Page "Leonidas I" Paragraph 17

In August 480 BC, Leonidas went out to meet Xerxes ' army at Thermopylae with a small force of 300 men, where he was joined by forces from other Greek city-states, who put themselves under his command to form an army of 14, 000 strong.

There are various theories on why Leonidas was accompanied by such a small force of hoplites.

According to Herodotus " The Spartans sent the men with Leonidas on ahead so that the rest of the allies would see them and march with no fear of defeat, instead of medizing like the others if they learned that the Spartans were delaying.

At present the Carneia was in their way, but once they had completed the festival, they intended to leave a garrison at Sparta and march out in full force with all speed.

The rest of the allies planned to do likewise, for the Olympiad coincided with these events.

They accordingly sent their advance guard, not expecting the war at Thermopylae to be decided so quickly.

" Many modern commentators are unsatisfied with this explanation and point to the fact that the Olympic Games were in progress or impute internal dissent and intrigue.