04-07-2005, 02:09 PM
I agree with the postes above that it was meant to be a determined defense.
About the last stand of the Spartans:
The weak defense on the 2nd pass was a tactical mistake made by Leonidas. The traitor story is a bit exaggerated, it wouldn't have been too hard for the Perisans to find a guide sooner or later. I personally think Welwei's explantion in "Sparta" is quite reasonable:
After getting the message that a strong Persian force is moving behind his own defensive position Leonidas ordered the Greeks to retreat to prevent encirclement. The only sufficient force to cover the retreat were the Spartans as they were more or less the only professionals around.
The persians attacked the pass again to bind the Greek forces while the Immortals were moving around, in order to give them the time to complete the encircling move.
Because of this the Spartans were not able to retreat themselves before the Immortals arrived behind them and in this situation could only fight to death or surrender.
About the last stand of the Spartans:
The weak defense on the 2nd pass was a tactical mistake made by Leonidas. The traitor story is a bit exaggerated, it wouldn't have been too hard for the Perisans to find a guide sooner or later. I personally think Welwei's explantion in "Sparta" is quite reasonable:
After getting the message that a strong Persian force is moving behind his own defensive position Leonidas ordered the Greeks to retreat to prevent encirclement. The only sufficient force to cover the retreat were the Spartans as they were more or less the only professionals around.
The persians attacked the pass again to bind the Greek forces while the Immortals were moving around, in order to give them the time to complete the encircling move.
Because of this the Spartans were not able to retreat themselves before the Immortals arrived behind them and in this situation could only fight to death or surrender.
RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS ET ROMANAE RELIGIONIS
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM
[Micha F.]
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM
[Micha F.]
