Thermopylae means "hot gates". This is the battle best known in popular culture from the movie 300. The Greeks tried unsuccessfully to guard the pass against the Persians, led by Xerxes, in 480 BC. All the Spartans who defended the gates were killed, but showed great courage and bravery.
Xerxes' ships sailed on the Eastern Aegean Sea towards the Thermopylae mountains. The battle occurred at a pass among the mountains. This pass was the only road between Thessaly and Greece, and Leonidas, the Greek general and king, was in charge of the Greek forces protecting this area. The Greeks who died that day gave the Athenians just enough time to flee Athens before it was burnt to the ground by the victorious Persians in September 480 BC.Pictures: http://www.300quotes.com/thermopylae/battle-thermpylae.jpg
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