A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. 13 Jan. 2021 . The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Cite This Work However, the date of retrieval is often important. The Battle of Thermopylae was an attack on Greece that arose as a result of Athens involvement in the Ionian revolt. Warfare & Battles in Ancient Greece. Thermopyle synonyms, Thermopyle pronunciation, Thermopyle translation, English dictionary definition of Thermopyle. When the Greeks held their position, Xerxes once again sent envoys to offer the defenders a last chance to surrender without bloodshed if the Greeks would only lay down their arms. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. It was fought over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. Although the Greeks lost the battle at Thermopylae, one small group of Spartansdelayed the advance of the Persian army long enough for the city of Athens to be evacuated and for the remaining Greek army to regroup and eventually to defeat the Persian invaders. Its name, meaning “hot https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/thermopylae, "Thermopylae Definitions 4. Related Content. The Hot Gates is "the place of hot springs" and in Greek mythology it … The spectacle of drama in ancient Greece; Piracy in ancient Greece; Thermopylae became the archetype for the courageous last stand. This is also the place of cavernous entrances to Hades. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Alps, great mountain system of S central Europe, c.500 mi (800 km) long and c.100 mi (160 km) wide, curving in a great arc from the Riviera coas…. The second day followed the pattern of the first, and the Greek forces still held the pass. Most people chose this as the best definition of thermopylae: A narrow pass of east-cen... See the dictionary meaning, pronunciation, and sentence examples. Free men, in respect of their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in order to defend their way of life against foreign aggression. Definitions 4. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. TEXT_8. Its name is derived from its hot sulphur springs. The pass had also been fortified by the local Phokians who built a defensive wall running from the so-called Middle Gate down to the sea. Map of Ancient Greece. When the two fleets finally met, the Greeks fought late in the day and therefore limited the duration of each skirmish which diminished the numerical advantage held by the Persians. Quizzes 1. May 27, 2012 - Learn about the Battle at Thermopylae and discover the heroism of the Spartan king Leonidas and his men. Please support Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation. The Persian cavalry were armed as the foot soldiers, with a bow and an additional two javelins for throwing and thrusting. It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a time, the Persian armies of Xerxes. It took place at the pass of Thermopylae. Battle of Thermopylae. ." At Thermopylae and Salamis, ancient Greece, at the dawn of its glory, came together, stood strong, fought for and saved its freedom, its independence and the humanist core of a civilization now recognized as universal. Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. Its name is derived from its hot sulphur springs. Articles 1. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. The Persian infantry carried a lightweight (often crescent-shaped) wicker shield and were armed with a long dagger or battleaxe, a short spear, and composite bow. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. Thermopylae. Just why Greece was coveted by Persia is unclear. It takes its name from nearby sources of hot springs and the narrow and rough passages in and out of the area. DICTIONARY.COM Thermopylae. However, an unscrupulous traitor was about to tip the balance in favour of the invaders. In 486 BCE, Xerxes I (r. 486-465 BCE) became king upon the death of Darius and massive preparations for invasion were made. The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Thermopylae Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/thermopylae/. The term Ancient, or Archaic, Greece refers to the years 700-480 B.C., not the Classical Age (480-323 B.C.) https://www.ancient.eu/thermopylae/. narrow land passage along the Malian Gulf in ancient Greece, from Greek thermos "hot" (from PIE root *gwher-"to heat, warm") + pylai, plural of pyle "gate; mountain pass, entrance into a region" (see pylon).In reference to nearby hot sulfur springs. known for its art, architecture and philosophy. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. The battle would take on mythical status amongst the Greeks, but in reality it was merely the opening overture of a long war with several other battles making up the principal acts. Thermopylae definition: (in ancient Greece ) a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea linking Locris and... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Winter halted the land campaign, though, and at Salamis the Greek fleet manoeuvred the Persians into shallow waters and won a resounding victory. [intr.] Filters: All . The two opposing armies were essentially representative of the two approaches to Classical warfare - Persian warfare favoured long-range assault using archers followed up with a cavalry charge, whilst the Greeks favoured heavily-armoured hoplites, arranged in a densely packed formation called the phalanx, with each man carrying a heavy round bronze shield and fighting at close quarters using spears and swords. With their position now seemingly hopeless, and before their retreat was cut off completely, the bulk of the Greek forces were ordered to withdraw by Leonidas. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. noun. The Persian invasion was a delayed response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece, which had been ended by the Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. It was a brutal battle which the Greeks (consisting of the Spartans and their allies) lost. ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Thermopylae Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Tsakonian is not only important to the identity and culture of Tsakonians, it is also the only legacy of the ancient Spartans that still persists, notes the BBC. 5Days Grand Private Tour from Athens (From $2,072.79) Delphi & Meteora Two Days Tour from Athens (From $223.79) Proud Thermopylae & Famous … Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil. Primarily known for … Images 13. Map Of Ancient Greece Thermopylae TEXT_9. . . Related Content The Battle on the plain of Marathon in September 490 BCE between... Leonidas was the Spartan king who famously led a small band of... Sparta was one of the most important Greek city-states throughout... Xerxes I (l. 519-465, r. 486-465 BCE), also known as Xerxes... One of the most effective and enduring military formations in ancient... A black-figure Calyx-Krater from Attica, c. 530 BCE. "Battle of Thermopylae." (January 13, 2021). Having somewhere in the region of 80,000 troops at his disposal, the Persian king, who led the invasion in person, first waited four days in expectation that the Greeks would flee in panic. It was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I. Definition. Map of the Battle of Thermopylae 480 BC. King Cyrus II tamed the Persian tribes and conquered Lydia and parts of Ionia but the Ionians made up of Greek tyrants rebelled against Persia which led to its invasion (Warren Hollister, 103). It was the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, at which the Spartan King Leonidas stood off, for a … TEXT_7 TEXT_6. Encyclopedia.com. TEXT_7 TEXT_6. . Thermopylae definition, a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. © 2019 Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. It was the civilization of Greece, from the archaic period of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146 BC. It takes its name from nearby sources of hot springs and the narrow and rough passages in and out of the area. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 16 Apr 2013. Web. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. The Greek forces included 300 Spartans and their helots with 2,120 Arcadians, 1,000 Lokrians, 1,000 Phokians, 700 Thespians, 400 Corinthians, 400 Thebans, 200 men from Phleious, and 80 Mycenaeans. Books Teaching Materials 1. Ultimately the Persians took control of the pass, but the heroic defeat of Leonidas would assume legendary proportions for later generations of Greeks, and within a year the Persian invasion would be repulsed at the battles of Salamis and Plataea. The first mentioned Amphictyony centered on the cult of Demeter at the city Anthela in the locality of Thermopylae. Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. Thermopylae (; Ancient and Katharevousa Greek: , Demotic: Θερμοπύλες : "hot gates") is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity.It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. ." Thermopylae, a narrow pass on the east coast of Greece, also one of the best Greek army strategies used against the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae. The Persian forces also included the Immortals, an elite force of 10,000 who were probably better protected with armour and armed with spears. en.wiktionary.2016 [proper] A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Hornblower, Simon & Spawforth, Antony & Eidinow, Esther. "Thermopylae Thermopylae, narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Athens (Athína). in which the Persians under Xerxes destroyed a Spartan army under Leonidas Thermopylae is arguably the most famous battle in European ancient history, repeatedly referenced in ancient, recent, and contemporary culture. The performance of the defenders is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Thermopylae is located in eastern central Greece on the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between Lokris and Thessaly.Passage from north to south along the east coast of the Balkan peninsula requires use of the pass. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas I of Sparta, and the Achaemenid Empire of Xerxes I. In addition to the land forces, the Greek poleis sent a fleet of trireme warships which held position off the coast of Artemision (or Artemisium) on the northern coast of Euboea, 40 nautical miles from Thermopylae. Last modified April 16, 2013. See more. Persia, with the largest empire in the world, was vastly superior in men and resources and now these would be fully utilised for a full-scale attack. Perhaps at this point the Theban contingent may have surrendered (although this is disputed amongst scholars). Statue of Leonidas in Thermopylae! ." Articles 1. move in a specified direction: he passed through towns and villages the shells from the Allied guns were passing very lo…, Pakistani pass into Afghanistan. en.wiktionary.2016 [proper] A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. Ancient History, Place Names a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Thermopylae in American English ( θərˈmɑpəˌli ) in ancient Greece, a mountain pass in Locris, near an inlet of the Aegean Sea: scene of a battle (480 b .c. ) Definition of battle of thermopylae in the Definitions.net dictionary. . Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil. "Thermopylae The width of the pass allowed fewer allied, Athenian and Spartan soldiers, to fight off more Persian troops. Early in the morning, the hoplites once more met the enemy, but this time Xerxes could attack from both front and rear and planned to do so but, in the event, the Immortals behind the Greeks were late on arrival. World Encyclopedia. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. We have prepared four lesson plans including classroom activities... Quiz. Thermopylae is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in August 480 BCE. Thermopylae, narrow pass on the east coast of central Greece between the Kallídhromon massif and the Gulf of Maliakós, about 85 miles (136 km) northwest of Athens (Athína). Oeta and the Malic Gulf. All Free. License. Thermopylae - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. Thank you! Thermopylae Wikipedia. "Battle of Thermopylae." Its name is derived from its hot sulphur springs. In ancient times it was used as an entrance into Greece from the north. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c. It was the civilization of Greece, from the archaic period of the 8th/6th centuries BC to 146 BC. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. Macedonia definition, an ancient kingdom in the Balkan Peninsula, in S Europe: now a region in N Greece, SW Bulgaria, and the Republic of Macedonia. Map Of Ancient Greece Thermopylae TEXT_9. Images 13. Although the Persian tactic of rapidly firing vast numbers of arrows into the enemy must have been an awesome sight, the lightness of the arrows meant that they were largely ineffective against the bronze-armoured hoplites. 1. Thermopylae n (in ancient Greece) a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea linking Locris and Thessaly: a defensible position on a traditional invasion route from N Greece; scene of a famous battle (480 b.c.) Source. Thermopylae. Thermopylae (; Ancient and Katharevousa Greek: , Demotic: Θερμοπύλες : "hot gates") is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. Leonidas’ bullish response to Xerxes request was  ‘molōn labe’ or ‘come and get them’ and so battle commenced. Related Content. in which a greatly outnumbered Greek army under Leonidas fought to the death to delay the advance of the Persians during their attempted conquest of Greece Battle at Thermopylae: Definition & Map | Study.com. Source. This is Sparta: Fierce warriors of the ancient world - Craig Zimmer. Thermopylae 480 BC: Last stand of the 300, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae, Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World. Quizzes 1. Source. Books 3. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Further west the way is blocked by mountains and the Gulf of Corinth.For this reason the area has been the site of several battles. Lesson Pack. The Greeks would amass over 300 triremes and perhaps their main purpose was to prevent the Persian fleet sailing down the inland coast of Lokris and Boeotia. Thermopylae thərmŏp´ĭlē [Gr.,=hot gates, from hot mineral springs nearby], pass, E central Greece, SE of Lamía, between the cliffs of Mt. The battle took place simultaneously with the naval battle at Artemisium. Thermopylae is a mountain pass in terea or Central Greece, 210 km from Athens, and was a sacred place for ancient Greeks. A narrow pass on the East-central coast of Greece adjacent to the Maliakos Gulf, northwest of Athens. In modern times, it has been used and abused as the yardstick for courageous sacrifice against the odds. 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Performance in battle at Thermopylae and discover the heroism of the battle at Thermopylae definition! Invasion of Greece company registered in the Definitions.net dictionary definition of Thermopyle Greeks who retreated to high! And University of Missouri under the following publications: ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a location in.!