he attendants are said to have been more in number than the fighting men； but if they were only equal； the number of persons who accompanied Xerxes to Thermopylae reaches the astounding figure of 5；283；220！ The number is quite incredible； but though the exact number of the invading army cannot be determined； we may safely conclude； from all the circumstances of the case； that it was the largest ever assembled at any period of history。
From Doriscus Xerxes his march along the coast through Thrace and Macedonia。 The principal cities through which he passed had to furnish a day's meal for the immense host； and for this purpose had made preparations many months before…hand。 The cost of feeding such a multitude brought many cities to the brink of ruin。 At Acanthus his fleet sailed through the isthmus of Athos and after doubling the promontories of Sithonia and Pallene joined him at the city of Therma； better known by its later name of Thessalonica。 Thence he continued his march through the southern part of Macedonia and Thessaly； meeting with no opposition till he reached the celebrated pass of Thermopylae。
The mighty preparations of Xerxes had been no secret in Greece； and during the preceding winter a congress of the Grecian states had been summoned by the Spartans and Athenians to meet at the isthmus of Corinth。 But so great was the terror inspired by the countless hosts of Xerxes that many of the Grecian states at once tendered their submission to him； and others refused to take any part in the congress。 The only people； north of the isthmus of Corinth； who remained faithful to the cause of Grecian liberty； were the Athenians and Phocians； and the inhabitants of the small Boeotian towns of Plataea and Thespiae。 The other people in northern Greece were either partisans of the Persians； like the Thebans； or were unwilling to make any great sacrifices for the preservation of their independence。 In Peloponnesus； the powerful city of Argos and the Achaeans stood aloof。 From the more distant members of the Hellenic race no assistance was obtained。 Gelon； the ruler of Syracuse； offered to send a powerful armament； provided the command of the allied forces was intrusted to him； but the envoys did not venture to accept a proposal which would have placed both Sparta and Athens under the control of a Sicilian tyrant。
The desertion of the cause of Grecian independence by so many of the Greeks did not shake the resolution of Sparta and of Athens。 The Athenians； especially； set a noble example of an enlarged patriotism。 They became reconciled to the AEginetans； and thus gained for the common cause the powerful navy of their rival。 They readily granted to the Spartans the supreme command of the forces by sea as well as by land； although they furnished two… thirds of the vessels of the entire fleet。 Their illustrious citizen Themistocles was the soul of the congress。 He sought to enkindle in the other Greeks some portion of the ardour and energy which he had succeeded in breathing into the Athenians。
The Greeks determined to make a stand at the pass of Thermopylae； which forms the entrance from northern into southern Greece。 This pass lies between Mount OEta and the sea。 It is about a mile in length。 At each of its extremities the mountains approach so near the sea as to leave barely room for the passage of a single carriage。 The northern； or； to speak more properly； the western Gate； was close to the town of Anthela； where the Amphictyonic council held its autumnal meetings； while the southern； or the eastern Gate； was near the Locrian town of Alpeni。 These narrow entrances were called Pylae； or the Gates。 The space between the gates was wider and more open； and was distinguished by its hot springs； from which the pass derived the name of Thermopylae； or the 〃Hot…Gates。〃 The island of Euboea is here separated from the mainland by a narrow strait； which in one part is only two miles and a half in breadth； and accordingly it is easy； by defending this part of the sea with a fleet； to prevent an enemy from landing troops at the southern end of the pass。
The Grecian fleet； under the command of the Spartan Eurybiades； took up its station off that portion of the northern coast of Euboea which faces Magnesia and the entrance to the Thessalian gulf and which was called Artemisium； from a neighbouring temple of Artemis （Diana）。 It was； however； only a small land…force that was sent to the defence of Thermopylae。 When the arrival of Xerxes at Therma became known； the Greeks were upon the point of celebrating the Olympic games； and the festival of the Carnean Apollo； which was observed with great solemnity at Sparta and in other Doric states。 The Peloponnesians therefore sent forward only 300 Spartans and 3000 hoplites from other Peloponnesian states； under the command of the Spartan king Leonidas； a force which they thought would be sufficient to maintain the pass till the festivals were over。 In his march northwards Leonidas received additions from the Thespians； Phocians； and Locrians； so that he had under his command at Thermopylae about 7000 men。
Meanwhile Xerxes had arrived within sight of Thermopylae。 He had heard that a handful of desperate men； commanded by a Spartan； had determined to dispute his passage； but he refused to believe the news。 He was still more astonished when a horseman； whom he had sent to reconnoitre； brought back word that he had seen several Spartans outside the wall in front of the pass； some amusing themselves with gymnastic exercises； and others combing their long hair。 In great perplexity； he sent for the exiled Spartan king Demaratus； who had accompanied him from Persia； and asked him the meaning of such madness。 Demaratus replied； that the Spartans would defend the pass to the death； and that it was their practice to dress their heads with peculiar care when they were going to battle。 Later writers relate that Xerxes sent to them to deliver up their arms。 Leonidas desired him 〃to come and take them。〃 One of the Spartans being told that 〃the Persian host was so prodigious that their arrows would conceal the sun：〃 〃So much the better〃 （he replied）； 〃we shall then fight in the shade。〃
At length； upon the fifth day； Xerxes ordered a chosen body of Medes to advance against the presumptuous foes and bring them into his presence。 But their superior numbers were of no avail in such a narrow space； and they were kept at bay by the long spears and steady ranks of the Greeks。 After the combat had lasted a long time with heavy loss to the Medes； Xerxes ordered his ten thousand 〃Immortals；〃 the flower of the Persian army； to advance。 But they were as unsuccessful as the Medes。 Xerxes beheld the repulse of his troops from a lofty throne which had been provided for him； and was seen to leap thrice from his seat in an agony of fear or rage。
On the following day the attack was renewed； but with no better success： and Xerxes was beginning to despair of forcing his way through the pass； when a Malian； of the name of Ephialtes； betrayed to the Persian king that there was an unfrequented path across Mount OEta； ascending on the northern side of the mountain and descending on the southern side near the termination of the pass。 Overjoyed at this discovery； a strong detachment of Persians was ordered to follow the traitor。 Meantime Leonidas and his troops had received ample notice of the impending danger。 During the night deserters from the enemy had brought him the news； and their intelligence was confirmed by his own scouts on the hills。 His resolution was at once taken。 As a Spartan he was bound to conquer or to die in the post assigned to him； and he was the more ready to sacrifice his life； since an oracle had declared that either Sparta itself or a Spartan king must perish by the Persian arms。 His three hundred comrades were fully equal to the same heroism which actuated their King； and the seven hundred Thespians resolved to share the fate of this gallant band。 He allowed the； rest of the allies to retire； with the exception of four hundred Boeotians； whom he retained as hostages。 Xerxes delayed his attack till the middle of the day； when it was expected that the detachment sent across the mountain would arrive at the rear of the pass。 But Leonidas and his comrades； only anxious to sell their lives as dearly as possible； did not wait to receive the attack of the Persians； but advanced into the open space in front of the pass； and charged the enemy with desperate valour。 Numbers of the Persians were slain； many were driven into the neighbouring sea； and others again were trampled to death by the vast hosts behind them。 As long as the Greeks could maintain their ranks they repelled every attack； but when their spears were broken； and they had only their swords left； the enemy began to press in between them。 Leonidas was one of the first that fell； and around his body the battle raged fiercer than ever。 The Persians made the greatest efforts to obtain possession of it； but four times they were driven back by the Greeks with great slaughter。 At length； thinned in numbers； and exhausted by fatigue and wounds； this noble band retired within the pass； and seated themselves on a hillo