![[Prev Page]](/westciv/images/previous.gif)
![[Contents]](/westciv/images/toc.gif)
![[Next Page]](/westciv/images/next.gif)
The Persian Wars
Betrayal
Ephialtes, a man from Malis, went to King Xerxes and told him
that he knew of a goat path that went around the Greek position
and debouched behind their lines. After initial skepticism,
Xerxes discovered the man was telling the truth. He made his
preparations.
The Greeks knew of the path, of course. There were, in fact, more than one path, winding among the mountains. The men of Phocis were posted on the most likely path, but the Persians slipped past them by way of a different path under cover of night.
The Greeks learned of the treachery near morning. They would barely have time to escape from the trap. Leonidas tells the other Greeks to return home, to fight another day, but the Spartans will stay. The Thespians and Thebans joined him. There were no more than a few thousand who stayed.
Greeks knew they were about to die and they fought all the more fiercely for it. The Spartans put up the stoutest resistance, taking their stand on a little hill and fighting in a circle facing outward with enemies all around.
When Leonidas was killed, he was some distance away from the main force. Some of the Spartans formed a tight group, fought their way to his body, picked it up, then fought their way back to the main group on the hill.
The Persians seemed utterly unable to annihilate the Spartans. At last, the Spartans are killed by a hail of spears and arrows, the Persians fearing to close with these fearsome warriors.