 300,000, with most of the Greek resistance concentrated from cities around the Peloponnese. So I mean, I guess what's your thoughts on the strategy here? What were they trying to do? Were they trying to defeat? They trying to defeat them, trying to block them, you know. There's a lot of things that are thrown around. 

Mark 

All right, so here we are on the eve of battle with Leonidas getting ready to lead his 300 Spartans and their Greek allies. Approximately 7000 troops in total to the narrow pass of Thermopylae. But also fully aware of what they were up against, this behemoth Persian force. Depending on the estimates as you mentioned, Elliot, somewhere in between 17 or up to 40 times larger than their number. And this raises all kinds of questions in terms of leonidas's overarching strategy. Why Thermopylae was selected as the location to make their stand? And interestingly, why both the Spartans and their Greek allies sent such a comparatively small force? So I'll speak to that. Now looking at the small numbers of the Greek Coalition Army, I think part of this is attributed to the fact that many Greek states, notably Argos, Akia, Korinth, Aetolia and Crete, among others, they were sitting on the fence trying to figure out who was going to emerge. Victorious and certainly not wanting to get on xerxes's bad side. If he was gonna end up ruling Greece, that's part of it. But then. Why did the Spartans only send 300 when their citizen count was hovering at around 30,000 at this time? Surely they could have sent a much larger army because they in fact did later on in the subsequent battles after Thermopylae. One of the main sticking points here. Is the same one. That prevented their involvement in the Battle of Marathon a decade prior. It was due to the fact that the timing of the military operations for Thermopylae conflicted with the timing of the Spartan religious festival, the Carnea that we talked about in the last episode. So being the God fearing people that they were or gods fearing people, that they were, the Spartans only ended up sending a token force in the effort to avoid offending the God. And now I have one other theory to run by you, Elliott, just to see what you think of this, although I have no account substantiating this at all, I have a budding theory that the timing of this attack may have been. A shrewd calculation on Xerxes's part. Since among his many advisers was the exiled Spartan King Demaratus. So it could have been that Xerxes purposely selected the timing that he did for Thermopylae wagering that the Spartans wouldn't be able to attend in full force, though admittedly again purely speculation on my part. What what are your thoughts? 

Elliot 

Yeah, I've never heard that. But I think to be honest that to me that makes a lot of sense because it would mean that even the Greek city states that were kind of on the fence, they're more likely to say no because we've got our religious fests. Right, right. I think that's a really good point. I've, I've never thought it didn't even come. 

Speaker 

Mark 

Across it. Yeah. I just thought it was interesting because adding to this notion when the rise, the first attacked A decade prior, it was also around this timing and can only guess maybe it was just coincidental, but certainly it took the Spartans. 

Elliot 

Right. 

Mark 

Out of the fight because they weren't even involved at all. So who knows? This is all possibility. It's all speculation. 

Elliot 

I like it. Yeah, I'm looking forward to your thesis on that next next year. 

Mark 

Yeah, I'm. I'm gonna start working on that. Thanks. So again speculation, but I think more concrete to this whole concept of the small Greek army at the monopoly is that the numbers also don't take into consideration the adjoining military operation that was to take place at the same time, just off the coast, the naval battle. At Artemisium, that was about 50 kilometres to the east of Thermopylae because that invasion force that Xerxes assembled included amongst that number, was 1200 warships that the Greeks had decided to meet in battle as well. An Athenian LED naval coalition of around 270 ships. That's, I guess part of it that the low numbers, do you have any thoughts to add there or even in terms of the selection of Thermopylae as the battle site? 

Elliot 

Yeah, I think originally the the site had been from what I remember further. 

Mark 

I think you're right. It was a strategic pass near Mount Olympus that's kind of at the Borderlands between northern Greece, Thessaly and where the Kingdom of Macedon began. 

Elliot 

That pass is quite similar to Thermopylae. It was dry, it was a gorge. It was the the idea of funnelling Xersesthese troops into a narrow pass obviously was the plan. Along wherever they were going to go and the monopoly was the one for. Without a doubt, it's a narrow gorge. There's cliffs on one side of the sea, on the other. You can't be flanked. Not easily, but I think a lot of people, if you look up thermopolia now, it's kind of hard to envision it now because it's much further inland. Back then it was right on the right on the Cliff, right. 

Mark 

Right now it's to your point. It's about a 5 kilometre distance from the sea. From what I understand. But at leonidas's time it was just 100 metres across from from Mount kallidromo to the sea. 

Elliot 

So I think yeah, that that would probably be, in my mind why it was so. You know, they've picked this it. It was definitely this place was picked on purpose. It's it's different terrain to I know Xerses's has an army from across the world, but generally his his core soldiers. This is going to be a different terrain than what they used to. It's it's hot, it's really dry. It's just scrubby, you know, it's like a like a gorge. So it they're aiming to use any advantage of the land that they can to. Kind of negate. The the small troop numbers they've got. 

Mark 

I couldn't agree more. Mount Olympus that pass in the north. I mean that was foregone. That was abandoned, that planet the Greeks originally did actually send some forward forces there. But that place ended up being abandoned as far as where they were going to make their defensive stand because. A number of reasons. I think there were. It was identified that there were many alternate routes around the pass at Mount Olympus, not to mention, and this is quite. Is that northern Thessaly had already thrown their support behind Xerxes, and that the area was teeming with forward Persian units and newly allied units as well. All of this resulted in Leonidas forgoing northern Greece to the Achaemenids, leaving it to them. 

Speaker 

Right. 

Mark 

And selecting Thermopylae as the battle site as the main choke point between northern and central Greece. And adding to what you said, Elliot, I think both strategically and geographically, ultimately the best place to optimise the strengths of their hop light warriors in terms of armour and toe to toe infantry combat abilities, while at the same time negating the. Overwhelming advantage that the Persians had in numbers and not allowing them to engage in any flanking manoeuvres, meaning that if the Persians were adamant about getting access to central and southern Greece, which of course they. Were the only possible way was straight through that pass and I think Leonidas intended to make the toll of passage. Extremely costly for the Achaemenids, so based on all of that and the research and and the many theories put forward by historians on this battle, I'm not sure where you stand on this, but I tend to lean heavily towards the notion that the defence put up by the Greek forces at Thermopylae. Was part of a broader master plan to grind down the Persian advanced through attrition. Chipping away at their enormous army as it moved deeper and deeper into Greece. 

Elliot 

Yeah, I definitely think so. They had all the religious festivals at the moment, so they knew they weren't gonna be able to get everyone, even if they wanted to for a big battle. So it's a 2 pronged approach. Can they first of all hold them off for as long as they can and give the states some time to, you know, get everything together, wait for all the festivals to finish and then as well as while they're doing that? Perhaps deserves will be so demoralised by how many men he's losing in this meat grinder that it'll force him back. 

Mark 

And I think just logistically as well, Zurich's army incredibly large, we've already touched on that. So could you imagine the nightmare of maintaining those supply lines the the logistical nightmare that went along with keeping such a large army fed and watered? In field in hostile territory, no less. That must have factored into this Thermopylae, providing the perfect choke point to do all that delay Xerses's army, but also inflict punishingly high losses among the Persians, while at the same time minimising Greek casualties. 

Elliot 

Definitely. And I mean you were saying before how Herodotus said they drank the rivers. Brian, maybe they didn't exactly do that, but you know, it was a huge army. They couldn't stay in one place for, you know, for any given point of time, they needed to be moving. They needed to be resupplying based on the land and based. On what they could get. So by holding them there, you know, by holding. Them anywhere it's it's. Helping that. 

Mark 

Yeah. And at the same time, in view of that broader strategic master plan, also buying valuable time for the Greeks to organise and assemble a much larger coalition army, including full Spartan participation. But crowned off specifically for Leonidas, one more unique objective for him. Alone, I think keenly understanding his role in sacrifice to the state, the fulfilment of the Oracle's prophecy necessitating the death of a Spartan king as the price for preserving Sparta itself, and as Leonidas and his 300 made their final preparations to depart Sparta. In late July, 480 BC. I'm convinced that by this point, both he and his men were acutely aware that they would not be coming back. Now this is partly explained through their criteria, by which these warriors were selected for the task. Elliot, as you mentioned, requiring that they all had male living air so that their bloodlines wouldn't end with them. We talked about how they were probably a little older in age. Certainly Leonidas was than would have been seen in a typical Spartan arm. But beyond this, I suspect. All of these men selected were also hardened veteran warriors. But also possessing unwavering dedication to the state, given the grim magnitude of what they were now facing, I think this is perhaps best illustrated by a story that comes to us from Plutarch. When Leonidas's wife Gorgo understanding of her husband's Bate. What awaited him at Thermopylae? Asked him what she was to do without him. Leonidas answered simply marry a strong man and bear strong. Followed by Leonidas, then leading his 300 Spartans on the 330 kilometre, March northwards to Thermopylae. Which is when each of them were given the customary farewell cry bestowed upon all Spartans before heading off on campaign to come back with your shield or on it. Meaning to return victorious or as a lifeless body slain in the attempt. Granted, this wasn't the entire group that Leonidas led N along the way, collecting their healed attendance. Some 4000 Peloponnesian allied troops, and as they neared Thermopylae, adding hop light contingents from the city, states of thieves and despite amounting to that total force figure of around. 7000. Now they arrived in the narrow pass in the scorching heat of early August with the Cayman. It's nowhere insight. They were still making their approach southwards through Thessaly in northern Greece. And this gave Leonidas ample time to work on finalising their defensive plans, having also been joined by a group of local troops from the nearby state called focus around 1000 of their soldiers. That, interestingly, Leonidas did not keep with him. Instead, he ordered them to guard the only known alternate path around Thermopylae. This was a small rough hewn goat path, cutting through Mount Kallidromo, which protected their left flank, known to and used by only local shepherds. While lastly using his troops to restore the old Fokin Wall originally constructed in the century prior, but it had since fallen into decay. Now the Phocian wall was situated at one of the narrowest points between Mount Calido Romo and the sea. And this was where Leonidas determined to make their stand, and it became an essential piece of his tactical plan since, with the wall repaired, this would enable him to intermittently cycle contingents of his troops in front of the walls to fight while resting others behind his protective barrier to keep his entire force. As fresh as possible. And then they waited for days. That turned into weeks with no news except for the occasional reports coming in from the Greek naval fleet at Artemisium that they too, had not yet encountered their Persian counterparts. About two or three weeks later, however, in late August, Zirkles at the head of his enormous army, 10s of thousands, hundreds of thousands strong, finally coming into view. I can imagine their March shaking the very ground amidst horns blaring in the distance. Now this is quite interesting because their arrival was preceded by a handful of mounted Persian scouts who rode in closer to the pass and later reported back to sources what they had seen. A surprisingly small Greek force at the forefront with the 60 year old Leonidas and his Spartans seemingly not alarmed in the least by their appearance. But rather taking part in some light exercises like wrestling all oiled up and naked with others combing out their long hair, as was their custom before battle. Now this is followed by a more formal envoy demanding that Leonidas submit to the King of Kings and the might of the Achaemenid Empire surrendering their arms. To which one of my favourite lines. The Spartan king gave his famous laconic reply come and get them. Xerxes, however, not immediately calling for attack since he and his military advisers would have clearly understood that despite the relatively small Greek numbers, they were in an excellent defensive position, and that fighting under these conditions would be costly to his army. So they held back for about 3 days, perhaps thinking that their overwhelming numbers would unnerve the Greeks, to eventually step aside. Eventually, in the morning of the 4th day, however, the Persians finally coming to the exasperated conclusion that battle would be the only way. Trying one last envoy, uttering the threat that there were so many Archers in Xerxes army that their arrows would darken the sky. Which prompted another terse response from a Spartan warrior by the name of Dennises. Who looked to his king and comrade saying good. We'll fight in the shade then. There would be no further verbal sparring, only battle left to provide the imminent solution. Here we are Eliot the Battle of Thermopylae. 

Elliot 

Good to be here, right? Did you kind of get the feeling that Xerses when he sends these scouts forward? He's almost amused by the Spartans and they're, you know, he's he kind of thinks it's almost like. They're they're so deluded that to stand against him. 

Mark 

It must have been comical to a certain degree, anytime you have this clash of cultures. We already talked about how unique the Spartans were considered within Greece and totality. They were so foreign in terms of their approach to everything, and now you have this Persian king who learns of this is the group that you've selected to stand in defiance to the King of Kings, to the Achaemenid Empire. But then there's another interesting aspect to that particular moment that I forgot to mention earlier. Because remember that among Xerxes military advisers, this included the exiled Spartan King Demaratus. And when sources learned of these few Spartan soldiers who were initially found in front of the Folkman wall leisurely exercising naked, others grooming themselves, barely acknowledging the Persian scouts that had found them that way. Xerxes later asked Emeritus, quite amused by the whole scene. Why on Earth would the Spartans be engaging in such seemingly bizarre, leisurely behaviour on the eve of a battle against so formidable of an army? Demaratus then warned him not to take the Spartans lightly, and according to Herodotus emeritus, said one against one there is good as any one in the world, but when they fight in a body they are the best of all. All of this, I would imagine, must have been quite bewildering to Xerxes. 

Elliot 

Almost insulting to him that he he gets dragged all the way here from Persia for this. Almost you. 

Mark 

Know. Yeah, definitely. 

Elliot 

Right. So I think when they're when the Spartans were approaching, I'm not. Entirely sure of the geography. But I believe if they're heading around the coast, they would have been able to see this snake of men. Just that seemed almost endless, and that's psychological factor of then standing there or camping there and waiting for several days. I mean anyone who's not. Dedicated to the cause, they're leaving, aren't they? 

Mark 

It's so fascinating. I imagine it by night. They're looking out into the horizon, meaning the Greeks and they're seeing a sea of fires, camp fires dotting the landscape as far as the eye can reach. And then by day, just seeing that enormity, that mass of humanity that's coming down to bear on them, and they're looking around at themselves and they don't have 7000. And then in the horizon, they see this this insanely large Persian forest bearing down on their position. You would think that it would have driven at least some to just give up and just say, OK, we're heading back until we can amass a larger army. But so great is perhaps the ability of leonidas's his. Command to keep everything intact. I think that that's not something to be taken lightly, that must have been an extremely important piece to this entire thing. 

Elliot 

So the battle begins on August the 17th. It's a it's a hot, dusty gorge, and by the time Xerses arrives, he sees these 300 Spartans in in fan like formation, right? They're in a tight compact group. Shields, Shields, shoulder to shoulder with long Spears pointing out. And at first he sends in, you know, almost to just finish them off, right? He sends in these his median soldiers. Now, I don't know if you got the same impression. And from me, mark, these these medians are almost from his heartland, right. They're not the best of the best. But still these are well trained soldiers. They've got Wicker Shields and I think they kind of fight with a variety of weapons. Spears mostly. Did you get that? 

Mark 

Impression. Yeah, they're definitely probably the majority of his troops. More his regular troop. I think in part what was part of the driving force for these soldiers to be selected is that they were used to mountain fighting. Within the lands of Persia, a lot of mountainous territories, and especially in comparison to Thermopylae very similar configuration, dry the mountainous areas that limited passages. Certainly that's reminiscent of their homeland as well. So I think in part that was why they were initially selected. Was your understanding as well? Ultimately, they had some deficits, right, and basing these Greek troops they were more lightly armoured than the Greeks. You mentioned their Wicker Shields, and yes, they used a variety of weapons. I think Spears, predominantly. But what's really important to consider there is that their Spears were considerably shorter than what. The Greeks were using. 

Elliot 

So these these medians, essentially, they throw javelins first as as you usually do it start a combat. And we mentioned the Spartan Shields wood coated with I think it's brass or bronze, bronze, bronze. So it essentially just bounces off, so they're forced to charge in. And as we we said before, right, this is a gorge. So there is no way to get around, so it's man to man. You know, there's only a small combat width between them. There's nothing else that can be done. You've got to fight. One-on-one. So Leonardo. Signals a a strike back. And you know, as he pushes back, he shatters all these the the Shields of all the medians. Right, pushes them right back, you know, blood and entrails. Fill this gorge. And as Zergs's watches this, he he stands up from his throne in shock. Herodotus actually says that he just can't believe what he's saying. He's just being, like, completely repelled by these. You know, tiny group of men. So as the day kind of goes on, he keeps sending more and more of these people through and it's just not getting anywhere. So he brings in, I think this is everyone's favourite, the immortals, right. Now, I didn't actually get what the Immortals. In in terms. Of the armour they wore. Maybe you know a bit about that. I I know they were called the Immortals because their numbers were so numerous that if one fell, they'd instantly be replaced. So you know, they they were immortal. 

Mark 

Yeah, 10,000 soldiers. The elite of the elite of the Persian army. Certainly more heavily armoured than. The other troops in Zurich's army. They were extremely skilled. They would be selected from the various units, those that had distinguished themselves within the regular Persian army and then selected for the 10,000 Immortals. Their numbers always kept at 10,000, so if someone fell, they would immediately be replaced by whoever was the next best in line. But they were. Exceptional Archers, great at fighting overall, famed for their battle prowess and dedication to their Achaemenid monarch. Also serving an important dual purpose as the Imperial Guard when not on campaign and in times of war as the absolute best soldiers of the Persian army, called upon for the most difficult tasks when a breakthrough was needed. 

Elliot 

I can't help but get out of my head as much as I try. In 300, they're presented as almost ninjas, right? They've got like a I think they've got dual katanas and like a a silver kind of, you know, mask. I don't know if they had that, but they were certainly top of the line, right. 

Mark 

100% you're correct. They were more heavily armoured. Their equipment of the finest quality. Certainly this would have set them apart than be distinctive from the mass. But yes, no jewelled katanas and definitely not ninjas. 

Elliot 

So virtually these men face the same the exact same issues that the men. Means did they come up against this wall? No one. No one is giving an inch, right? Every single Spartan is holding the shield right to the, you know, to the shoulder of the person standing next to them. They can't make. Any headway? They've got these enormously long Spears being pressed against them and the just like, just like the ones that came before them, they're absolutely sorted, right? And this is a a tiny, thin gully. You're going to be seeing every if you're coming up in a line almost like a meat grinder. You're seeing the person too in front of you. He's dead. Wait a few more minutes. That guy's dead. And their bodies are just. All over the floor and you know the psychological impact of that must be must be huge. 

Mark 

Ohh without a doubt. 

Elliot 

So but by the by the. Time the day ends, you know the sun setting. And Xerses is you know, astonished by what he's seen and you kind of get the impression that Demaratus is almost a bit like, well, I told you, this is what was going to happen. 

Mark 

I was going to ask you, what do you think the casualties were looking like? I'm picturing this day one in my mind and from what I understand the casualties, even though it was a full day of fighting, the person sending wave upon wave, first the meats and then the Immortals. Called upon to do that heavy lifting and they're just get. When you say a meat grinder, I think that's a perfect illustration of what was happening. But what do you think the losses were looking like for the Greek coalition at this point? 

Elliot 

I I didn't read any sources that that gave specific numbers, but if we look at ancient battles, the route is usually where the men drop on mass right when it's a shield wall to a shield wall, there's just a stab here and then that person's dragged back another person. Those in front, but for a whole unit to be rotated out if the median is to be pulled back and another one to come in, that must be some real numbers. I mean, I I don't even want. 

Mark 

To speculate, what do you think? I think they were extremely high for the. Visions, I think they were extremely light for the Greeks. The advantage in armour cannot be underestimated. Yeah. And their Shields as well. The advantage that the Greek hop lights had in terms of toe to toe reach the greater length of their Spears, that's another important factor. I'll touch upon this a bit later, but I think by the time. The first two days of battle were completed. The losses for the total Greek force were maybe about somewhere in between 30 to 40% of their force and much less so in day one. They were just dominating that pass. 

Elliot 

Hmm. Hmm. Yeah, we didn't talk too much about that on Armour, did we? But essentially, it's the trade off between being bogged down and in this case, incredibly hot. Wearing these, you know, breastplates and Greaves. As opposed to, you know, not wearing much but being able to be more nimble. And you can see by how day one went. Which which one? 

Mark 

Yeah. And to your point, that's why the the Javelins being thrown upon them, the arrows that are being rained down on the Greek forces are doing actually very little damage throughout the course of that first day. That is an important piece to this entire battle. I mean, it was a perfectly selected as well, right? That's why Thermopylae ended being such an ideal spot. It maximised the benefits and protection of the Greeks. The only way that the Persians were going to do something. It wasn't gonna be head on. It was if they could somehow get around them, which all their attempts were being thwarted at this point. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Elliot 

So day two begins, and by this point, the battle must. Have been littered. Putrifying body parts cause hot heat. Faecal matter blood is going to be a real gully. Horror Xerses forms up this kind of All Star squad from all the different races and nations that he controls, and I I think he does this to impress upon the Spartans the breadth of the men that he can call under. You know you've got wild Celtic Sethians and their gold jewellery formed up next to Veiled Arabian warriors, jet black Ethiopians next to Egyptians. And all manner of Greeks as well. Fighting these Spartans and these men have just all standing. Ready. And although these are being picked from the best you know, these are the best of the best of their own units. They're not trained together and I think that's something Xerses missed. They they all fight in their own styles and they all fight in their own way. They're not working as a solid unit like the the Spartan hoplites are. 

Mark 

Well said the Greeks, that's what their soldiers were. They were hop lights, all Greek citizens. That's what they fought us. Granted, the Spartans, it was even a a completely different echelon of warrior as we illustrated in the first episode, but they were, I would say, clearly the best type of infantry soldier between the two nations by far. And this is what? Led to such great casualties amongst Xerxes. Particularly in those first two days and what allowed the Greeks to maintain their cohesiveness? And remain as a unified group with Leonidas at the same time trying to keep them as fresh as possible. Cause these these. Are days of constant fighting, and so the only way that Leonidas was able to. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Mark 

Keep his troops somewhat rested was to keep on cycling them in front of the walls and other units to the behind the Fokin Wall and keep on doing that throughout the course of the day when there were breaks in the fighting where they. Could do so. 

Elliot 

Yeah, yeah, they're going behind that wall to get some water, maybe some food rather than. I mean, Ziggy doesn't need to do this because they're dying too quick. To be honest, there's no there's no need to cycle them out. But on this day particularly Leonardos employs. This tactic of. Feigned retreat to break formation. So I don't know about you, but when I read about feign retreats in battles, they're usually Mongols or you know riders from the steps so to do this with people with huge, huge, long Spears, this is this is a tough thing. 

Mark 

Yeah, yeah. 

Elliot 

So what? Essentially, I don't know the impression that you got, but I got the impression they kind of gave ground almost like they were starting to falter a bit. And maybe one, you know, shoulder or something of the group might fall back and it would create a bit of a vortex, a bit of a gully. All the Persian troops would kind of run in and think they've got them on the run, and then all of a sudden the Spartans would wheel back on Leonard's command and just, you know, cut them to pieces. 

Mark 

I think this speaks to two interesting pieces of Spartan strategy and warfare, deception and exceptional drilling and training. So to your point, I believe that there was a number of sequences and the Spartans would utilise this quite consistently when facing different groups of Persian warriors. This is unbelievable to comprehend, but they were appearing to falter somehow losing their formation, but. Knowing exactly what they were doing that the Spartans were notorious for. This and then the Persians would see them starting to waffle and rush forward in pursuit. The Spartans are falling back, but then a command is uttered. Leonidas shouts out of command to reform their ranks, and they just turn with precision and just cut down whoever. Is pursuing them incredible execution that the Spartans alone were known for against Greek adversaries doing elaborate complex formations that no one else could even conceive and they were doing? This at Thermopylae to a devastating effect. 

Elliot 

And it's so risky, right? Because if you don't reform on time or, you know, this can really turn into a route, you could actually be in a lot of trouble if you know you don't adhere to those those orders exactly when they're meant to be just shows the, you know, the regiments drilling they've been exposed to, they know. Likely already went it went to do it. 

Mark 

Yeah. Well, I guess when you do it day in, day out, every single day from 7 up until 60 or whatever age that one. Is that you're gonna get pretty darn good at it, I guess. 

Elliot 

Yeah. Yeah, you are. So as all this is progressing right? The second day has progressed more or less. You know, the same as the first probably with a few more casualties from the Spartan side. Everyone's a bit. More tired, but as they're doing this, Xerses is approached by a man, a Greek man. His name is Ephialtes. Ephialtes. Now in modern Greek means nightmare. So you can imagine. You can imagine what this guy's about to do. In the same way we say Judas, as someone who betrays someone, right, so. And he approaches zigzags, he's from somewhere a bit further north of the Peloponnese. He approaches Xerses with this offer to, you know, he sees surgeries, has not been doing well over the last few days. And he offers to show him this secret past. And this past Mark as the one that you were talking about, the old the old goat. Track around. And Xerses' agrees. I mean, why wouldn't he? It's not going well here. So Xerses's troops are guided by Ephialtes through this Goat Pass, essentially around the gorge. So they they go all the way around the back. It's quite a long pass, quite up into the hills, it's, you know, single file, it's not meant for. Armies. But they do get there. So Leonardos had assigned a group of Folkie and Greeks to guard this past, but from what I understand is it is is a bit written about this. They're taken by surprise, right? They're. 

Mark 

Overwhelmed. Yeah. The Immortals are the ones that are selected to travel this goat path in the midst of the night of the second day. And you're right, the folkens are completely surprised by their presence. They were not anticipating this and. From what I read, the Immortals proceeded to pepper them with arrows and the nokians. Understanding the enormity of what was approaching them, these 10,000 immortals that were travelling through the path they tried to move to a higher ground area where they thought it was going to be a lot harder for the Persian warriors to get to them and. The Persian warriors just passed on through. They didn't even engage with the Folkins had moved higher up land and understanding what they did. They essentially gave up the pass. Without much of a fight. 

Elliot 

Yeah. And I kind of I got the impression well from what I've read, there's a few people on this blame leonardis. For this, you know why did he? Send the folkins. There, but the guy only had 300 Spartans. What's? Gonna be it doesn't. There's no last stand of 270 Spartans, and the 36 in the past is there. Do you think there's any? 

Mark 

Truth to that, it's an interesting notion, whether Leon. This if you look at everything he had done, he'd executed everything so well, but perhaps one of the misses was not at least including one Spartan overseer to that of the volkens. But I mean, you could contrast that as well in the sense that what is 1 Spartan commander gonna do, you know, overseeing. Even 1000 Folkie and warriors, when you have 10,000 Persian immortals that are breaking through the past in order to block them, you would have needed a sizable force, probably a collection of Spartans there into. Your point? How can you split up the 300 Spartans and still make them into an effective fighting force when the main assault is coming through the passive Thermopylae? 

Elliot 

Hmm hmm question for the ages, but the point is, when the sun rises, Leonidas Earth 300 Spartans are they're caught in a pincer. They've got nowhere to go. There's the enemy on one side, and now the enemy is. On them. 

Mark 

So I'll start painting this picture now into the very early morning of the third day as the darkened sky began showing hints of dawn. This is when the aged Spartan King received word from a breathless folkin runner that the Persians had discovered and broken through the mountain. Boat pass reporting the elite Persian immortals. Thousands of them filtering in by the way of this alternate route. And that in the approaching hours, Leonidas's forces were about to be surrounded, trapped within the hot gates. Now I'm not sure what your impression of this is, but from what I can imagine Leonidas probably not showing much of A reaction excepting the news calmly understanding that this was the end and what was expected of him and his warriors. 

Elliot 

Yeah, I agree it. Think it's it's fulfilling A prophecy he was expecting, right? It had to come soon. I don't think he knew it would come that day, but he knew it must. Have been coming. 

Mark 

I couldn't agree more because within this was also an opportunity for him to fulfil the oracles sacrificial requirement. At the same time, giving both he and his men the chance to achieve what the Spartans considered a beautiful death, a concept related to fighting with reckless heroics. Even when confronted with certain death in the aim of winning immortal fame. And so, as the Spartans began rousing from their slumber, Leonidas reportedly awakened them to the news of their impending fate. Ending with another of his famous sayings telling his men to ready themselves saying eat a quick breakfast for tonight we shall feast in the underworld before calling a council and dismissing their Greek allies to evacuate the field. Advising that the Spartans were going to stay also providing the rear guard to allow for their. And this is the point at which somewhere in between 2500 to 3000 Greek warriors departed, but interestingly, not everyone going along with this exodus, notably the hop lights from thus be and thieves bravely determined to stay to the end, perhaps inspired. By their Spartan counterpart. And a lesser known fact was that the Spartan slave attendance the Helotts also remained, though I tend to doubt that they were given much of A choice in. The matter? All of this adding up, contrary to popular belief, not just what was left of the 300 Spartans that would. Put up this incredible last stand, but still a Greek coalition of some 1200 to 1500 men. That Leonidas again led out to assemble beyond the Folkin Wall, who altogether, as the searing late summer sun rose in the third day, came to view this incredibly grizzly scene around them. Accompanied by that putrid stench of blood, sweat, and corpses laying on the grounds outside the wall. Where by this point we touched upon this before. But while estimates widely vary somewhere in between 30 to 40% of the original Greek army had already fallen about 2500 soldiers potentially. Granted, this is a figure that was significantly dwarfed by the Persian. But yet, to their credit, did little to dissuade the Persian troops that also bravely marched out to again fiercely assault the Greek position. Perhaps smelling blood in the water, emboldened by the understanding that their adversaries would soon be surrounded. And while the Greeks, led by Leonidas and his Spartans continued to put up a remarkably valiant resistance as the morning hours progressed, their formations and energy finally began to fray at the edges. Since now possessing fewer numbers, Leonidas was prevented from cycling his units in and out of the front as he did before. Not to mention that the majority of their weapons and equipment had been rendered useless. Spears shattered, Shields broken, increasingly unable to fight as a phalanx, and starting to wilt under the Achaemenid waves of assault. Followed by Leonidas himself in the thick of battle killed by Persian Archers. His body falling to the ground and this resulted in the two sides surging forward to recover it. In what can only be imagined as a gruesome and primal clash, where in a few Spartan warriors succeeded in claiming the corpse of their king. But this is before all together abandoning their position at the Folkman Wall. Upon learning of the arrival of the Persian immortals at their backs. At this point, the few Greeks remaining, I mean we can only guess at their number, perhaps a few 100 remaining. They proceeded to drag Leonidas's body to a raised alcove or bluff against the base of Mount Kallidromo. And they ended up surrounded by a sea of Persian warriors. But according to Herodotus, with the Spartans and their fellow Greek warriors fighting to the last man, some wielding swords and knives, others broken Spears, some with only their bare hands and teeth. But all fighting with frenzied heroics, as if demons possessed. And while what was left of the Theban hop lights ended up surrendering around this point? The last stand of the Thespians, the Spartan helmets and of course, the Spartans themselves, only ended upon being slain by the Achaemenid troops. And the Battle of Thermopylae, thus coming to its end. Technically, yes, a victory for Xerxes since he now controlled the strategic pass gaining entry to Central Greece. But a victory that came at an astonishingly steep cost to his army. 4000 Greek lives in exchange for an estimated 20,000. They came into troops laying dead on the battlefield, and whereas most accounts of this incredible last stand tend to finish everything off here. Romanticising the postmortem glory poured upon Leonidas and his 300 warriors. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. While certainly fitting isn't entirely accurate, being that not all of the 300 were killed at Thermopylae, 2 Spartan warriors Pentis and Aristodemus, managing to survive through the ordeal. But we'll get to their stories a little later on. 

Elliot 

So what happened after the Battle of the monopoly? Here's a couple of the more immediate outcomes to help US type some loose ends. For the Theban hop lights or what was left of them that surrendered during the closing moments of the battle, Xerses's had them branded literally branded as subjects of the Achaemenid Empire before allowing them to return home. Perhaps as a form of psychological warfare, or an attempt to sow fear in the population and show the futility of resisting him. 

Speaker 

Right. 

Elliot 

Then there was a naval battle that had been raging 50 kilometres off the coast of Thermopylae at artesian 270. Greek vessels against the Persian Armada of 1200 warships. For that battle, while it wasn't considered a victory for the Greek coalition, has been labelled more so as a tactical stalemate since the Greeks, despite losing about 100 ships, managed to destroy approximately 2 Persian vessels for each one of theirs, helped greatly by a storm that claimed 200 or more Persian more ships. And while this seriously weakened the accumulated fleet by a count of around 400, a third of their original number, it didn't prevent their ability to continue on the. Invasion of Greece. And lastly, what became of Leonardo's body? Although the typical Persian practise was to treat worthy fallen foes with honour and respect, Xersesdies in a fit of rage over the stubborn resistance and huge losses and inflicted on his army, orchestrated by the Spartan, king ordered Leonardo's body decapitated and set on a Pike at Thermopylae. A grizzly symbol marking his triumph there over the famed Spartans, the. Pests and most feared warriors to be found in Greece. Interestingly, once news began to spread in the days and weeks that followed about what had happened with the Greeks and the Spartans, led by Leonidas. Had managed to achieve. Their incredible last stand, fighting to the bitter end. Fearless in the face of terrifyingly bleak odds, dragging 20,000 Persians into the underworld. Although technically defeat in many ways, the Battle of Thermopylae was ultimately a huge victory for the Greek world due to the following. First, the more practical wins, such as high casualties caused to Xerses's forces and the fact that they were delayed for so long at Thermopylae, which put great strain on the enormous field army needing to be sufficiently fed and watered. Yeah, definitely. Secondly, it provided a key point of, let's say, belief behind the ability and the determination of the Greeks. Not only to withstand the accumulated invasion, but also significantly expand their response in that taking thermopolia as a Talisman. If so, few Greek warriors could inflict such a stinging loss upon the Persians, imagine what a larger Greek coalition could. A notion made stronger by the galvanising of wider cooperation among the normally fickle city states of Greece, helping to convince some that had been previously sitting on the fence like Argos and Corinth, and even Thessaly that had earlier thrown their support behind their Persians to instead join the Greek coalition and finally the ferocity and the sacrifice of Greek troops at the monopoly. Was said to have instilled a. Great fear among the Persians. By contrast, serving as an inspiring rally cry to their fellow Greek warriors in subsequent battles that were to. Follow and while Xerses would indeed proceed southwards deeper into Greece, eventually sacking Athens, the Greek coalition victories at the naval battle of Salamis in September 480 BC and the land battles in the following year. Plataea and Michaeli in 479 BC. It's of note that they were won by impressively large Spartan lead Pan held on a car. Mummies 80,000 and 40,000 strong respectively. These would ultimately defeat the Xerses invasion of Greece, with the Achaemenids pushed all the way out of mainland Europe by 479 BC. Never to return. 

Mark 

And just to add on to what you mentioned, Elliot, I think. A final reference to the vital importance of Leonid. This the Spartans and all that felt their monopoly in view of the broader sequence of events coming to us from the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who wrote one would be justified in believing that it was these men who were more responsible for the common freedom of the Greeks. Than those who were victorious at a later time in the battles against Xerxes. For when the deeds of these men were called to mind, the Persians were dismayed, were as the Greeks incited to perform similar courageous exploits. Here we are at the end of Leonidas's story, the Battle of Thermopylae and its immediate aftershocks. But perhaps begging the question, what became of Sparta? And in case you're wondering about that, here's a bit of a quick synopsis just to wrap everything. Following the defeat of Persia for the next 50 years, both Sparta and Athens emerged as the strongest and most militant city states in Greece. Resulting in a fierce collision between them vying for dominance kicked off in 431 BC, called the Peloponnesian War. Essentially the ancient Greek equivalent to that. Of a World War. That Sparta would ultimately win in 404, establishing themselves as the Masters of Greece, also referred to as the Spartan hegemony of Greece. But having reached the apex of their power at a tremendous cost to the Spartan army, haemorrhaging its citizen population base since they had been involved in so many battles to get there in such a short period of time. The Spartan population thus whittled down to just under 10,000 by the turn of the 4th century. And that eroded further due to their newfound position, which forced them to become an active player on a bigger stage, necessitating Sparta's involvement in a dizzying amount of political issues and altercations all across Greece and the Aegean, steadily sapping at their number and. And later, with the veneer of their military invincibility shattered forever when defeated at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC by the police of Thebes that took over the hegemony of Greece. With that title shortly afterwards being relinquished to Philip the second of Macedon, who spurred the rise of Macedon, the empire that his son Alexander the Great would take to even greater heights, also reducing the Achaemenid Empire to ashes. And while throughout this period, Sparta still managed to survive as an independent nation, their role was more so as a nominal power in Greece, a shell of their former glorious selves, consisting of a much reduced population according to some estimates, as low as a mere 1000 Spartan. Citizens, it had just been too much for them. Trying to maintain that their hegemony that had costed them ultimately everything. I think that in combination with the Peloponnesian War. Truly, you know, it's amazing, right? You think about it, you can reach the apex of their power and that became their undoing, in a way. Hmm. Couldn't keep it up? Absolutely. And as a result, they were increasingly unable to hold back the tide of revolting helots losing their territories to them, and various Greek adversaries that, by the dawning of the 2nd century BC, had reduced sparsest territorial extent to the lands just around their city. And with Spartas political independence finally coming to an end upon being defeated in the Laconian war. By a collection of Greek city states headlined by the Roman Republic who overthrew Spartan's final King King Nabis, in 192 BC. We've talked about Leonidas. The Battle of Thermopylae. Now we've seen the end of Sparta itself after so many centuries that. You know, climbing to the apex, maintaining it through their amazing military now reduced to ashes and. Fall in completely, even politically. I think this is a fitting place for for us to expand on Leonidas's legacy and. Perhaps talk about some of our final thoughts and. Maybe some of the things that struck us profoundly in terms of his lifetime. 

Elliot 

Yeah, I think it's there's something about a story that makes it addictive to to learn about. I mean, there's so many other people that died for for. But yet it's this story that is the real last stand. I think it's because you know Leonardus it was never meant to be king of Sparta, but he took on the mantle with such dedication and just embraced all the sacrifices that came with it. It was a new role for him and everything that he got with it. He he took it on. I think the pithy. Comebacks to Zuzi's demands the extreme imbalance of power and the reason behind what he fought for freedom. That's what makes it so so interesting and so. Relatable. It's something we never wanna lose. As a person. The combination of all those things as things we like to read about, we like to hear about, everyone likes an underdog story. Everyone likes to get behind someone. That that is fighting the status quo. You know, at the end of the. Day Leonardus was he was. A true warrior king. He didn't sit at his palace and send out men to fight for him. He he went and he went in and did it himself. So today the Thermopylae passes geographically very different to what it looked like during the and ISIS time, but where the battle took place is marked. By a plaque. Next to that plaque is a stone lion that commemorates Leonardo's men and the plaque bears the inscription. Go tell the Spartans passer by that here, obedient to our laws, we lie. I think it's such. It's really one of those goosebumps quotes and it's really quite so powerful to think that, you know, it's almost like it's it's one sentence. It's pretty much we did our duty and and what a duty it was. 

Mark 

What a fitting monument marking the Greek sacrifice there in particular. That simple stone slab sitting just inches above the ground, bearing the epitaph that you mentioned. Elliot in commemoration of Leonidus in the Spartans. One might think, considering the enormity of what they had accomplished at Thermopylae, that this would have warranted a monument on a much grander scale. However, in my mind, this fits exactly with the Spartan ideal. It's nothing ostentatious. Quite sparse, really. Even the words used for the epitaph. An excellent example of laconic speech. Which perhaps is precisely why it fits with the Spartan ideal so perfectly. Not overtly emphasising their individual military exploits, but still alluding to the eternal glory that their fallen king and his warriors had gained for themselves in service to the Spartan state. 

Elliot 

Umm, besides that, there's one more statue for specifically Leonardus himself. It's a bronze statue. You've got Leonardus wearing the traditional hop light helmet and. Uh, I believe his speed is raised above his head and it just says on the statue on the on the base underneath in Greek. Come and take them. In regards to what happened to Leonardus his, I believe his remains were brought back to Sparta for is that. Right. 

Mark 

Yeah, about 40 years after his death. From what I understand, they were brought back to Sparta. Yeah. 

Elliot 

Yeah, yeah. 

Mark 

And they had, I think, quite the celebration of his life, but more so how he died, I think. For Sparta and Sparta. I think it's hard to argue against the notion that Leonidas, essentially from the moment he fell in battle, immediately became the standard by which all Spartan kings before and after him were measured. 

Elliot 

And what? Once his body was brought back, he was deified in a way. And the Leonardia Festival was created to honour him annually for the next two or so centuries. It's really quite interesting as well, because after Sparta was conquered by Rome, Trajan, the greatest conqueror of all Rome, reimplemented this. This ceremony at his own. Cost. So it goes to show that. Even then, people were. Thinking this is a story that. That, you know, has some allure to it. 

Mark 

When you look at some of the greatest warriors of history. Leonidas I think for many people. I think it in a similar vein to that of Alexander the Great. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Mark 

The amazing stories how, how inspiring their tales were to so many military leaders, not just military leaders, but just to so many people that are, you know, history enthusiasts. But. Also, future military leaders that saw these people, what they achieved, such an inspiring notion that drove their or perhaps even impacted their actions from there on in, we're talking about inspiring people for aeons afterwards. It's hard to find a story that is. More inspiring and incredible than their famous last stand. 

Speaker 

Hmm hmm. 

Elliot 

I mean, and this is what are we 2 1/2 thousand years later or something and we're still talking about it? There's paintings, books, poetry, movies. You know, it's Leonardo's bravery and dutifulness raise questions as to, I suppose, whether it was him or whether it was Spartan upbringing. But I mean the word laconic. We use that word to describe when something is short and kind of pithy Spartan. Today, I don't know about in Canada, but in Australia, yeah, we have a line of products. If they're Spartan, that means, you know, basic bare bones. Yeah, function. 

Mark 

So for me, when thinking about Leonidas's legacy and everything that it conjures up in the mind, the incredible heroics and bravery he exhibited throughout the entirety of the Battle of Thermopylae, while certainly impressive and deserving. One of the thoughts that strikes me as fascinating is just how different he might have been regarded historically had he faltered even for reasons beyond his control. How differently he would have been viewed by his contemporaries throughout Greece, but especially in Spain. Wherein after his death, he was unequivocally celebrated as essentially the perfect symbol for everything that Sparta stood for. Its system, values and ideals, A sentiment equally placed upon the 300 Spartans that had accompanied him. Well, not quite all of them, but rather almost all of them, since, as we mentioned a little while ago, there were two glaring exceptions to this notion. Pentis and Aristodemus, the two Spartan warriors that had survived Thermopylae. Both of whom we can reasonably assume, given the circumstances and the fact that no historical account state otherwise fought quite valiantly, up to and including the second day of battle, but were then prevented from dying alongside their countrymen on. The third day. Petites sent away on a messenger errand and Aristodemus who came down with some type of eye affliction that rendered him temporarily blind. Now, despite both. Following what was commanded and expected of them, to the best of their abilities. When they returned to Sparta, they were both received in dishonour. Resulting in Pentito's hanging himself out of shame. And As for Aristodemus, although he didn't do that, choosing instead to go out in a blaze of glory during the Battle of Plataea, Herodotus singling him out as the bravest of all warriors in the battle. Even that was insufficient in the eyes of the Spartans to regaining his honour. Being that this stain of not falling at Thermopylae remained never to be erased. Standing in stark contrast to Leonidas's legacy. Although separated by mere degrees to the fate of the two, survivors served as the ultimate example of 1, whose story and dedication his unfaltering adherence to Spartan law and willingness to sacrifice his life for the state made him so exalted. Among his contemporaries. I think a significant factor that has allowed his legend to persist to this day. 

Elliot 

Man, what a story. Hey. Well, Mark, it's been a pleasure, man. Honestly, before we burst each other's eardrums with the primal, this is Sparta, Raw for anyone has it tuned into your show? Maybe you could tell us what warlords of history is about. Exact. 

Mark 

Sure, it would be my pleasure. My show, warlords of History is a podcast that similar to what we did here with Leonidas, explores the lives, campaigns and achievements of prolific military leaders from history, primarily ancient and mediaeval, and from all over the world. Covering the incredible stories of figures such as the first Viking King of England, Spain Fork, Beard, Alexander the Great's father Philip, the second of Macedon, and the Napoleon of Persia, neither Shah among others. All of whom were Titans during their respective eras, and shook the very grounds in which they lived, fought and died. And over several episodes, we dive rather deep into each of their lifetimes and exploits, but also take this further by unpacking the environmental, social, and political conditions that surrounded them. At the time, we'll explore their motivations for taking on the mantle of war. Of course, covering what they did, how they did it, and finally what their legacy was beyond their demise. So if any of this interests you, I would invite you to have a listen. Otherwise, to learn more about the show, you can also check out my website warlordsofhistory.com. And because you're still here, having patiently listened through the ending sequence, you're in for a little treat because Elliot and I just couldn't resist. We promised each other how many times we were going to hold ourselves to a limit of two. This is spartas per episode. Load, but OK, I'll lay one down here and then maybe you can better mine. OK. OK. 

Elliot 

That's good. 

Mark 

So this is Sparta. How is that? 

Elliot 

Well, I like it. The accent's quite good. It's quite powerful. 

Mark 

Yeah, I was trying to go very aggressive there. I just I didn't do it with my shirt off because. You know the abs are not quite there yet. I'm working on it, yeah. 

Elliot 

That's for the patriot. That's for the patrons. Is it? 

Mark 

Oh yeah, yeah. Only fans I'm I'm thinking of starting that. 

Elliot 

I like it. I like it. Alright, I'll do my alright. I'm gonna stand back so I don't blow your drums out with me. This is Sparta. How is that? 

Mark 

Ohh man you had some like when you delivered Sparta a lot of you heard that like variation in the delivery. I was impressed. 

Elliot 

Oh, thank you. Thank you. That's right. I think we'll have to. We'll let the audience. Judge, which was better? Yeah.