The Persian Wars

Thermopylae

Thermopylae from Shepherd's Historical Atlas

One of the best points at which to hold off an invader was at Thermopylae, a narrow valley adjacent to the sea. The attacker could not pass to the seaward side, and to go inland would mean a significant detour. Other armies could risk this, but Xerxes could not.

On the other hand, a defender could take a stand with comparatively few men. A wall had once been built here, and a small fort. The Greeks rebuilt the wall and waited.

The Greek strategy was to delay the land force and to defeat the Persians at sea. With the Persian navy gone, the Persian army would soon starve. It should have worked, but from the beginning everything seemed to go wrong.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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