The Greco-Persian Wars - PART IV: Artemisium, Thermopylae and the Struggle for the Soul of Greece

It is the year 480 BC and the massive army and navy of the Great King of Persiam, Xerxes, is on the move.  The Great King himself is personally leading the campaign and eager to witness his armed forces' triumph as they advance through northern and central Greece.Two battles, fought on land and sea, will test the resolve of a fragile but determined anti-Persian Greek alliance hastily formed to check the Great King's advance. Despite deep rivalries and a history of conflict among themselves, this group of Greeks unite against overwhelming odds in an effort to  defend their homeland.At Thermopylae, a narrow pass between mountain and sea becomes the stage for one of history’s most iconic last stands. At Artemisium, Greek triremes clash with the vast Persian fleet in a desperate attempt to hold the line.But these battles were more than tactical delays—they were symbolic declarations. Against the might of the largest invasion force the ancient world had seen, a few city-states stood their ground not for conquest or glory, but for something deeper: identity, freedom, and the soul of Greece itself.Contents:00:00  Xerxes in Greece11:46 The Pythia Speaks14:53 Themistocles39:33 Leonidas52:12 Thermopylae: Day 157:31 Artemisium: Day 158:31 Artemisium: Day 201:00:45 Thermopylae: Day 201:06:02 The Last Stand of Leonidas and the 30001:19:05 Thank You and PatronsSupport the show