Beyond the Gates of Fire : New Perspectives on the Battle of Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC is one of the most famous battles in history. The heroism of the 300 Spartans who opted to remain behind to face the full might of the Persian host while their Greek allies made good their escape has become the stuff of legend. The story still inspires novelists and film-makers today (Frank Miller's fanciful 300 was a huge hit in 2007 and the film rights to Steven Pressfield's more historical novel Gates of Fire were bought by George Clooney, the film expected to finally surface in 2011 or 2012). But what is the truth behind the legends and why was this bloody defeat immediately accorded a halo of glory that has endured for nearly two-and-a-half millenia? Beyond the Gates of Fire brings together experts on the classical period from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to take a fresh look at various aspects of the battle. A substantial introductory section by the editors outlines the background to the conflict as well as the arms, armour and fighting styles of the opposing sides. The following chapters (9 of them) then discuss such questions as whether the defence of the pass really was a suicide mission; the exact topography of the battlefield itself in 480 BC, using the latest geological research and core samples; the impact of the battle on the Greek psyche; commemoration of the war dead; the impact of the original battle on the conduct of later battles in the pass, right up to the German invasion of 1941. For the classical scholar or the general reader whose interest has been piqued by the popular books and films, this book is sure to shed refreshing new light on the most famous last stand in history. Dedication......Page 2 Title Page......Page 3 Copyright Page......Page 4 Table of Contents......Page 6 Table of Figures......Page 7 Abbreviations......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 16 Chapter One - Towards the Hot Gates: The Events leading to the Battle of Thermopylae......Page 20 Greek Problems with the Persians......Page 21 Armament and Fighting Style......Page 51 The Long Road to Thermopylae......Page 58 Chapter Two - Thermopylae......Page 74 Chapter Three - The Topography of the Pass at Thermopylae Circa 480 BC......Page 98 Regional Geology and Physiography......Page 102 Historical Attempts to Reconstruct the Topography of the Pass......Page 108 Coring Programme and Results......Page 111 Physiography of Thermopylae Circa 480 BC......Page 116 Popular Versions of the Battle Topography......Page 121 Conclusions......Page 125 Appendix......Page 127 Acknowledgements......Page 133 Chapter Four - Was the Greek Defence of Thermopylae in 480 BC a Suicide Mission?......Page 134 The Action......Page 139 The Ground......Page 141 The Manpower......Page 145 The 300 Spartans......Page 156 The Objectives......Page 161 Food as a Weapon......Page 166 Water as a Weapon......Page 170 Illness as a Weapon......Page 172 Oracles and Decrees......Page 180 Conclusion......Page 214 Chapter Five - Remembering Thermopylae and the Persian Wars in Antiquity......Page 216 Thermopylae Monuments: Lions, Epitaphs and Epigrams......Page 219 Thermopylae Histories: Herodotus, Diodorus, Plutarch......Page 238 Thermopylae Monuments at Sparta......Page 244 Thermopylae Battles in Antiquity......Page 246 Chapter Six - Herodotus’ Homer: Troy, Thermopylae, and the Dorians......Page 250 The Persian Wars as a Reiteration of the Trojan War......Page 251 Epic Echoes in Herodotus Book 7......Page 256 7.220: Leonidas’ short life and unfading fame.......Page 263 7.224: The Spartan aristeia.......Page 268 7.225.1: The battle over Leonidas’ body.......Page 270 7.226–227: ‘Who then stood out as the best of them ...?’......Page 275 The Dorians......Page 279 Chapter Seven - Other Battles of Thermopylae......Page 291 The Spartans, Herakleia Trachinia, and the Great Isthmus Corridor......Page 292 Wars Of The Fourth Century BC......Page 294 279 BC: The Invasion of Brennos......Page 297 Later Third Century BC Conflicts......Page 300 191 BC: Antiochus and Glabrio......Page 301 Events of Succeeding Centuries......Page 304 AD 1941: Allies Vs Germans......Page 309 Conclusion......Page 312 Chapter 8 - The Glorious Defeat......Page 315 Notes......Page 343 Bibliography......Page 513 Index......Page 549 Uploaded by [StormRG]......Page 564 Dedication 2 Title Page 3 Copyright Page 4 Table of Contents 6 Table of Figures 7 Abbreviations 8 Foreword 10 Preface 16 Chapter One - Towards the Hot Gates: The Events leading to the Battle of Thermopylae 20 Greek Problems with the Persians 21 Armament and Fighting Style 51 The Long Road to Thermopylae 58 Chapter Two - Thermopylae 74 Chapter Three - The Topography of the Pass at Thermopylae Circa 480 BC 98 Regional Geology and Physiography 102 Historical Attempts to Reconstruct the Topography of the Pass 108 Coring Programme and Results 111 Physiography of Thermopylae Circa 480 BC 116 Popular Versions of the Battle Topography 121 Conclusions 125 Appendix 127 Acknowledgements 133 Chapter Four - Was the Greek Defence of Thermopylae in 480 BC a Suicide Mission? 134 The Action 139 The Ground 141 The Manpower 145 The 300 Spartans 156 The Objectives 161 Food as a Weapon 166 Water as a Weapon 170 Illness as a Weapon 172 Oracles and Decrees 180 Conclusion 214 Chapter Five - Remembering Thermopylae and the Persian Wars in Antiquity 216 Thermopylae Monuments: Lions, Epitaphs and Epigrams 219 Thermopylae Histories: Herodotus, Diodorus, Plutarch 238 Thermopylae Monuments at Sparta 244 Thermopylae Battles in Antiquity 246 Chapter Six - Herodotus’ Homer: Troy, Thermopylae, and the Dorians 250 The Persian Wars as a Reiteration of the Trojan War 251 Epic Echoes in Herodotus Book 7 256 Epic Echoes in the Thermopylae Narrative 263 7.220: Leonidas’ short life and unfading fame. 263 7.224: The Spartan aristeia. 268 7.225.1: The battle over Leonidas’ body. 270 7.226–227: ‘Who then stood out as the best of them ...?’ 275 The Dorians 279 Chapter Seven - Other Battles of Thermopylae 291 The Spartans, Herakleia Trachinia, and the Great Isthmus Corridor 292 Wars Of The Fourth Century BC 294 279 BC: The Invasion of Brennos 297 Later Third Century BC Conflicts 300 191 BC: Antiochus and Glabrio 301 Events of Succeeding Centuries 304 AD 1941: Allies Vs Germans 309 Conclusion 312 Chapter 8 - The Glorious Defeat 315 Notes 343 Bibliography 513 Index 549 Uploaded by [StormRG] 564 EBC,Converted The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC is one of the most famous battles in history. The heroism of the 300 Spartans who opted to remain behind to face the full might of the Persian host while their Greek allies made good their escape has become the stuff of legend. The story still inspires novelists and film-makers today (Frank Miller's fanciful 300 was a huge hit in 2007 and the film rights to Steven Pressfield's more historical novel Gates of Fire were bought by George Clooney, the film expected to finally surface in 2011 or 2012). But what is the truth behind the legends and why was this bloody defeat immediately accorded a halo of glory that has endured for nearly two-and-a-half millennia?Beyond the Gates of Fire brings together experts on the classical period from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to take a fresh look at various aspects of the battle. A substantial introductory section by the editors outlines the background to the conflict as well as the arms, armor and fighting styles of the opposing sides. The following chapters (9 of them) then discuss such questions as whether the defense of the pass really was a suicide mission; the exact topography of the battlefield itself in 480 BC, using the latest geological research and core samples; the impact of the battle on the Greek psyche; commemoration of the war dead; the impact of the original battle on the conduct of later battles in the pass, right up to the German invasion of 1941. For the classical scholar or the general reader whose interest has been piqued by the popular books and films, this book is sure to shed refreshing new light on the most famous last stand in history. [Elib] The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC is one of the most famous battles in history. The heroism of the 300 Spartans who opted to remain behind to face the full might of the Persian host while their Greek allies made good their escape has become the stuff of legend. The story still inspires novelists and film-makers today (Frank Miller's fanciful 300 was a huge hit in 2007 and the film rights to Steven Pressfield's more historical novel Gates of Fire were bought by George Clooney, the film expected to finally surface in 2011 or 2012). But what is the truth behind the legends and why was this bloody defeat immediately accorded a halo of glory that has endured for nearly two-and-a-half millennia? Beyond the Gates of Fire brings together experts on the classical period from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to take a fresh look at various aspects of the battle. A substantial introductory section by the editors outlines the background to the conflict as well as the arms, armor and fighting styles of the opposing sides. The following chapters (9 of them) then discuss such questions as whether the defense of the pass really was a suicide mission; the exact topography of the battlefield itself in 480 BC, using the latest geological research and core samples; the impact of the battle on the Greek psyche; commemoration of the war dead; the impact of the original battle on the conduct of later battles in the pass, right up to the German invasion of 1941. For the classical scholar or the general reader whose interest has been piqued by the popular books and films, this book is sure to shed refreshing new light on the most famous last stand in history. The Battle Of Thermopylae In 480 Bc Is One Of The Most Famous Battles In History. The Heroism Of The 300 Spartans Who Opted To Remain Behind To Face The Full Might Of The Persian Host While Their Greek Allies Made Good Their Escape Has Become The Stuff Of Legend. But What Is The Truth Behind The Legends And Why Was This Bloody Defeat Immediately Accorded A Halo Of Glory That Has Endured For Nearly Two-and-a-half Millenia? Beyond The Gates Of Fire Brings Together Experts On The Classical Period From Australia, New Zealand And The United States To Take A Fresh Look At Various Aspects Of The Battle. Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. 1 Towards The Hot Gates: The Events Leading To The Battle Of Thermopylae -- Ch. 2 Thermopylae -- Ch. 3 Topography Of The Pass At Thermopylae Circa 480 Bc -- Ch. 4 Was The Greek Defence Of Thermopylae In 480 Bc A Suicide Mission? -- Ch. 5 Remembering Thermopylae And The Persian Wars In Antiquity -- Ch. 6 Herodotus' Homer: Troy, Thermopylae, And The Dorians -- Ch. 7 Other Battles Of Thermopylae -- Ch. 8 Glorious Defeat. Edited By Christopher A. Matthew And Matthew Trundle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [213]-223) And Index.