Tag Archives: Battle of Thermopylae

By Riley Winters, Contributing Writer, Ancient Origins Mythologically descended from the hero Herakles, the Agiad dynasty of ancient Sparta reigned alongside the Eurypontids almost since the beginning of the city-state. When war was on the borders of their land, and that of their neighboring city-states, it was to the current Heraklean descendent that those city-states

The year was 480 BC and the Battle of Thermopylae was about to commence. King Leonidas I was dispatched from Sparta with only his royal bodyguard of 300 men to help him stop the oncoming Persian invasion, led by Xerxes I. Fortunately Leonidas was not entirely alone. He was able to procure more soldiers: an

It was a battle so great that many movie makers, writers and graphic novelists have attempted to capture it. Within its bloodied tale, embodies ideals such as patriotism, freedom, the underdog and resistance to excessive imperial powers. Its story is compelling, breathtaking and heartbreaking. It is none other than the Battle of Thermopylae. Like many