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There was also that little skirmish at Thermopylae that helped grow the legend.

lolinder 7y ago
I'd argue that the mythology surrounding Thermopylae is the result of the mythology surrounding Sparta, rather than the other way around. Objectively, Thermopylae was an abject defeat (even by Herodotus's account) that didn't do anything to save Greece from Persia conquering basically everything. The only reason it's more than a historical footnote is because of the Spartan legend.
- cafard 7y ago
  It was a holding action that gave the Greeks time to consolidate further back, no? And really, quite number of holding actions and retreats have achieved considerable fame. Among the retreats I'd mention the Anabasis, Sir John Moore's retreat on Corunna, the Long March, Dunkirk, and Stillwell's retreat to Burma.
  - muro 7y ago
    Only if made by victors, no?
  - nidificate 7y ago
    > Spartan planning is both direct and unrealistic: find a choke-point, fortify it and hold it indefinately with a hoplite army. Attempted at Thermopylae this plan fails; the Battle of Thermopylae is often represented in popular culture as an intentional delaying action, but it was nothing of the sort – Herodotus is clear that this was supposed to be the decisive land engagement (Hdt. 7.175; Cf. Diodorus 11.4.1-5).
    - dr_dshiv 7y ago
      He is wrong about that. Herodotus says that they were an advance front to buy time for the rest, who were at a religious festival and at the Olympics: “The force with Leonidas was sent forward by the Spartans in advance of their main body, that the sight of them might encourage the allies to fight, and hinder them from going over to the Medes, as it was likely they might have done had they seen that Sparta was backward. They intended presently, when they had celebrated the Carneian festival, which was what now kept them at home, to leave a garrison in Sparta, and hasten in full force to join the army. The rest of the allies also intended to act similarly; for it happened that the Olympic festival fell exactly at this same period. None of them looked to see the contest at Thermopylae decided so speedily; wherefore they were content to send forward a mere advanced guard.”
- notfromhere 7y ago
  Pretty sure Persia lost that war pretty significantly.

I'd argue that the mythology surrounding Thermopylae is the result of the mythology surrounding Sparta, rather than the other way around. Objectively, Thermopylae was an abject defeat (even by Herodotus's account) that didn't do anything to save Greece from Persia conquering basically everything. The only reason it's more than a historical footnote is because of the Spartan legend.

cafard 7y ago
It was a holding action that gave the Greeks time to consolidate further back, no? And really, quite number of holding actions and retreats have achieved considerable fame. Among the retreats I'd mention the Anabasis, Sir John Moore's retreat on Corunna, the Long March, Dunkirk, and Stillwell's retreat to Burma.
- muro 7y ago
  Only if made by victors, no?
- nidificate 7y ago
  > Spartan planning is both direct and unrealistic: find a choke-point, fortify it and hold it indefinately with a hoplite army. Attempted at Thermopylae this plan fails; the Battle of Thermopylae is often represented in popular culture as an intentional delaying action, but it was nothing of the sort – Herodotus is clear that this was supposed to be the decisive land engagement (Hdt. 7.175; Cf. Diodorus 11.4.1-5).
  - dr_dshiv 7y ago
    He is wrong about that. Herodotus says that they were an advance front to buy time for the rest, who were at a religious festival and at the Olympics: “The force with Leonidas was sent forward by the Spartans in advance of their main body, that the sight of them might encourage the allies to fight, and hinder them from going over to the Medes, as it was likely they might have done had they seen that Sparta was backward. They intended presently, when they had celebrated the Carneian festival, which was what now kept them at home, to leave a garrison in Sparta, and hasten in full force to join the army. The rest of the allies also intended to act similarly; for it happened that the Olympic festival fell exactly at this same period. None of them looked to see the contest at Thermopylae decided so speedily; wherefore they were content to send forward a mere advanced guard.”
notfromhere 7y ago
Pretty sure Persia lost that war pretty significantly.