Thermopylae Greece

[Daniel Griffin]

Stopped at the battlefield at Thermopylae Greece this morning, of course this is where the outnumbered Greek forces held off the held off a substantially larger force of Persians in 480 BC. "Thermopylae" means "Hot Gates" or "Place of Hot Springs". This is a photo of the sulphur springs from which Thermopylae takes its name.

[Daniel Griffin]

The battlefield as it looks today.

[Daniel Griffin]

Monument to Leonidas

[chrischa]

Looks fantastic!

It looks different from the Hollywood version.

[eubank]

Good pictures. I have been along that road quite a few times, and have been told that the battlefield terrain itself has changed a good deal since the battle (480 BC) due to earthquakes , erosion etc, but your pictures capture the atmosphere well.

[Totenhead]

Nice pictures

[Simon O.]

And it was a battliefield again 24-25th Arpil 1941 with elements of the 6 Gebirgs Division, 72 Inf.Div and Pz.Rgt.31 up against an Asutralian and New Zealand force.

[stgeorge64]

Daniel

Thank you for putting these photos up here.

I have long been interested in the Spartan and the battle at Thermopylae after reading Stephen Pressfield's 'Gates of Fire'.

Due to the changes in terrain over the centuries, is it possible to visit the exact position of the narrow pass? (if indeed it is still intact) and I would also be interested to learn of any historical artefacts recovered from the battlefield also.

Regards Richard.

[Pierre]

"This is Sparta! "

Pierre

[Daniel Griffin]

These are arrowheads from Thermoplae in the Archeological Museum in Athens.

[stray_dog]

Nice photos, Daniel! I hope you had a nice time in Greece!

Due to the changes in terrain over the centuries, is it possible to visit the exact position of the narrow pass? (if indeed it is still intact) and I would also be interested to learn of any historical artefacts recovered from the battlefield also.

Richard, the battlefield is more or less precisely located at the place of the statue shown on Daniel's photo. At the time of the battle, the sea was located at the foot of Mt. Kallidromo, leaving a narrow passage between the mountain and the sea, several kilometres long, which, according to contemporary sources, had enough space only for a single charriot to pass.

Over the centuries, geological debris brought to the area by the River Spercheios, created an area of land with a width ranging from 5 to 15 kilometres. So, the sea used to be where the road can be seen on a photo and even more to the left than that.

A large number of spearheads and arrowheads was found in the area during an excavation held in 1939.

Best regards,
Giorgos

[stgeorge64]

These are arrowheads from Thermoplae in the Archeological Museum in Athens.

Daniel, thank you for the image, what a magnificent haul of artefacts from the battlefield!

I would imagine that the battlefield site has been 'picked' clean by tourists and enthusasts over the years.

I would definatly like to visit the museum you mentioned in the future and see those arrow heads and spear heads in the flesh.

Regards Richard.

Richard, the battlefield is more or less precisely located at the place of the statue shown on Daniel's photo. At the time of the battle, the sea was located at the foot of Mt. Kallidromo, leaving a narrow passage between the mountain and the sea, several kilometres long, which, according to contemporary sources, had enough space only for a single charriot to pass.

Over the centuries, geological debris brought to the area by the River Spercheios, created an area of land with a width ranging from 5 to 15 kilometres. So, the sea used to be where the road can be seen on a photo and even more to the left than that.

A large number of spearheads and arrowheads was found in the area during an excavation held in 1939. Best regards, Giorgos

Giorgos

Thank you for the information on the battlefield site, and that is definalty a place I wish to visit in Greece.

I think it is time to absorb some more literature on this famous battle. Thanks again.

Regards Richard.

[herrzark]

Great pics.Wellcome to Greece.Hope you like here