Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: They numbered 300.

The proudest fighters in Greece and the most feared -

The proudest fighters in Greece and the most feared -

Spartans led by their King Leonidas.

300 warriors who, for three days, legend had it,

300 warriors who, for three days, legend had it,

held off an army of two million men.

The Army of Xerxes, King of Kings,

a sovereign who reigned unchallenged

over the immensities of the Persian Empire.

over the immensities of the Persian Empire.

We know this story in detail, thanks to the account

of an ancient author, Herodotus,

the so-called "father of history".

But what credence should be given to this account?

Where does historical reality stop and myth begin?

Where does historical reality stop and myth begin?

(warriors shout)

(rousing theme music)

(thunderclap)

(shouting)

(shouting)

(elephant trumpets)

(sword clinks)

(tense music)

NARRATOR: Mountains, which rise abruptly

along an alluvial plain bordered by the sea.

along an alluvial plain bordered by the sea.

Here, hot springs gush from the rock

to the delight of swimmers who are not put off

to the delight of swimmers who are not put off

by the strong smell of sulphur.

It was these springs that gave the place its name -

It was these springs that gave the place its name -

"The Gates Of Fire" in ancient Greek -

Thermopylae.

A narrow passage located in the northeast of Greece

A narrow passage located in the northeast of Greece

along the Malian Gulf on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

A pass between sea and mountain

A pass between sea and mountain

where the battle of Thermopylae was fought.

(tense music)

(man speaks French)

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: It all began on the evening of August 13th

in the year 480 BCE.

in the year 480 BCE.

That day, the vanguard of the formidable Persian army

arriving from Thessaly in the north of Greece,

arriving from Thessaly in the north of Greece,

reached the entrance to the pass at Thermopylae.

Opposite was a contingent of fighters

occupying the entire breadth of the pass.

occupying the entire breadth of the pass.

Greeks, heavily armed and helmeted,

firmly determined to hold the pass -

firmly determined to hold the pass -

the only one on this steep coast

which would allow the Persian hordes to continue southwards to Athens.

(horse neighs)

(horse neighs)

NARRATOR: Today, it's difficult to recognise the landscape

where this face-off was played out.

where this face-off was played out.

The shores of the Aegean Sea are now some five kilometres

from the site of Thermopylae.

But 2,500 years ago, waves would be breaking

But 2,500 years ago, waves would be breaking

at the foot of the mountains.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: Constantinos Lagos is a historian,

a specialist in military history.

For 15 years, he's devoted himself to the study of the Persian wars,

For 15 years, he's devoted himself to the study of the Persian wars,

which opposed Greeks and Persians in the 5th century BCE.

- This is a reconstruction,

how the landscape of Thermopylae was back in 480 BC.

how the landscape of Thermopylae was back in 480 BC.

You can see that the sea

was very close to where the battle was fought,

part of the battle that raged here.

part of the battle that raged here.

And this is the pass, over here,

which the Persians had to go through

which the Persians had to go through

in order to pass Thermopylae.

NARRATOR: The narrowness of this route was lucky for the Greeks.

NARRATOR: The narrowness of this route was lucky for the Greeks.

This is a natural bottleneck,

ideal for halting the Persian advance with smaller numbers.

ideal for halting the Persian advance with smaller numbers.

- In 480 BC, we would be actually in the sea here.

And that's why...

And that's why...

there's reference that you also had Persians falling in the sea

while the battle took place.

Some actually fell in the sea because the pass is not down here.

Some actually fell in the sea because the pass is not down here.

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: The source of which Constantinos speaks

NARRATOR: The source of which Constantinos speaks

is Herodotus's major work Histories,

written some 40 years after Thermopylae.

It gives a detailed account of the battle.

But detailed though it is, is this account accurate?

(feet thudding)

(soldiers yelling)

(metal clanking)

(Vincent speaks French)

(horse neighs)

NARRATOR: When he counts the forces present at Thermopylae,

Herodotus advances staggering figures.

He estimates that the Persian army had more than two million fighters.

(muffled shouts of soldiers)

COSTAS: According to modern researchers,

it's probably between...

150,000 to 300,000.

150,000 to 300,000.

These were ten times... not the army of Athens,

the entire male population of Athens.

the entire male population of Athens.

NARRATOR: Persia was a genuine superpower in the 5th century,

the largest empire the world had ever known.

the largest empire the world had ever known.

East to west, it stretched from farthest India to the Mediterranean.

East to west, it stretched from farthest India to the Mediterranean.

In the north, it bordered the Caucasus.

While in the south, it embraced Egypt and Ethiopia.

A centralised state ruled with an iron fist

by a dynasty whose monarch was called King of Kings.

NICOLAS:

(tense music)

NARRATOR: Those freedom-loving men were the Greeks.

NARRATOR: Those freedom-loving men were the Greeks.

But unlike the Persian Empire, the Greek world

was made up of a galaxy of independent -

and often rival - cities.

and often rival - cities.

(tense music)

VINCENT:

NARRATOR: The Greek city states were spread across

both sides of the Aegean Sea.

On the European side,

in the territory of present-day Greece,

Sparta and Athens were the most powerful.

On the Asian side, in Ionia, Miletus Ephesus and Phocaea,

On the Asian side, in Ionia, Miletus Ephesus and Phocaea,

were every bit their equals.

But by the end of the 6th century BCE,

But by the end of the 6th century BCE,

the Persian Empire was extending to the west,

subjugating one by one

the Greek cities on the current Turkish coast.

In 500 BCE, they revolted,

rejecting the authority of Darius The Great, King of Kings.

rejecting the authority of Darius The Great, King of Kings.

COSTAS: Two cities, Athens and Eretria,

one year after the beginning of the revolt,

sent help to the Ionians.

sent help to the Ionians.

This hope was not particularly big.

We're talking about a few ships and a few thousand men.

NARRATOR: When, after six years of war, the revolt was finally crushed,

Darius launched a punitive expedition against Athens,

Darius launched a punitive expedition against Athens,

which had had the insolence to support the rebel cities.

It was a failure.

It was a failure.

Shortly after landing, the Persians were repulsed

by the Athenians at Marathon,

and fell back in disarray.

- This defeat made Athens heroic, glorious.

- This defeat made Athens heroic, glorious.

And everyone agrees that.

Even you've got poems from that period

Even you've got poems from that period

that Athens shines with glory because of Marathon.

But again,

you know, the Persians haven't finished yet.

you know, the Persians haven't finished yet.

So Darius prepares another expedition force,

which will be even bigger... again against Athens.

which will be even bigger... again against Athens.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: It took ten years for this new expedition to be launched.

In the meantime, Darius died.

So when the Persian army set off in 480 BCE,

it was his son Xerxes, the new King of Kings,

it was his son Xerxes, the new King of Kings,

who was at its head.

And he came up against Thermopylae.

This gigantic army was made up of contingents

This gigantic army was made up of contingents

from all over the empire.

Around the Persian fighters themselves,

Egyptians and Ethiopians rubbed shoulders

Egyptians and Ethiopians rubbed shoulders

with Scythian horsemen from the Caucasus,

Bactrians from Afghanistan and Hindush from Northern India.

A motley crew in which each brought to the table

their own fighting culture, their own logistics,

their own weapons.

NICOLAS:

(tense music)

NARRATOR: These Greek fighters armed with longer spears

NARRATOR: These Greek fighters armed with longer spears

who faced the Persian myriads,

were the elite troops of the Greek cities - the hoplites.

NARRATOR: The hoplite was the proud owner of the "panoply",

which is the complete combat equipment.

which is the complete combat equipment.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: First weapons.

A long two-pointed spear,

often supplemented by a short sword

and protective elements that formed his armour.

Bronze leggings called cnemides.

Bronze leggings called cnemides.

A cuirass. A shield. A helmet.

Very few of these panoplies have come down to us complete,

but many elements can be seen in many museums,

but many elements can be seen in many museums,

such as that of the Provence village of Mougins in France,

home to the largest private collection

of ancient weapons in the world.

of ancient weapons in the world.

VINCENT:

(clanking)

(clanking)

DIMITRIS:

(helmet gently clangs)

NARRATOR: Dimitris Alexandrou works for

the main archaeological museums in Greece.

In his workshop, he tries to pierce the mysteries

In his workshop, he tries to pierce the mysteries

that went into making ancient weapons

by reproducing their tools and revisiting their methods.

In the beginning, a helmet is a simple bronze plate like this one,

which will have to be hammered for hundreds of hours.

which will have to be hammered for hundreds of hours.

NARRATOR: Once completed, Dimitris's works

are regularly exhibited in various museums.

are regularly exhibited in various museums.

But above all, this experimental practice

allows archaeologists and historians

allows archaeologists and historians

to better understand the use of hoplite equipment.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

(metal clattering)

NARRATOR: Helmeted, covered with ergonomic armour,

the hoplites made up the heavy infantry units

the hoplites made up the heavy infantry units

ideal for holding a position.

And that's what they intended to do against the Persians.

VINCENT:

VINCENT:

- They couldn't use the cavalry.

They had been taught their lesson about Marathon -

never send the cavalry in such a place.

never send the cavalry in such a place.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: On the morning of August 14th, 480 BCE,

NARRATOR: On the morning of August 14th, 480 BCE,

Xerxes sent a scout to observe the Greeks' camp.

What he reported totally surprised his king.

What he reported totally surprised his king.

"They're quietly practising gymnastics

and above all, they're combing their hair."

(tense music)

NARRATOR: These warriors, ready to die

yet quietly combing their hair, were Spartans,

yet quietly combing their hair, were Spartans,

the most feared hoplites in all of Greece.

NICOLAS:

NICOLAS:

NARRATOR: When Xerxes came to avenge

his father Darius's defeat by the Athenians

ten years earlier at the Battle of Marathon,

ten years earlier at the Battle of Marathon,

why did he not face Athenian troops at all,

but Spartans?

(tense music)

(tense music)

NARRATOR: Because for the first time in their history,

the turbulent Greek cities had united in the face of the threat

because the size of the army assembled by Xerxes

because the size of the army assembled by Xerxes

suggested that he aimed to conquer the whole of Greece.

(weapons and armour rattle)

- The Greeks see that, you know, now...

- The Greeks see that, you know, now...

he's threatening us.

They send representatives at the Isthmus of Corinth.

They send representatives at the Isthmus of Corinth.

They have a Congress to decide what to do.

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: At the end of this Congress,

a Panhellenic Union was founded.

a Panhellenic Union was founded.

31 city states pledged to unite their forces

against the Persian invaders.

The Persians' army was advancing from the north-east,

skirting the Aegean Sea to swoop down on Athens

and beyond to the Peloponnese.

and beyond to the Peloponnese.

At sea, a fleet of 1,200 ships

provided support on a parallel route.

Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks had but one solution.

They must use the tormented topography of the country

They must use the tormented topography of the country

to block the advance of Xerxes at all costs.

At sea, Cape Artemisium offered the best configuration,

At sea, Cape Artemisium offered the best configuration,

a narrow strait between the island of Euboea and the continent

at the entrance to the Malian gulf,

at the entrance to the Malian gulf,

where the Persian fleet would not be able to deploy all its power.

And just opposite, to the west,

And just opposite, to the west,

an unavoidable pass on the route south - Thermopylae.

This was where the Greeks had decided

This was where the Greeks had decided

to send their fleet and their army.

NARRATOR: According to Herodotus, 271 warships,

half of which were supplied by Athens,

headed north to cut off the Persian fleet.

headed north to cut off the Persian fleet.

At the same time, the land troops marched towards Thermopylae.

VINCENT:

VINCENT:

(meditative singing)

NARRATOR: In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games

were much more than a sporting competition.

were much more than a sporting competition.

They had a religious, sacred character.

Above all, they constituted a period of truce

during which cities were prohibited from taking up arms.

during which cities were prohibited from taking up arms.

(marching footsteps)

NARRATOR: Using this argument, the reluctant cities ensured

NARRATOR: Using this argument, the reluctant cities ensured

that the contingent left to defend Thermopylae

was reduced to barely 7,000 fighters,

was reduced to barely 7,000 fighters,

including only 300 Spartans.

Yet it was a Spartan king who commanded the expedition.

- It's very, very interesting that the Greeks themselves

recognised Sparta as the pre-eminent power

recognised Sparta as the pre-eminent power

and nobody even dared to argue that it wouldn't be a Spartan king

who would lead the forces.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: The king of Sparta was Leonidas,

and it was he who stood at the entrance to the pass

when Xerxes' army arrived.

when Xerxes' army arrived.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: Battle was not joined immediately.

For four days, the troops remained in position.

For four days, the troops remained in position.

Xerxes seemed convinced that he wouldn't even have to fight.

(tense music)

VINCENT:

VINCENT:

NARRATOR: Leonidas belonged to one of

NARRATOR: Leonidas belonged to one of

the two royal dynasties of Sparta.

He was therefore supposedly a descendant

of the demigod Herakles.

Yet he was not destined to be king.

Yet he was not destined to be king.

He acceded to the throne in 489 BCE by imprisoning his predecessor,

who was also his half-brother.

who was also his half-brother.

Despite this questionable seizure of power,

Leonidas seemed to inspire deep respect,

both in the citizens of Sparta and in those of other cities.

both in the citizens of Sparta and in those of other cities.

- Leonidas has a personality. He wasn't simply a king.

He was very important also as a leader.

He was very important also as a leader.

The Spartans followed him

because he was the king, but mostly because of what he was.

- Leonidas, our hero king,

- Leonidas, our hero king,

was a product of the Spartan educational and political system.

NARRATOR: Like all male children of Sparta,

Leonidas as a child, had to submit to agoge,

the terrible Spartan upbringing.

the terrible Spartan upbringing.

VINCENT:

VINCENT:

NARRATOR: An education based on bullying and deprivation

of which the ruins of the ancient city still bear the scars.

of which the ruins of the ancient city still bear the scars.

Like here in front of the temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis,

where an initiation rite took place

where an initiation rite took place

that all young Spartans had to undergo.

VINCENT:

NICOLAS:

NICOLAS:

(tense music)

NARRATOR: After four days of negotiations and observation,

NARRATOR: After four days of negotiations and observation,

the fighting began.

On this first day of battle,

Xerxes launched a frontal attack.

Xerxes launched a frontal attack.

Opposite, Leonidas had positioned his 300 Spartans in the front line.

They occupied the entire width of the pass,

They occupied the entire width of the pass,

protected on their left by the slopes of the mountain

and on their right by the sheer cliff

topped by the remains of an ancient fortification.

topped by the remains of an ancient fortification.

(tense music)

NARRATOR: One of the Persians' main strengths was their archers.

It was therefore very likely

that the assault began with a barrage of fire

that caused a rain of arrows to fall on the Greek fighters.

An episode mentioned in the story of Herodotus.

An episode mentioned in the story of Herodotus.

NICOLAS:

(battle cries)

NARRATOR: Xerxes then ordered the infantry to charge.

Sure that the Greeks would scatter at the first impact,

Sure that the Greeks would scatter at the first impact,

he ordered that these arrogant Spartans be brought to him alive.

But on this narrow battlefield,

the gigantic Persian army could not deploy all its power

the gigantic Persian army could not deploy all its power

and came crashing down

on the hoplites' wall of spears and shields.

(metal clinking)

VINCENT:

NARRATOR: This impenetrable wall of shields

NARRATOR: This impenetrable wall of shields

is the phalanx...

a tight, perfectly-coordinated combat formation,

which the Greeks had developed

and which they were, at the time, the only ones to master.

Vincent Torres studies the history of gesture.

Vincent Torres studies the history of gesture.

A phalanx specialist, he seeks to reconstruct the movements

of hoplites in formation during a combat phase.

of hoplites in formation during a combat phase.

VINCENT:

(rhythmic march cries)

(rhythmic march cries)

(tense music) - (battle cries)

NARRATOR: Wave after wave of Persian attackers

NARRATOR: Wave after wave of Persian attackers

came crashing down on the Greek phalanxes,

which yielded not an inch.

Exasperated, Xerxes ordered his elite troops to the front line.

Exasperated, Xerxes ordered his elite troops to the front line.

- Xerxes sent the Immortals, which is his bodyguard.

They go wherever the king goes.

They go wherever the king goes.

They're called the Immortals because if someone is sick or dies

there's another one in his place. They are aristocrats.

These are the best, the top of the top.

These are the best, the top of the top.

And they couldn't do any better

than the other troops.

NARRATOR: Immortals embodied the power of the King of Kings.

The whole empire feared them.

And when 10,000 of them failed to dislodge

And when 10,000 of them failed to dislodge

the few hundred Spartans holding the pass,

for Xerxes, it was a personal humiliation

and a perilous situation.

and a perilous situation.

VINCENT:

(shouting and metal clanking)

NARRATOR: The battle continued all day.

Persian units were invariably repulsed

by the Greek phalanxes without landing a blow.

by the Greek phalanxes without landing a blow.

When the fighting ceased,

the Persian army left large numbers of dead on the ground.

The Greeks almost none.

The Greeks almost none.

(sombre music)

(wind whistling)

(metal clanking)

NARRATOR: The battle resumed the following day.

- So what they did was, you have a rotation.

- So what they did was, you have a rotation.

You don't have the same soldiers fighting

from dusk to dawn.

Which gave the opportunity for the soldiers to rest.

Which gave the opportunity for the soldiers to rest.

(energetic music)

NARRATOR: The account of Herodotus gives no details of the fighting

on the second day of the battle.

on the second day of the battle.

He just specifies, "The Persians were no happier."

COSTAS: Herodotus says that there was also

a tactic used by the Spartans,

a tactic used by the Spartans,

which was to feign retreat

in order to kill as many more Persians than they could.

So you don't only have a line, unbreakable.

At some points, the line supposedly breaks.

But this is a feint. It's made up. It's like a trap.

But this is a feint. It's made up. It's like a trap.

NARRATOR: This Spartan manoeuvre was described in detail

by another ancient author, Xenophon -

by another ancient author, Xenophon -

the Lacedaemonian conversion.

To be fully effective, it must be executed

in a perfectly-coordinated manner.

in a perfectly-coordinated manner.

The hoplites break through the shield wall first,

the frontline fighters turning their backs on the enemy,

the frontline fighters turning their backs on the enemy,

then pass to the rear of the phalanx,

slipping between the ranks.

The second line follows suit

and so on, until the phalanx is reformed

and so on, until the phalanx is reformed

but with their backs to the enemy.

VINCENT:

(rhythmic speech in French)

(rhythmic speech in French)

NARRATOR: This manoeuvre, says Xenaphon,

was almost impossible to accomplish in the heat of battle.

was almost impossible to accomplish in the heat of battle.

Except for those among the Greeks

who had been brought up in the laws of Sparta.

NICOLAS:

NICOLAS:

(meditative singing)

NARRATOR: Sparta, the warrior city, had a political system

NARRATOR: Sparta, the warrior city, had a political system

that was unparalleled among Greek cities.

Citizens called each other Homoioi - literally equals.

Citizens called each other Homoioi - literally equals.

They met here on the agora to vote for their laws,

laws that could only be proposed by the Gerousia,

laws that could only be proposed by the Gerousia,

a council of 28 elders.

Five magistrates elected for one year

were charged with applying these laws.

were charged with applying these laws.

Atop the hierarchy, two kings,

whose only role was that of warrior chief.

VINCENT:

- You have a land redistribution, some sort of socialist scheme.

- You have a land redistribution, some sort of socialist scheme.

Redistribute all of the land of Lacedaemon,

the area around Sparta, to about 9,000 equal plots

the area around Sparta, to about 9,000 equal plots

and everybody will get plots of the same value.

NARRATOR: Plots that would be cultivated by slave labour -

the Helots -

because in return for the generosity of the city of Sparta,

because in return for the generosity of the city of Sparta,

citizens were prohibited from working,

trading or enriching themselves...

..a garrison life in which equals shared everything

..a garrison life in which equals shared everything

down to their meals, which they were required to take together.

The Spartans devoted themselves only to preparing for war -

their only reason to live and to die.

VINCENT:

(tense music)

(tense music)

PETROS: When Leonidas, our king, left to Thermopylae,

PETROS: When Leonidas, our king, left to Thermopylae,

everybody asked him, "You're taking only 300 with you.

I mean, these are not enough."

I mean, these are not enough."

And he said very touchingly,

"For the purpose that I am going, there are more than enough

because we're going there to die."

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: Yet, by the evening of the second day of battle,

it was Leonidas and his Hoplites

who were masters of the battleground at Thermopylae.

who were masters of the battleground at Thermopylae.

Xerxes helplessly ordered his troops to withdraw.

Xerxes' one hope was that his fleet,

which sailed a parallel course to that of his army,

could manage to avoid the Greeks

and land reinforcements to take them from the rear.

But a Greek fleet led by the Athenians

closed the Cape of Artemisium

and blocked their way.

And even before confronting that,

the Persian ships were caught in a huge storm

the Persian ships were caught in a huge storm

which destroyed a third of them.

When the naval battle finally began,

the Persians - exhausted and disorganised -

the Persians - exhausted and disorganised -

failed to break through the Greek blockade.

After three days of fierce fighting, with no real winner,

they decided to circumvent the island of Euboea to the west

they decided to circumvent the island of Euboea to the west

and head south.

Herodotus tells us that in the Persian camp doubts set in,

Herodotus tells us that in the Persian camp doubts set in,

and Xerxes, who could no longer count on the support of his fleet,

was no longer sure of victory.

However, it was at this precise moment

on the evening of the second day that fate turned in his favour.

NARRATOR: The Greeks knew of the existence of this passage.

NARRATOR: The Greeks knew of the existence of this passage.

Leonidas even posted troops there to hold it

at the beginning of the battle.

It took about ten hours on foot

It took about ten hours on foot

to follow this track to Thermopylae.

At nightfall, a contingent of Persian fighters set out,

guided by the traitor.

guided by the traitor.

- We know that the Immortals went there

because Hydarnes, who's their commander,

commanded this task force.

commanded this task force.

So it's the Immortals and others.

I think it was 20,000 Persians.

NARRATOR: But as they continued along the path,

NARRATOR: But as they continued along the path,

Xerxes' soldiers came across the detachment

posted there by Leonidas.

A thousand hoplites faced them,

alerted by the noise of the Persian multitude.

- What happened was when they saw 20,000 Persians coming,

they thought they were coming to fight them.

they thought they were coming to fight them.

So they took a position to fight and die.

NARRATOR: The hoplites, kept at a distance by the Persian archers,

NARRATOR: The hoplites, kept at a distance by the Persian archers,

still managed to send a messenger to Leonidas.

On receiving the news, he took a radical decision.

On receiving the news, he took a radical decision.

NARRATOR: Leonidas sent all the hoplites back to Athens,

NARRATOR: Leonidas sent all the hoplites back to Athens,

sparing them certain death.

They would all be of more use alive defending the city.

Except for the 300 Spartans who accompanied him.

Except for the 300 Spartans who accompanied him.

They would remain with him until the end.

NARRATOR: Perhaps his decision was also influenced by a prophecy

delivered by the Oracle of Delphi before the battle.

"In this war, Sparta would either lose a king or be destroyed."

"In this war, Sparta would either lose a king or be destroyed."

Myth or reality,

one thing was certain.

one thing was certain.

On the morning of the third day of battle,

Leonidas and his 300 Spartans

chose to stay and face, to the death,

chose to stay and face, to the death,

the multitude of Persians who were getting ready

to attack them on two fronts.

NICOLAS:

NICOLAS:

COSTAS: They were 800,

which means that you've got 300 hoplites, Spartan,

but the Thespians, as a number,

but the Thespians, as a number,

is not that very different to the Spartans.

But there is a great difference...

that the Spartans represented a small percentage

that the Spartans represented a small percentage

of their army,

but in the case of the Thespians, it's everyone.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: A thousand hoplites surrounded Leonidas

for the final fight.

Hoplites, but perhaps also Helots -

Hoplites, but perhaps also Helots -

slaves of the Spartans who, archaeology teaches us,

accompanied them to war

and sometimes even took part in combat.

and sometimes even took part in combat.

NARRATOR: The number of Helots present in Thermopylae

NARRATOR: The number of Helots present in Thermopylae

is not known.

It is certain, however, that the Greek numbers

on the last day of battle were greatly superior

to the 300 Spartans recorded in the heroic legend of Leonidas.

to the 300 Spartans recorded in the heroic legend of Leonidas.

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: But even if 1,500 or 2,000 Greeks

NARRATOR: But even if 1,500 or 2,000 Greeks

faced the Persians that day,

they were still 150 to 200 times less numerous than their opponents.

they were still 150 to 200 times less numerous than their opponents.

And yet, rather than brace for the impact and defend their position,

Leonidas ordered them to go on the attack.

Leonidas ordered them to go on the attack.

(footsteps scrunching)

- When he saw the invading army coming from the back

because of the traitorship,

because of the traitorship,

he made a full frontal attack to the camp of King Xerxes.

So he didn't just sit there to defend himself

because he made a counterattack.

because he made a counterattack.

(clanging)

NARRATOR: By leading this attack northwards,

he forced the bypassed troops arriving from the south

to pursue him.

to pursue him.

He thus protected the retreat of the rest of the Greeks,

whom he had dismissed a few hours earlier.

VINCENT:

VINCENT:

NARRATOR: After a fierce hand-to-hand fight,

NARRATOR: After a fierce hand-to-hand fight,

the Greeks managed to recover his remains

and fall back on Kolonos, a small hill to the south,

at the exit of the Thermopylae pass.

at the exit of the Thermopylae pass.

This is where Herodotus places the ultimate battle,

This is where Herodotus places the ultimate battle,

which he describes in these terms...

COSTAS: When you've got the last of the last,

COSTAS: When you've got the last of the last,

they finish them off with arrows...

..and that's the end.

This is world famous. I mean...

This is world famous. I mean...

you know, "Go tell the Spartans

that we lie here...

having obeyed to their...

to their orders."

NARRATOR: After the battle,

NARRATOR: After the battle,

Xerxes asked that the body of Leonidas be identified.

Having found it, he had it decapitated

and the late king's head placed on a stake.

and the late king's head placed on a stake.

Then he continued his route south to Athens.

When he entered the city, it was empty.

When he entered the city, it was empty.

Thanks to the Spartan sacrifice at Thermopylae,

the inhabitants had been evacuated.

Furious,

Furious,

Xerxes butchered the handful of Athenians who didn't flee,

and destroyed the Acropolis.

A few days later, Greek ships

A few days later, Greek ships

annihilated the Persian fleet at Salamis.

And one year later, at Plataea,

the hoplites of all the allied Greek cities

the hoplites of all the allied Greek cities

inflicted a final defeat on the army of Xerxes.

An unexpected outcome which the turbulent Greek cities

could only achieve thanks to the three days

during which Leonidas and his hoplites held Thermopylae.

during which Leonidas and his hoplites held Thermopylae.

PETROS: We lost the battle of Thermopylae,

but the glory and the lessons gained

were a huge victory for Sparta and the world...itself.

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: Never again did the Persian Empire return to Greece.

NARRATOR: Never again did the Persian Empire return to Greece.

And 2,500 years later,

the figure of Leonidas still embodies

the eternal struggle between freedom and oppression.

the eternal struggle between freedom and oppression.

(dramatic music)

Subtitles by Sky Access Services

Repair and Synchronization by Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0