Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Battle of Thermopylae was a major event in the war that the Greeks that fought against the invading Persians. The city states in Greece united to ward off the Persians. In what year did the Battle of Thermopylae take place?
2. There were three hundred Spartans, the most loyal Spartans to the King, and one thousand Thespians. They fought to the death beside their leader. He also died as well in the battle. Who was the King of Sparta that fought until the death?
3. Xerxes gave the Spartans a chance to surrender. The King of Sparta replied "Molon labe". This saying has been used by generals throughout the years and is even the emblem of the Greek First Army Corps. What does it mean?
4. A Spartan solder named Dienekes was told that the Persian archers were so many, that "their arrows would blot out the sun". To this, he replied: "So much the better, we shall fight in the shade." A person, at first glance, would assume that this person was making a joke, but there is more behind what he said. What is it?
5. There were several assaults on Thermopylae as the Persians tried to get through the pass. They sent in a first wave, which failed, that numbered about 10,000 troops (1:33). Xerxes wanted these troops to take the brunt of the attacks. These troops, though, weren't Persian. Who were the 10,000 people that made up the First Assault?
6. Xerxes retreated to his tent, after the 50,000 troops were defeated, completely perplexed. He realized that he could send no more troops in a frontal assault because they would lose morale when stepping over the dead bodies of the people that went before them. They knew they were walking into a death trap. There had to be another way around, to flank them. He found a way thanks to a Greek traitor that showed Xerxes a path around Thermopylae. What was the name of this traitor?
7. When Xerxes outflanked the Greeks, they were met with some opposition, but this opposition wasn't as energetic as that they would have encountered from the Spartans. This was because the Spartan leader didn't think they would be attacked from the flank and had put non-Spartan soldiers there. There were 1,000 of these solders. Who were they?
8. The best of the best went after the flank of the Spartans along with some other troops, about 40,000 of them. Most of the Greeks choose to leave when they saw these Persians coming, but the Spartans and 700 other Greek solders led by Demophilus stayed and cast their fate with the Spartans. What was the name of the best Persian soldiers?
9. The Spartans made one last stand, fighting against impossible odds and finally losing. They fought with every weapon they had and finally switched to xiphios. The Spartans knew they were going to die, and were going to take every Persians with them. What are xiphios?
10. The leader of the Spartans was killed during the battle. Xerxes was furious at the Spartans because of the losses they produced. His body was returned to Sparta forty years later, but Xerxes did something to the body first. What did he do?
Source: Author
Historygod
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bloomsby before going online.
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