148 HISTORICAL TALES.

were still distant, and while the Greeks awaited their
approach new counsels prevailed. There was another
pass by which the mountains might be crossed,—
which pass, in fact, the Persians took. Also the fleet
might land thousands of men in their rear. On the
whole it was deemed best to retreat to another pass,
much farther south, the famous pass of Thermopyle.
Here was a road a mile in width, where were warm
springs ; and at each end were narrow passes, called
gates—the name Thermopyle meaning “hot gates.”
Adjoining was a narrow strait, between the main-
land and the island of Eubcea, where the Greek fleet
might keep back the Persian host of ships. There
was an old wall across the pass, now in ruins. This
the Greeks rebuilt, and there the devoted band, now
not more than seven thousand in all, waited the
coming of the mighty Persian host.

It was in late June, of the year 480 B.c., that the
Grecian army, led by Leonidas, king of Sparta,
marched to this defile. There were but three hun-
dred Spartans * in his force, with small bodies of men
from the other states of Greece. The fleet, less
than three hundred ships in all, took post beside
them in the strait. And here they waited while day
by day the Persian hordes marched southward over
the land.

The first conflict took place between some vessels
of the fleets, whereupon the Grecian admirals, filled

 

* The army of Sparta, which before had stayed at home
to await the full of the moon, did so now to complete certain
religious ceremonies, sparing but this handful of men for the
vital need of Greece.