The Betrayal

A local Greek named Ephialtes showed the Persians a hidden mountain path — the Anopaea trail — that bypassed the pass entirely. Once Leonidas learned the Persians were circling behind him, he sent most of the army home and stayed with a small rear guard to fight to the death.

The Forgotten 700

The Thespians chose to stay and die voluntarily, yet history barely remembers them. Around 700 Thespians fought beside the Spartans in the final stand, outnumbering the famous 300 by more than two to one.