Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The pass of Thermopylae, 480 BC. 7,000 Spartans and Greeks stood against hundreds of thousands of Persians. They were all killed but became legends; symbols of defiance, bravery and sacrifice. Greek warfare expert Roel Konijnendijk talks through the battle of Thermopylae and separates the facts from fiction. Who was Leonidas? Were there only 300 Spartans? Were they betrayed? Let's find out in this new video.

0:00:00 Intro
0:00:50 Background
0:08:10 The Persians
0:12:02 The Greeks
0:15:10 The Spartans
0:24:43 Size of the armies
0:29:00 Greek weapons and tactics
0:31:48 Persian weapons and tactics
0:38:08 Battle starts
0:46:25 Day two
0:49:37 Mountain path
0:54:20 Last stand
1:01:59 Greek defeat
1:05:40 Athens sacked
1:06:11 Battle of Salamis
1:09:14 Battle of Plataea



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