Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / History
  5. / Ancient History
  6. / More Ancient History

by Maya on February 13th, 2008

Maya

Question

Help answer this question below.

Why did Leonidas choose to stay and die at Thermopylae? Is his death the Spartan ideal?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Dr Jones on December 11th, 2008

    Dr Jones

    Leonidas may well have wanted to die a heroic death and be remembered as a martyr, but there may well have been a practical reason.

    There were said to be 7000 Greeks defending the pass and all but 1000 withdrew. Leonidas and those who stayed with him may have been covering the withdrawal of the other 6000 Greeks.

    If all 7000 Greeks had tried to withdraw together, they may well have been caught out in the open and overwhelmed by the Persians.

    Comments
    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Why did Leonidas choose to stay and die at Thermopylae? Is his death the Spartan ideal?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company