Thermopylae – 300 Spartans Against an Empire

Episode 2 of Turning Points: History’s Greatest Battles tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BCE), where a small Greek force led by King Leonidas of Sparta confronted the massive Persian invasion under King Xerxes I. Around 7,000 Greeks held the narrow mountain pass against overwhelming numbers, with the legendary 300 Spartans forming the core of the defense. For two days, the Greeks repelled wave after wave of Persian attacks, but a betrayal revealed a hidden path that allowed the Persians to outflank them. Leonidas dismissed most of the army, remaining with his Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans to fight to the death. Though Thermopylae ended in Greek defeat, the sacrifice delayed the Persian advance and inspired the Greek world to unite. The epitaph “Go tell the Spartans…” immortalized their courage, and Thermopylae remains a symbol of defiance against overwhelming odds. #Tags:#TurningPointsPodcast #BattleOfThermopylae #Spartans #Leonidas #PersianWars #Xerxes #AncientGreece #300Spartans #SymbolOfResistance #GreatBattles