Thermopylae wasn’t on my planned roadtrip, but when I was looking for possible stops between Delphi and Meteora I decided to add it in. Ask any military historian and Thermopylae will always be mentioned. Ask any Frank Miller fan and 300 will be mentioned.
As I mentioned in my Delphi, in preparation for the visit I re-watched 300.
At the Historical Info Center in Lamia (aka Thermopylae Museum) there is a 7 minute 3 dimensional video presentation that shows much the same information as in 300 without the style character of the film.
NOTE: Historical accounts put the number of Spartans at 7,000 not 300. And the invading Persians at 120,000-300,000.
The monument to Leonidas is best (headline image above) viewed from the Fortified Hill of Kolonos near the monument to the 300.
Geography
The whole area has changed substantially in ~2500 years. The land behind the Leonidas Monument has been terraformed to farmland and a highway from open water and marsh land. So it is difficult to envision the land as it was during the battle. Look closely behind the Monument to the 700 Thespians for the farmland.
However looking up at the mountains, it is hard to envision a path through the hills that the traitor Ephialtes led the Persians.
If you have time, or a deep interest in military history, then Thermopylae is worth your time. But it’s a quick visit, unless you are camping, caravaning or plan some extensive hiking. I was more interested in my next stop TSILILIS K. S.A. Distillery & Estate Theopetra Winery.
