So the Spartan king, who was named Leonidas—which in Greek means “like a lion”—was chosen to go to Thermopylæ, and with him seven thousand soldiers—seven thousand soldiers to block the way of two million Persians! Three hundred of these were Spartans, and a Spartan was taught that he must never surrender, never give up. A Spartan mother used to say to her son:
“Come back with your shield or on it.”
When Xerxes found his way blocked by this ridiculously small band of soldiers, he sent his messengers ordering them to surrender, to give themselves up.
And what do you suppose Leonidas replied?
It was what we should expect a Spartan to answer, brief and to the point; that is, “Laconic.” He said simply:
“Come and take us.”
As there was nothing left for Xerxes to do but fight, he started his army forward.
For two days the Persians fought the Greeks, but Leonidas still held the pass, and the Persians were unable to get through.
Then a Greek traitor and coward, who thought he might save his own life and be given a rich prize by Xerxes, told that king of a secret path over the mountains by which he and his army might slip through and get around Leonidas and his soldiers who blocked the way.
The next morning Leonidas learned that the Persians had found out this path and were already on the way to pen him in from behind. There was still a chance, however, for his men to escape, and Leonidas told all those who wanted to do so to leave. Those that remained knew that the fight was absolutely hopeless and that it meant certain death for all them. In spite of this, however, one thousand men, including all the three hundred Spartans stood by their leader, for, said they: