1. THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

2. THE AFTERMATH OF MARATHON
Battle of Marathon
490 BC
Greeks win.
After Persians leave Marathon-
Rush to Athens to catch them off guard.
Miltiades gets troops back.
Persians retreat back to Asia Minor.
Ten years of peace follow.

3. 192 ATHENIANS DEAD, BURIED IN CEREMONIAL FUNERAL MOUND
192 ATHENIANS DEAD, BURIED IN CEREMONIAL FUNERAL MOUND. STILL THERE TODAY!

4. BACKGROUND TO THERMOPYLAE
The Greek leader Miltiades wounded-
Greeks need leader.
Themistocles steps up-
Very strong leader.
Can act quickly.
Respond to difficult situations.
Silver mines found outside Athens-
Help strengthen military.

5. WHAT TO DO WITH THE CASH? Themistocles puts lots of money-
Build up army to 100, ,000 men.
Build 200 warships-
Triremes.
Athenians not going to attack-
On the defensive.
Wait for Persia to attack.

6. PERSIA THIRSTS FOR REVENGE
Persia also has new leader-
Darius out (dies).
Xerxes in.
Son of Darius.
Grandson of Cyrus.
Xerxes grows up vowing to revenge father’s loss-
Has slave follow him.
Whispers “Remember the Athenians” for next 10 years!

7. COOPERATION AMONG GREEKS
Athenians hear about Persians-
Look for help.
Many other Greek polis agree to help-
1st time wide scale co-operation between Greeks.
Sparta & Athens decide to work together-
Fight Persians.
Sparta has very strong army
Athens has strong navy.

8. DEJA VU Once again, Greeks heavily outnumbered-
Persians
200,000 Infantry
1200 Navy
20,000 Cavalry
Greeks
7000 Infantry
200 Navy
0 Cavalry
Spartans led by Leonidas-
1 of 2 Kings of Sparta.
His troops pretty good.

9. THE BATTLE AT THERMOPYLAE
August, 480 BC.
Greeks wait for Persians at Thermopylae-
Persians will have to take this pass.
Xerxes sits on a golden throne-
Atop pass to watch battle.
For two days-
Greeks hold off Persians.
Slaughter them-
Even Xerxes’ elite “Immortals.”

10. PASS OF THERMOPYLAE

11. TRAITOR AMONG THE GREEKS
Greek betrays Greeks-
Ephialtes.
Show Xerxes path leading behind Greeks.
Leonidas sends Athenians home-
Knows they are going to lose.
1100 remain.
Plus remaining Spartans.
Delays Persians-
Athenians can defend city.
Persians slaughter Greeks-
All are killed.

12. “GO TELL THE SPARTANS, STRANGER PASSING BY, THAT HERE OBEDIENT TO THEIR LAWS WE LIE.”