Battle of Thermopylae in popular culture
The Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BCE has long been a subject of cultural fascination, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. This "against all odds" story is passed to us from the writings of the Greek Herodotus, who was not present at the battle himself. He relates the story of 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians defending the Pass of Thermopylae against almost "2 million" Persians on the third day of the battle.
Although modern historians have questioned the numbers presented by Herodotus, with most at around 100,000 to 250,000 invaders, the story has resonated with authors and poets for centuries over the inspiring bravery and resolution of the Spartans.
The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is often used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain to maximize an army's potential, and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. Even more, both ancient and modern writers used the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the superior power of a volunteer army of freemen defending native soil. The sacrifice of the Spartans and the Thespians has captured the minds of many throughout the ages and has given birth to many cultural references as a result.
Cultural references
- Perhaps the best known poem on the Battle of Thermopylae is the epigram attributed to Simonides:
- Thermopylae has been used as a name for ships; for example, a clipper ship 212 feet in length displacing 991 tons was launched in Aberdeen in 1868. Christened Thermopylae, it established speed records and was also notable for having a male figurehead wearing Greek armor, helmet, shield and sword.
- The Greek phrase "Μολών λαβέ", a quote attributed to Leonidas at the battle, has been repeated by many later generals and politicians in order to express an army's or nation's determination to not surrender without a battle. The motto "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ" is on the emblem of the Greek First Army Corps. Both the original Greek phrase and its English translation are often heard from pro-gun activists as a defense of the US constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
- The Battle of Tirad Pass, fought on December 2, 1899, is sometimes called the "Philippine Thermopylae."
- The Battle of Wizna, fought on September 7–10, 1939, is often called the Polish Thermopylae.
- The phrase was written on the flag fashioned by the Texans during the Battle of Gonzales.
- The name "Leonidas" passed into Russian as well as Ukrainian, and remains a fairly common male name among the speakers of these languages. Among the prominent persons of that name are Soviet Union premier Leonid Brezhnev and Leonid Kuchma, president of the post-Soviet Ukraine.
- The name "Leonidas" exists also among speakers of English, Spanish, and Portuguese - as well as, of course, modern Greek.
- Asteroid 2782 Leonidas is named for the Spartan king.
- The Luftwaffe Leonidas Squadron under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Heiner Lang, flew "Self-sacrifice missions" against Soviet held bridges over the Oder River from 17 April until 20 April 1945 during the Battle for Berlin.
- Australian groups seeking to get greater recognition for the heroic acts of soldiers in the World War II Battle of Isurava have dubbed that battle "Australia's Thermopylae" and established a website setting out in detail the grounds for making such a comparison.
- The Battle of Thermopylae has also been compared to various battles of the Anglo-Zulu War.
Poetry and song
| Verse original | Verse translation | Notes |
| “Exercitus noster est magnus,” Persicus inquit, “et propter numerum sagittarum nostrarum caelum non videbitis!” Tum Lacedaemonius respondet: “In umbra, igitur, pugnabimus!” Et Leonidas, rex Lacedaemoniorum, exclamat: “Pugnate cum animis, Lacedaemonii; hodie apud inferos fortasse cenabimus!” | “Our army is great,” the Persian says, “and because of the number of our arrows you will not see the sky!” Then a Spartan answers: “In the shade, therefore, we will fight!” And Leonidas, king of the Spartans, shouts: “Fight with spirit, Spartans; perhaps we will dine today among the ghosts!” | Wheelock's Latin Inspired by Cicero's, Tusculanae Disputationes, 1.42.101 |
| Τιμή σ' εκεινους όπου στην ζωή των ώρισαν να φυλάγουν Θερμοπύλες. Πότε από το χρέος μη κινούντες΄ δίκαιοι κ' ίσοι,σ'ολες των τες πράξεις, αλλά με λύπη κιόλας κ' ευσπλαχνία, γενναίοι οσάκις είναι πλούσιοι κι όταν είναι πτωχοί, πάλ' εις μικρόν γενναίοι, πάλι συντρέχοντες, όσο μπορούνε΄ πάντοτε την αλήθεια ομιλούντες, πλην χωρίς μίσος για τους ψευδωμένους. Και περισσότερη τιμή τους πρέπει όταν προβλέπουν πως ο Εφιάλτης θα φανεί στο τέλος, και οι Μήδοι επί τέλους θα διαβούνε. | Let honor be to those in whose life it was set to guard Thermopylae. Never moving away from duty; Just and equals in all of their acts But with sadness and compassion Brave once they are rich and when They are poor, again brave Coming to aid as much as they can; Always speaking the truth But without hate for those who lie. And even more honor they deserve When its predicted That Ephialtes will appear in the end And the Medes will finally pass through | The Greek poet Kavafis who lived in Alexandria of Egypt at the turn of the 20th century wrote one of his more famous poems entitled Thermopylae in 1903. The poem actually created the expression guarding Thermopylae and has been told in honor of other dead, such as those of the Imia crisis. |
| Przechodniu powiedz Polsce żeśmy polegli wierni w jej służbie | Passerby, tell Poland that we fell faithfully in her service | Inscription on the Polish war cemetery at Monte Cassino: |
| La patria así se forma Termópilas brotando; constelación de Cíclopes su noche iluminó | And so the nation forms Thermopylae springing; a Cyclops constellation its night enlightened | The National Anthem of Colombia, IX Stanza IX: |
| ... едно име ново, голямо антично, като Термопили славно, безгранично, що отговор дава и смива срамът, и на клеветата строшава зъбът. | ... A new name, its roots to antiquity tracing, As great as Thermopylae, all fame embracing, A name to wipe shame away, with its plain truth Smashing to smithereens calumny's tooth. | The volunteers at Shipka, by Ivan Vazov |
- Dimitris Varos Ω ξείν… is a poetic book written in 1974.
Literature