The Fortified Hill of Kolonos in Thermopylae, Greece. ‘On this spot’ Herodotus tells us ‘while defending themselves with daggers, that is those who still had them left, and also with hands and with teeth, they were overwhelmed by the missiles of the Barbarians.’ In 1939, archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos found dozens of Persian arrows scattered abound the site. One of defenders who fell here was Dienekes, the Spartan who had welcomed the shade afforded by Persian arrows.
IT was towards evening that Leonidas learnt that the Persians were flanking him unhindered. He let most of his modest brigade go, but his three hundred Spartans and seven hundred Thespians* chose to remain, waiting for day. A veteran from Trachis, where Xerxes was encamped, remembered seeing the sky there black with Persian arrows. ‘Good,’ mused Dienekes.* ‘At least we’ll have some shade.’
Next morning the Persians came on, whipped up by their commanders. Leonidas and his thousand men leapt down from their barricade, and fought until their spears were splintered, their swords shivered, their knives snapped, and their fists broken. At last Leonidas and every one of his brave Greeks lay dead, surrounded by piles of barbarian bodies. Xerxes asked hoarsely whether all Greeks were like this, and how many more there were. Every one of them could have saved himself. Every one gave his life for Greece.
Thermopylae had been a defeat, but Leonidas had bought three precious days. It now fell to Themistocles and the Greek fleet to use them to advantage.*
Based on ‘The History of Herodotus’ Vol. II, by Herodotus (?484-?425 BC), translated by G.C. Macaulay. Additional material from ‘The True Story Book’ (1894) by Andrew Lang (1844-1912), ‘Aunt Charlotte’s Stories of Greek History’ by Charlotte Yonge (1823-1901), and ‘Apophthegmata Laconica’ by Plutarch (AD ?46-120).
Not a troupe of actors, taking their name from the (?) sixth-century BC actor Thespis of Icaria, but inhabitants of the ancient Greek city of Thespiae, now Thespies a few miles northwest of Athens.
Herodotus praised Dienekes (Διηνέκης) as the bravest of this courageous company of Spartans, and attributed this quip to him, adding that he said many other memorable things under pressure. The line is however attributed by Plutarch to Leonidas himself.
The story of Xerxes’s Greek campaign continues with The Battle of Salamis.
Précis
On hearing he was surrounded, Leonidas gave his men permission to leave, but a thousand chose to stay. When the Persians attacked next morning, they killed every one of the Greeks but their own losses were grievously heavy, and the delay to their progress gave the Greek commanders in Athens time to make plans that ultimately cost Xerxes his campaign. (60 / 60 words)
On hearing he was surrounded, Leonidas gave his men permission to leave, but a thousand chose to stay. When the Persians attacked next morning, they killed every one of the Greeks but their own losses were grievously heavy, and the delay to their progress gave the Greek commanders in Athens time to make plans that ultimately cost Xerxes his campaign.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, if, may, or, since, unless, whether, who.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Black. Learn. Many.
2 Brigade. One. Wood.
3 Forest. Precious. Soft.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
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Your Words ()
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