The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. I cannot describe the feelings that came in front of this unique sight of hellas everyone knows about king leonidas and the 300 men but if you visit the battle area you will realise how huge this was. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece. Herodotus on thermopylae, with chris carey youtube. It can be assigned as homework or as a classroom exercise in which students go over the passages and questions in class, taking turns individually or in small groups reading from herodotus and discussing the key events of. During the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, a greek force of approximately 7,000 faced the biggest army ever seen in the greek peninsula. Herodotus, and the parsis at thermopylae pakistan defence. This provided herodotus with an occasion to once more take stock of the persian forces 7. This book also includes several chapters on the greek response to thermopylae in the aftermath of the battle. Kraft concluded that the pass was not more than 2030 meters wide in 480. The battle of thermopylae the histories of herodotus. Site contains many greek and latin texts, translations and related. In a desperate delaying action, a picked force of three hundred spartans was dispatched to the pass of thermopylae, where the confines between mountains and sea were so narrow that. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their.
Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus. The greek army at thermopylae is very small compared to the over five million herodotus counts among the persians. But the greeks, led by leonidas and a small army of spartan warriors, took the battle to. This covers the battle in much greater detail than paul cartledges book. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at plataea and mycale. The battle of thermopylae was the initial engagement between the persian empire and the confederation of greek citystates led by sparta during. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae and the noble 300. He bridged the hellespont, the slim neck between europe and asia now called the dardanelles, and marched his army of iraqis, iranians, egyptians and indians across to macedonia and then south into greece. However it is reported also that leonidas himself sent them away, having a care that they might not perish, but thinking that it was not seemly for himself and for the spartans who were present to leave the post to which they had come at first to keep guard there. Mar 15, 2019 herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae.
The battle of thermopylae the greek historian herodotus ca. And thou, mardonius, son of gobryas, forbear to speak foolishly concerning the greeks, who are men that ought not to be lightly esteemed by us. The greeks took up their defensive positions at the pass of thermopylae and cape artemisium 7. That was too wide for pritchett, who attacked the findings in volume vi of his studies in greek topography herodotus says that the pass at thermopylae was narrower than that at alpeni, which he puts at half a plethron or roughly 15 meters wide. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts. A lot has changed in the ensuing millennia, so the site looks. A highpoint in herodotus histories, the subject of this book is the inexorable march of the persian forces against greece, which culminates in the famous battle at thermopylae. While the focus of herodotus may be slightly different, descibing the armor the different troops wore as one example. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass.
The spartans had killed some envoys from xerxes who were offering a. After waiting four days for the greek army to make a move, king xerxes became impatient and sent persian. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. This was the prophecy that was given prior to the greek stand at thermopylae in which 300 spartans and 700 men of thespiae made one of the most heroic stands in the history of the world. The spartans had killed some envoys from xerxes who were offering a peaceful invasion. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules.
Accordingly a force was collected, which passed up the euripus, and disembarking at alus, on the coast of achaea, left the ships there, and marched by land into thessaly. Nov 19, 2014 a highpoint in herodotus histories, the subject of this book is the inexorable march of the persian forces against greece, which culminates in the famous battle at thermopylae. They thought that the pass at thermopylae that many of whom had no. The battle of thermopylae the histories of herodotus excerpt. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of. The forces of the athenian alliance prepares to defend the territory, but move from the pass of tempe to thermopylae, where they believe the persian force will land. The main event of book seven, of course, is the battle of thermopylae, during which an elite force of 300 spartans, accompanied by thespians fighting voluntarily and thebans fighting involuntarily, hold off the mighty persian army at a narrow coastal pass just south of thessaly on the greek mainland. Olympia the vale of tempe against the persians 172.
Herodotus s depiction of the battle of thermopylae 1278 words 6 pages. The battle, which took place over three days and occurred simultaneously with the naval battle at artemisium, was fought for control of a pass that provided access to the sea. The bloody stand made there by leonidas and his small spartan army in 480 b. For while thou revilest the greeks, thou dost encourage the king to lead his own troops against them. The pass at thermopylae was thus opened to the persian army, according to herodotus, at the cost to the persians of up to 20,000 fatalities. Herodotus calculates the hellene forces at around 2,641,610 men, not including slaves, women and concubines, and the persian forces at 5,283,220. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. All of the greeks are killed, and xerxes has leonidass head mounted on a pike.
The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. The secret pass divulged by ephialtes of trachis, which hydarnes uses to lead forces around the mountains to encircle the greeks. Named polymnia after the greek muse of sacred poetry. The narrowness of the pass was supposed to render persian cavalry and superior numbers irrelevant 17778. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae.
The greek rearguard, meanwhile, was annihilated, with a probable loss of 2,000 men, including those killed on the first two days of battle. Book 7, the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. The approach to thermopylae the thessalians at the conference of greeks promise to fight, but request aid to hold the mountain pass by mt. So far xerxes fleet had not suffered any military losses 7. The main source for the battle of 480 is herodotus, histories. In book 7 chapter 210 of the histories, the ancient greek historian herodotus describes the battle of thermopylae. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Summary of and commentary on herodotus histories, book 7, 2015 your bibliography. Thermopylae was a very narrow pass that would prevent the persians from using their cavalry in battle. The pass at thermopylae thus spake the the oracle at delphi, long ago, as recorded by herodotus, the father of history, in book 7 of the histories. Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus first. Ramsey parra llrn 151 01 300 scholars, artists, authors, and filmmakers in recent years have been interested in herodotuss depiction of the battle of thermopylae, creating several different versions and interpretations of the story across multiple forms of media. This is the book to read if you are interested in thermopylae. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated.
Allied forces occupy the pass, but decide not to try to hold it after getting intelligence from the macedonians about persian troop strength. An outline of book seven, including the battle of thermopylae, can be found here. Understand how the geography of the area has changed, and consider how the retelling of stories leads to the writing of history. Mar 24, 2017 the forces of the athenian alliance prepares to defend the territory, but move from the pass of tempe to thermopylae, where they believe the persian force will land. Summary of and commentary on herodotus histories, book 7. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than treachery of.
He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts of the aegean sea and the mainland of greece. The decision is taken to guard the pass of thermopylae instead 175. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. Herodotus, and the parsis at thermopylae sunday, january 31, 2010 aakar patel in 480 bc, persias emperor xerxes attacked and defeated greece. Explore the site of a battle at thermopylae, described by herodotus, and the subject of two 21st century movies. An impressively accessible narrative depicting the threeday battle for the pass at thermopylae the hot gatesa critical contest in xerxess massive invasion of greece. Xerxes according to herodotus encyclopaedia iranica. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that. The activity itself engages students in attentive reading of key passages from book 7 of herodotus histories 7.
Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. Echoes from the iliad herodotus detail of xerxes army, cavalry, and fleet echoes homers catalogue of ships in book two of the iliad. The main source for the battle of 480 is herodotus, histories, 7. But the greeks, led by leonidas and a small army of spartan warriors, took the battle to the persians and nearly halted their advance. Dec 05, 2015 the battle of thermopylae was the initial engagement between the persian empire and the confederation of greek citystates led by sparta during the second persian invasion of greece in 480 bc. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians.
These have appeared in a range of media from plain text to historical fantasy. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. A tiny army of a few thousand, led by the spartan king leonidas, opposes the huge persian force at thermopylae, a narrow pass. For three days, the persiansthe greatest military force in the worldwere stopped in their tracks by a vastly inferior force, before the bulk of the greek army was forced to retreat with their rear guard wiped out in one of historys most famous last stands. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. Polymnia now when tidings of the battle that had been fought at marathon reached the ears of king darius, the son of hystaspes, his anger against the athenians, which had been already roused by their attack upon sardis, waxed still fiercer, and he became more than ever eager to lead an army against greece.
Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. Thermopylae and the book of esther associates for biblical. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. I pass over all the other officers, because there is no need for me to mention them. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. The speech of mardonius in support of invasion cites greek weaknesses. The width of the pass at thermopylae, according to herodotus pray to the winds. While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
The battle at thermopylae first, a word about the badasses from sparta and athens. Topographical details of artemisium and thermopylae 176. This chapter outlines the epic backdrop to the battle of thermopylae, and includes a catalogue of epic echoes throughout herodotus book 7 as well as a detailed discussion of herodotus battle narrative. Instantly he sent off messengers to make proclamation through the several states that.
This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. Aug 05, 2015 the pass at thermopylae thus spake the the oracle at delphi, long ago, as recorded by herodotus, the father of history, in book 7 of the histories. Thermopylae terms to know about the battle of thermopylae. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. The extent of the greeks geographical knowledge of the world can be reconstructed from considering regions and places mentioned by contemporary authors. On the battle of thermopylae itself, two principal sources, herodotus and simonides accounts, survive. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian.
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