Thermopylae is an historic site in Greece best known for its seminal battle in 480 B.C., in which a small force of less than seven thousand Greek soldiers, including the famed 300 Spartans, successfully held off substantially larger forces of Persians under the command of Xerxes.


The forces, which were immortalized in a famed epitaph by Simonides, were depicted in the feature film 300, starring Gerard Butler. The site is named in honor of its hot sulphur springs, which were considered to be the cavernous entrances to the underworld of Hades in Greek mythology. Visitors can learn about the region's cultural history at the Center for Historical Information, which offers unique interactive digital and 3D projection exhibits. A virtual reality film depicts the events of the historical battle, elaborating on the history of the 300 Spartans. Map

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