”Leonidas at Thermopylae” by Jacques-Louis David/ Year 1814

The Battle of Thermopylae pitted an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, against the Persian army under the reign of Xerxes I. It is remembered today mostly for the bravery of the Spartan leader Leonidas, who held the Persians at bay for two days by guarding the only passable road. The Persian army then discovered a path that led behind the Greek lines. Leonidas dismissed the vast majority of the army and kept only a small contingent of 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans, almost all of whom were killed. This famous image of Leonidas was created over two thousand of years later by the French court painter Jacques-Louis David.