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Thermopylae is narrowest at its two ends, the so-called East and West Gates, while the mountains are sharpest in the center of the pass, at the so-called Middle Gate (all modern appellations). It is here, at the Middle Gate, that the Greeks defended the pass.¹

Cath c?ili?il an sean-domhain ? Cath Thermopylae a tharla sa bhliain 480 R.C. Sa deireadh bh? 300 laoch ?n Sparta timpeallaithe ag na Peirsigh ach lean na Spartaigh ar aghaidh ag troid go dt? an fear deireannach.²

The long path to battle at Thermopylae began in what is now Iran, heart of the once vast Persian empire. Nowadays, ancient ruins attest to its long-vanished greatness, but to the Greeks of the early 5th century bc, the Persian empire is young, aggressive and dangerous.³

The Cutty Sark was built for John ?Jock? Willis whose ambition it was for her to be the fastest in the annual race to bring home the first of the new season?s tea from China. In 1872, Thermopylae left Shanghai with a cargo of tea for London in company with the Cutty Sark.⁴

Because of its defensible terrain, the mountain pass of Thermopylae, the “Hot Gates”, was chosen as the site of battle. At the time it consisted of a pass so narrow two chariots could barely move abreast–one side stood the sheer side of the mountain, while the other was a cliff drop into the sea.⁵

The tale of Leonidas and his 300 Spartans has fascinated generations in every corner of the globe. But what was the true tale of the Battle of Thermopylae?⁶