The Battle of Thermopylae

The movie 300, which is breaking all sorts of box office records, has of course embellished the story of the defense of the pass of Thermopylae for dramatic effect. Here is a documentary which tells the whole story of the battle.

Update: the videos I originally posted here have been removed from YouTube. So, here are some other documentary videos that tell much the same story.

The Battle of Thermopylae, part 1



The Battle of Thermopylae, part 2



The Battle of Thermopylae, part 3



Ancient Warriors: the Spartans, part 1



Ancient Warriors: the Spartans, part 2



Ancient Warriors: the Spartans, part 3



Update: Nearly 2500 years of alluvial deposits have filled in much of the Gulf of Malis, and what was once a pass a mere 14 meters wide is now several kilometers of farmland. This is the pass of Thermopylae today, viewed from the East (click on the image for a larger version):