300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 1 million Persians Quiz

Answer: Darius

Darius I reigned from 521 BC to 486 BC, succeeded by his son Xerxes, and preceeded by Smerdis (or Bardia) who was the son of Cyrus the Great. Darius began the wars with Greece known now as the Persian Wars, by invading Thrace and Macedonia, and attempting to take Athens, after landing a small force in Attica.

Answer: Mardonius

Mardonius wasn't present at Marathon, but he was an advisor to Darius's son Xerxes at the Battle of Thermopylae, and is reported to have convinced Xerxes to avenge his father by attacking Greece. He failed to persuade Xerxes to stay in Greece after the Battle of Salamis and was eventually killed in the Battle of Plataea.

Answer: Nenikikamen!

Nenikikamen was the last word of Phidippides. It translates to "We have won", referring to the outcome of the Battle of Marathon.

Answer: They needed to have children to carry on their lineage

King Leonidas knew the defense of Thermopylae with only 6,000 Greeks against a huge Persian army would be a suicide mission, and thus only selected men with children to carry on their family lines.

Answer: They threw them in a well and laconically told them "Dig it out for yourselves"

While the delegation sent to Athens was simply killed, the Spartans tossed them into a well and laconically proclaimed "Dig it out for yourselves". Over 700 other Greek city-states had submitted to Xerxes. Athens and Sparta were among the few who resisted.

Answer: 2,300

In addition to the remnants of the 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians under the command of Demophilos stood with them, along with around 400 Thebans forced to stay, and 900 Spartan Helots who fought with their masters. Herodotus praises the Thespians' bravery, writing of them: "Hence they lived with the Spartans and died with them."

Answer: The burning of Athens

It is said that almost immediately after ordering Athens to be ransacked and burned, Xerxes regretted this action, deeming it his only mistake in his military career. It wasn't until 449 BC that Athens was fully restored and that peace was made with Persia.

Answer: Pausanias

Pausanias was Leonidas' cousin, and after Leonidas' death at Thermopylae, he became regent of Sparta, as Leonidas' son Pleistarchus was under age. After the Persian invasion was thwarted, Pausanias was sent by Sparta to Asia Minor to ensure Sparta would have a part in the Hellenic League otherwise led by Athens.

In 478, Pausanias was accused of conspiring with the Persians and brought back to Sparta for trial. He was acquitted, and left Sparta soon afterwards of his own accord.

Answer: Themistocles

Themistocles was a famous and well-respected Athenian statesmen, who is credited with persuading the Athenians to expand their navy to meet the Persian threat. This action likely saved the Greeks, as the Greek navy at Salamis was able to beat back the superior Persian navy, preventing them from encircling the Greeks holding the Thermopylae pass.

Later in his life, he was exiled from Athens, allegedly for taking bribes and his arrogance in wanting his own house built next to a sanctuary to Artemis. He fled first to Argos, then Corcyra, Molossia, and then to Asia Minor. The Persian King Artaxerxes offered Themistocles asylum, and he was made governor of Magnesia. Hearing this, Athens declared him a traitor and had his property comfiscated.

Answer: The Battle of Mycale

The combined might of the Greek city-states, led by Athens and Sparta, went to Asia Minor to help the city-states there revolt against their Persian masters. At Mycale, the Athenians on the left flank of the Greek army reportedly found a herald's scepter on the beach, thinking it a divine sign, and rushed at the Persian army without the Spartans' help.

The Athenians pushed the Persians back, and eventually caused them to flee to Sardis. The Spartans arrived at the Persian camp to find it looted, and their beached ships destroyed. Rather than expend the energy defending the Ionian city-states, the Spartans withdrew all their soldiers and citizens from Asia Minor, leaving Athens to protect the city-states alone, and thus bring them into league. This league would lay the foundation for a war between Athens and Sparta.