The pass at Thermopylae was a superb place to withstand an attack. Because it was so narrow, even with an army as large as the Persians had, only a small number could actually fight at any one time. This enables very few men to hold off enormous armies for long amounts of time. The Greek army was about 10,000 strong and already in position when Xerxes and his army arrived. The Greek army was being led …showed first 75 words of 383 total…

…showed last 75 words of 383 total…he to forsake his Spartan lords. Upon the victory, the Persian army then continued into central Greece and marched into Athens, sacking and burning it late in the summer of 480 BC. Days before, the city of Athens was evacuated to the city of Salamis, on a island west of Athens. The Greek naval fleet also positioned around Salamis, prepared for a last stance against the Persian powerhouse, the fight they called the Battle of Salamis