The Battles of Thermopylae and Artemisium 480BCE

What was the Greek strategy following the Battle of Marathon, that were used during the Battles of Thermopylae and Artemisium in 480BCE?

• The Greeks had learnt their strengths were in hand-to-hand combat, and so they began looking for narrow passes to defend against the far greater Persian numbers.

• At first the Hellenic League army assembled at the valley at Tempe at the request of the Thessalians, but retreated not long after arriving (Herodotus does not explain why, likely due to no supporting fleet and suspicions around the Macedonians and some Thessalians)

• In retreating the Hellenic army lost all of northern Greece to Persia, and instead planned a stand at Thermopylae.

• Thermopylae was an extremely narrow pass through the mountain far to the south of Tempe, and near the narrow straits of Euboea where the outnumbered fleet could also take a stand.

• The Greeks had decided their strengths lay in long range combat, and had subsequently trained their soldiers to fight accordingly with bow and arrow.

What did the Greek forces look like at Thermopylae?

• King Leonidas took 300 Spartans to Thermopylae, recruiting around 7,000 other (mostly Peloponnesian) Greeks along the way.

• Two reasons are provided by Herodotus for the small Spartan force.

• First reason, the Oracle at Delphi had prophesised that a Spartan king would die to save Greece, so Leonida only took a small number (and only those with adult sons).

• Second reason, the religious festival of Karneia forbade any military campaign.

• It was quite impressive that Leonidas secured any Spartan force at all, as Sparta usually took their religious festivals very seriously.

What caused the Greeks to lose their advantage of the pass at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480BCE?

• The Greeks were incredibly nervous waiting for the Persians in the pass, and eventually broke formation, leading to the Persians easily overpowering them when they entered the pass.

• For three days the Greeks held the narrow pass against the vast numbers of Persians with few casualties.

• On the third day, a local man, Ephialtes, led the Persians to a hidden path around the pass at Thermopylae.

• Caught by surprise, the Persians were able to easily defeat the 1,000 Phocians and could now surround the Greeks defending the path.

What did Leonidas do following the surprise attack from the Persians in order to lower the potential losses?

• Leonidas sent all of the Greeks away and demanded to fight the entire Persian army on his own - he believed the prophecy would declare him victor, despite dead.

• Leonidas ordered the rest of the Greeks to retreat whilst the Spartans, Thebans (whose loyalty was suspect) and Thespians to stay and fight the Persians.

• The more practical reason for removing these Greeks was likely to prevent the rest of the Greeks from being overrun by Persian cavalry.

• However it may also be likely that the Oracle's prophecy of Leonidas' death played a role in sending these Greeks away too.

How did the Battle of Thermopylae end and what came of it?

• The Spartans and Thespians who remained behind to fight were killed.

• The death of Leonida left his nephew Pausanias as regent for his son Cleombrotus. As such, Pausanias became de jure commander of the Hellenic League.

• The Thebans however surrendered to the Persians and medized, thus adding their forces to that of the Persians for the remainder of the war.

• All of Greece north of the Isthmus of Corinth was now vulnerable to Persian attack.

What was the problem with the fleet remaining at Artemisium and how was this problem solved?

• Eurybiades had little interest in keeping the fleet at Artemisium.

• Because of Eurybiades' disinterest, the Euboeans bribed Themistocles (who was in charge of the Athenian contingent) to convince Eurybiades, and Themistocles succeeds in bribing him.

• The people of Euboea wanted the fleet to stay at Artemisium where it could protect Thermopylae and Euboea.

• The Hellenic League fleet was meanwhile at sea, technically led by the Spartan general Eurybiades.

How did the Battle of Artemisium in 480BCE play out?

• The waters around Artemisium were narrow and obviously waters that the Greeks were familiar with.

• The heavy ships of the Hellenic League fleet comfortably held their ground against the large numbers of light Persian ships. (Zeus helps out and throws a storm against the Persian fleet here)

• Detail is scarce, but Themistocles' leadership of the Athenian contingent was likely a key factor (the Greeks were heavily outnumbered)

• However, once Thermopylae was lost, the Hellenic fleet withdrew.

The Battle of Thermopylae was a...

• Win

• Stalemate

• Loss

The Battle of Artemisium was a...

• Win

• Stalemate

• Loss

What were the outcomes and consequences of the Battles of Thermopylae and Artemisium in 480BCE?

• All of Greece north of the Isthmus (including Euboea) is lost to the Persians, however Athens was completely evacuated and the entire Athenian fleet mobilised.

• Leonidas' ability to secure any kind of Spartan force and his near-successful defence of Thermopylae saved most of the Greek army and proved yet again the huge advantage of Greek hoplites in close-quarter combat.

• Thermopylae also proved to the rest of the Greeks that the Spartans were committed to the war effort (by sacrificing their own king).

• If Themistocles did not bribe Eurybiades then the defence of Thermopylae may have failed, the open waters around Thermopylae would not have been as advantageous for the Hellenic League ships.

• The large Athenian fleet created and led by Themistocles was instrumental in the Battle of Artemisium itself.