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Thermopylae

Thermopylae

3 9.9
A place in ancient Greece where a small Greek army fought a much larger Persian army in 480 BC
  • proper noun
  • /θərˈmɒpɪliː/
: Termópilas
  • The battle of Thermopylae is remembered for the courage of the Spartan warriors.
  • Thermopylae and Salamis

So he says, you know, think about, and he's bringing a battlefield courage marathon, Salimus Plataea, Thermopylae, right.

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Examples

  • In 480 BC, King Leonidas and his troops made their last stand at Thermopylae against the Persian army.

  • We will live forever, like the Spartans at Thermopylae, in sacred memory.

    Blog text (11)
  • There was once a battle at a place called Thermopylae.

  • What happened to the warriors at Thermopylae?

  • I'm standing here at Thermopylae.

  • I think it refers to the battle of Thermopylae... where the 300 Spartans died trying to hold the pass... if you remember your Greek history, sir.

  • I responded to the Persian army's demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons at the Battle of Thermopylae.

    Blog text (23)
  • Leonidas's stand at the "hot gates" of Thermopylae serves today as a symbol of heroic resistance against insurmountable odds.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In 480 BCE, Leonidas, King of Sparta, defended the pass at Thermopylae against the Persian army of King Xerxes.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Historical accounts describe how the small Greek force at Thermopylae bravely resisted overwhelming odds.

Compounds

A famous 480 BC battle where a small Greek force led by Leonidas resisted a much larger Persian army

Surface Forms

Etymology

Thermopylae comes from Greek parts thermo- meaning 'hot' (as in thermal) and -pylae meaning 'gates', so the name means 'hot gates' and refers to warm springs at a narrow mountain pass. That's why Thermopylae is the famous narrow pass where King Leonidas and his small Greek force held back a much larger army.