Thermopylae - Kolonos Hill and the 300 Spartans (5) - The battlefield and the Greek defences

1st October 2015
A visit to the battlefield where the Greeks fought against the mighty Persian Empire in 480 BC.
This video takes us on a walk across the battlefield and a detailed look at the Greek defensive walls. Once again the strange feeling is felt behind the Greek defences.
Apologies for the sound of the wind which interrupts the video on occasions.
Video in 1080 HD
www.stephenmaybury.co.uk

[@leithpalumbo4300]

It's sad to see a lack of care provided to such a significant historical battlefield.... i would of imagined such a historical place to be well looked after and free of litter

[@thewolverine5895]

Governments don't care at all.

[@spilttaco3343]

Leith Palumbo Parasites... I mean humans don’t care.

[@jamescobrien]

The sediment buried the battlefield anyways but I do agree with you. This is one of the most legendary archaeological sites on the planet. Imagine the blood.

[@Brian-kr7bw]

Leith Palumbo the original battlefield is 60 feet under sediment now

[@j0n_H]

A significant? Greeks lost the whole campaign. Persians met their objectives.

[@paulfilipovich6127]

I actually went to Thermopylae last year. I understand that the water has receded almost a mile away and that the soil of the original battlefield is deep under where people walk today but the energy that I felt there gave me goosebumps. If you’re a history buff this location is a must see. Next on my bucket list is Pompeii, Auschwitz and The Eagles Nest

[@LivingInCloud1]

I'm going to Thermopylae in two weeks. First trip after Covid.. I've been to Pompeii and Eagles Nest, both very worth visiting! I will go to Auschwitz the coming 1-2 years.

[@omaralqau9008]

Those are lame sites Paul

[@andyhernandez4477]

Don't forget about Troy!! Thermopylae is on my bucket list. I've heard amazing things about it.

[@andyhernandez4477]

@@omaralqau9008 wait who Cares

[@omaralqau9008]

@@andyhernandez4477 ok Andy 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tuscanyjc]

Today is the 2499 anniversary of King Leonidas falling in battle! Thanks for sharing.

[@joeonyx791]

His now 2500 Im right

[@tuscanyjc]

@@joeonyx791 I had planned to go in August and stand there for the 2500 but covid :(

[@joeonyx791]

@@tuscanyjc Thats my Plan too and the comment i readed he says" The Spartans Buried in the hill???? 🤔

[@RadekZielinski.]

The original battlefield soil is at least 1 meter or more under your feet... keep that in mind. It was 2500 years ago, even ww2 findings are about 15cm down near shoreline. This place is a bit rocky, so i would guss about 1 meter at least.

[@wiscgaloot]

They might be wrong at WIkipedia, but they say far far more--that the ancient battle surface is TWENTY meters below your feet. I don't find that too surprising, really.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

@@wiscgaloot STOP SPREADING DISINFORMATION!!

[@Imachowderhead]

new deposits of dirt and sediment have filled in much of the Maliac Gulf as it existed nearly 2500 years ago. Over the prevailing centuries greater amounts of sediments have washed down onto the littoral plain at the coastline caused by erosion from farms and other cultivated land use further inland. Over the centuries these sediments slowly build up and fill in coastal wetlands where these waterways empty. There are many similar examples across the Aegean Sea where erosion washed down through river courses from further inland filling in areas along the coastline that actually once served as ports such as at Halicarnassus and Miletus.When Xerxes marched his huge polyglot army of the empire towards Athens the site of an ancient hot spring named Thermopylae (where the Spartans made their famous last stand) sat near the ancient coastline of the Malaic Gulf and at the foot of Mount Callidromus forming a great natural bottleneck in the topography. Since then millions of tons of sediment has washed in via rivers and small creeks filling in much of the Maliac Gulf such that the area no longer resembles the narrow stretch of land which served to halt Xerxes for 3 days until learned of alternate routes around the strategic pass. Had the current topography existed in 480 BC, Xerxes would have had no problem overcoming the small contingent of soldiers stationed at Thermopylae.

[@AndyBandi2000]

there are ww2 findings in the area, because the Thermopylae pass (the modern bigger pass as it is today) was also a battlefield during WW2, the Axis (Germans) vs teh Allies (Greeks, Britsh, New Zealanders, Australians)

[@lewtscott3346]

@@AndyBandi2000 The Greeks had already surrendered and the British were running for their ships, however the Kiwi's and the Aussies (who had both literally come from the other side of the globe) upheld the ANZAC tradition, on another ANZAC Day (25 April) funnily enough.

[@flippaskipskipparooni4150]

It’s always a crazy euphoric feeling when I walk the grounds on which history was made.

[@zutrue]

Dude...there is virtually not place, no spot of ground where men havent' died on earth. Recognized or not...and that is a rather sad thing.

[@traderrex2958]

As you walked near the wall all i could think about was just how many men died right where you were. The energy must had been extremely surreal. My god i would love to visit that place . what a shame it wasnt better preserved and was free from modern construction. Thank you for a first look into the location for the most heroic action recorded in world history.

[@sgtzomie7877]

Imagine if u find a sword or a spartan helmet

[@Pluto1336]

I have

[@Pluto1336]

Just a broken helmate

[@Pluto1336]

It look like a polemarch helmate

[@iansandri5957]

Show some Photo of the helmet please

[@iansandri5957]

@@Pluto1336 If u can

[@YoungXelDong]

What do you see misthios?

[@dwput5433]

Malakàs!

[@beepisthename]

Alexios that you

[@sano0311]

I see endless see of Persians dressed in silly costumes marching toward us.

[@sano0311]

That whole invasion play out a lot differently if there were 3000 naked women than 3000 Spartans. Imagine 10000 immortals havent seen naked woman in years 😆

[@DzonixYT]

I see the place where MLAKAS were killed (the persians)

[@TheCGReviews]

to be just casually driving down the highway and there's where the 300 spartans fought the persians

[@arolemaprarath6615]

is that a fly?

[@raulpetrascu2696]

Europe be like

[@joelolsson4816]

imagine the ghosts of leonidas and his spartans waking up every night to fight the enemies XD

[@SkullCaptin6756]

Just waking up and seeing the Persian ghosts and just being like "Ah, shit here we go again"

[@CrazyGamerBro]

Risu Lolligo aghhh shit here we go again

[@blankblank5409]

Eternal fun

[@truthsearcher596]

This planet, the ground you now stand on, is full of rich history of which we'll never no about. Stories lost to time, never to be told and heard. Archeology has got to be such a fulfilling occupation.

[@austinbrown3707]

This is so cool, the history you are standing on is amazing. Gets me so excited

[@Brian-kr7bw]

Austin Brown same until I found out the battle field is 60 feet under sediment

[@austinbrown3707]

Brian H years and years of time, and lack of preservation of a historical battle with so much significance. Still would be awesome to be there! And imagine the battle sounds so exciting!

[@Brian-kr7bw]

Austin Brown yeah it would be but it's too bad it looks nothing like what it use too

[@SkullCaptin6756]

Its weird to think 7000 free men stood there many years ago and that the wall they built 2000 years ago destroyed but only the foundation remaining yet there legacy forgotten there names gone forgotten but we will still remember their valiant last battle they died for their countries freedom! "Molon Labe" - King Leonidas I of Sparta

[@mylesgarcia4625]

The Spartans and the allies in 480 BC did NOT build the Phocian "wall" in Thermopylae. It was one of the 3 "gates" already standing there when the 2 armies met. That is one of the reasons Leonidas and the Greeks chose Thermopylae to hold off the Persians. Not only was it the narrowest, most difficult pass through which the Persians hordes would pass, but that waist-high "wall" which they probably shored up in the few days or preparation they had, also provided them with extra minimal protection.

[@Dialogos1989]

“Free men”? No. They had about 900 or so helots (slaves) with them. The ancients did not share our modern sensibilities of equality and freedom.

[@matthewbryant958]

Wow!!!! This is unbelievable I’ve had shivers just watching this!!! The one place on earth I would die to see!!! Hope you enjoyed and remember it for the rest of your life, love history!!

[@Fried_Rice32]

The blood spilt on that soil carries a heavy weight through history knowing the battle that spilt that blood. A battle of great and epic proportion unlike any other. LEGENDARY!!!!

[@Double21Stuffed]

This is incredible. I’m in love with history and very important historical battles. Thanks for the video. Insane that it’s not cordoned off in the least

[@captainloaf4767]

I’d love to be able to walk that battlefield what they did is beyond words how different the world would be.

[@captainloaf4767]

Also people should remember the 700 thespians who stayed with the Spartans in the last stand incredible bravery.

[@nikolaostouloumis1573]

Both you said so true!!

[@loukes116]

True, if they didn't hold this pass lots more of the world would be conquered by Persia, especially the rest of Greece.

[@shaileshadole360]

6:48 that tower seems to fall down

[@RebelProductions250]

GO HOME TOWER, YOUR DRUNK

[@blankblank5409]

@DSW22 Strj lmao

[@ilovebacalao8516]

I wonder what was the feeling he felt, from his reaction it must have felt pretty strong. There’s definitely spirits walking all over that field

[@davinci4006]

True fax imagine the amount of corpse under the ground

[@maxim13able]

Men had a Completely different mindset and were much more tough In those times.... If they looked at the modern society and people now... They would go crazy

[@TheAidanomalley]

Visited this place with 43 school children from New Zealand. Unreal atmosphere. Heaps of biting midges!

[@brutus4013]

There’s been many battles at that strategic site over the years . That wall is long gone . What you’re seeing is something much newer .

[@andrewnyberg5726]

The "ditch" and parts of the "wall" you are seeing are modern cuts made for drainage from the mountainsides.

[@StephenMaybury72]

The "wall" is the Phocian Wall. The "ditch" is a water channel which is explained in my last video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5m6dXWVnKeqe6c

[@KennyboyGM]

King Leonidas is smiling down from Heaven.

[@intelligenceagent6925]

Up from fields of Elysium*

[@High_on_Life777]

No they are looking up from hell dining

[@derekbenson81]

Up from Elysium

[@murillodefranca5019]

Elysium*. There was no such thing as heaven for the ancient greeks. Christianism wasn't born yet.

[@fifa4lifeunknow795]

@@murillodefranca5019 They are hellenic right not are What its called all i Can Think of is Valhalla

[@simonkanel3764]

The area of ​​Thermopylae has always been a place of strategic importance and military conflicts, since in antiquity it was the only dry passable route of communication between northern and southern Greece. Everyone knows only about 480 BC. and Leonidas with 300. But in this erea historically took place in 279 BC. the battle of the Greeks against the Gauls and in 191 BC. the battle against the Romans etc Also in World War II the area became the Defense Line of the British Forces during the German invasion of Greece. A small excavation on the hill of Kolonos in 1939, revealed small fortifications of different periods, tombs of Roman and Byzantine times, and remains of Roman and Byzantine buildings.

[@loukes116]

Incredible. I can totally imagine the feeling that overcame you on that field. People are free to associate that feeling to what they want, but it's undeniably there. Thanks for the video!

[@Fox2Victory]

Leonidas is resting there, somewhere below? Crazy…

[@Challenger2A7]

I believe Leonidas' remains were returned to Sparta 40 years later. His tomb is just to the north of modern Sparta.

[@JesusChrist8451]

The wall makes sense if you remember that Spartans did not build walls. Their soldiers WERE their walls. The wall isn't meant to stop, but to funnel. Being angled it chokes the oncoming forces further, while prividing a means to attack their leading flank in a way that you could not do with a parallel wall or defensive line. It would also make a nice place to... fight in the shade.

[@StephenMaybury72]

The Spartans built plenty of walls at Sparta! The military force at Thermopylae was made up of many Greek states, the majority of which were Athenians. However, I have not come across any documents that state how high that wall was, so it is certainly a good question....

[@killezzhd4682]

@@StephenMaybury72 it’s to intimidate them not to build there own base

[@AndyBandi2000]

@@StephenMaybury72 The Athenians participated in a naval battle far from there at the same time when the battle of Thermopylae happened. Their objective was to protect the Spartan flanks by not allowing the Persian fleet to land bhind the Spartans, and also to disrupt the Persian supply lines from their ships. But it was far from there. The Athenians themselves were not at Thermopylae.... and they were also victorious in their naval battle (they defended succesfuly and kept the persian fleet away from the spartans) - when Thermopylae was over, the Athenian fleet returned to Athens which helped with the civilian evacuation of Athens, and prepared for the victorious Naval Battle of Salamis.

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

hello jesus, when are you coming back to planet earth ?........................just kidding

[@Silarous]

​@Stephen Maybury seems if that is what's left of the original wall and the battelfield is now 60ft under the soil, that wall should have been at least 60ft tall. No? Or is that not the original wall?

[@BarbaraWalters_]

i could just image the energy there. So much history. It must have been very intense. Thank you for the video!

[@wiscgaloot]

The battle was right there--except twenty meters below your feet, due to all the deposition over the last 2.5 millennia. When those hills erode, the dirt has to go somewhere.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

The hills really won't erode because there is enough greenery there to hold the soil. Plus 23 meters is a TOTAL exaggeration. See my other post re if you still see the top of the Phocian wall which was only like a ledge really, then only about 2-3 feet of new soil has collected over the last 2500 years.

[@wiscgaloot]

@@mylesgarcia4625 An actual geological study shows that the battlefield lies under 10m of travertine deposits. www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3166/ga.23.241-253

[@mylesgarcia4625]

@@wiscgaloot I looked at your link. I didn't come across any such finding as "10m or 20m" as you claim. It's absolute hogwash. I have been there as well and NOWHERE would it be that deep if the Phocian wall still sticks out. Those figures are B/S. And if it was that deep, then the HOT springs would have been completely submerged. It is NOT. It is still pretty much at the same level as it was in 480 BC. So, again, that "study" is absolute SALAMI!!

[@wiscgaloot]

@@mylesgarcia4625 oh F off, if you are incapable of reading a scientific report there is no point bothering with you any further.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

@@wiscgaloot F*ck yourself off!!

[@royferguson2297]

One of my fav films the original 300 Spartans, at times i feel i was there, someday i want to go there, would have been nice to see the route the Persians were shown by the traitor.

[@huckleberry3013]

Sadly erosion broke it down

[@omaralqau9008]

@@huckleberry3013 Ur lying 😭😭

[@guywebster8018]

Unbelievable. You really explain the details of the terrain well to where you get a basic kind of understanding how things could have transpired there. Id imagine you would need to be there really to feel something but I know that feeling you are talking about.

[@odysseuspsarros]

Stephen Maybury . During the filming of your video at The Phocian Wall 3:30. You experienced a spiritual encounter as you walked over the Phocian wall. You said. " I don't want to step on this wall. I don't want to damage it I can step over it. " Leonidas spirit visited you at that moment. You showed great respect of these Ancient stones. Leonidas final orders to his 300 Spartans at the Phocian Wall was. " The orders are; From this wall we do not retreat. Here we stand and here we stay. "

[@StephenMaybury72]

Hey that's a really beautiful paragraph, thank you ;-)

[@erxfav3197]

Lee Odysseus Psarros dude.. you are just making shit up now

[@1truthbegettingtold275]

@Anthony C learn how energy works, it came to him in a feeling. Energy, vibration and frequency. It may not have been Leonidas, but all of them, not as if he isn't allowed to step on it. But their energy that left their body vessels long decomposed ago told his energy in his living vessel don't step on our last stand. That wall was a reference point, defend the wall, wounded who are too wounded to fight lay behind the wall and line. Messes up enemies footing too.

[@Alex-jd2yx]

I still don't understand why Alexander didn't enslave the Spartan revolt against Macadonia or enslave Greek mercenaries that we're under Persians, Alexander was brutal and could have used them as slaves and colonists along his empire, he did some silly foolish things but funnily enough his greatness was never tarnished non the less..

[@futbol5554]

Holy the wind sound

[@petermeatmeatwagon9906]

I want to live long enough to see someone have the walls rebuilt

[@phillipbrewster969]

Go there at night and watch the ghosts of the past wage there battles over and over again. That would be an interesting place to metal detect, are there any laws against that there??

[@turtleman5111]

The Germans had a battle there in WW2, and probably about 100 other armies since 480. (I was there, at the monument, didnt get to explore, though!)

[@ikoskanellias2928]

Hi from Sparta

[@huckleberry3013]

Sparta isn’t a place anymore

[@ikoskanellias2928]

@@huckleberry3013 what you mean sir?

[@thomasuzumaki7272]

He means sparta isn't a place anymore, unless your talking about the one founded in the 1800s... Which you have to be because your def not talking about the sparta you want us to think your talking about. do to it not being a thing anymore for a very long time now.

[@miketelander3639]

It may have been already said, but that is not the Phocian wall. The original battlefield is about 20 m below where this guys was walking. Cool nonetheless.

[@Silarous]

I was going to say. If that is the original wall, then it must be the top of it, and the rest is deep underground.

[@lonnietoth5765]

The problem is the sea receded and there is a large area of land where there was once water. It was quite a long time ago .

[@Netherghoul]

It gave me chills when you said. "300 spartans waiting" 5:50 Imagine that, 300 Spartans and almost a thousand Thespians all prepared to die. I understand that mentality as I have it. But to have so many at one time have that mentality as well. Crazy events.

[@javi1373]

I wanna go there some day!!

[@muhammadkhesar8824]

Many free soul come across that place

[@Squabk1ng22]

“The whole world will know that few…stood against many”

[@thunderbird1921]

Amazing. Thanks for sharing!

[@Sadwilly]

I’m late to this vid but I heard the whole battlefield was buried under the ground we stand on today when we visit that location so the wall you were looking at would be the top of the wall that was there back during the battle

[@kevinhendryx665]

There were many battles fought at Thermopylae over the centuries, and many armies passing through in both directions; as recently as WWII, British and Commonwealth forces made a brief defensive stand against invading Germans. So plenty of construction, deconstruction, and military engineering took place here, and how much modern excavation has been done to establish what was where and when, I have no idea. But it would seem that a major exploration, study, and renovation of the site is long overdue.

[@aunnyy]

Great video man. You just helped me make up my mind about going to Greece and see this place and many others like it. Plus I'd also like to welcome you here in Pakistan aswell. There alot of ancient castles,forts and recently discovered Indus Civilization cities too.

[@StephenMaybury72]

Hi.... yes, I've done a lot of studies into the Indus Valley culture and it's currently a theme I'm writing in my book. I currently live in India so I'm doing a lot of studies into ancient India right now. Most of my videos on here are from Hampi.

[@EIKA.]

@@StephenMaybury72 I live in India as well. I do find Indus valley a mystery as no body knows how they vanished. As an Indian myself i could help you. You can message me at my email if you need help.

[@schallrd1]

The high voltage power towers were the first line of defense from Godzilla.

[@wreckingtestes2885]

Imagine coming here at midnight 👻

[@Sunnyislive25498]

It's not scary

[@aussiedownunder4186]

There was not 10 thousand Greeks at the battle of Thermopylae it had 300 Spartans and only a few thousand Greeks from a few city states

[@Rillust]

Thank you for this video. I always wanted to see the actual ground where the battle took place. Movies always depict the battle against the ocean with mountains on the other side. Anyone know a good image of where the battle took place exactly so one can see how much ground the Spartans and Athenians had to cover. I'm assuming that road is near where the shore use to be?

[@n3izhyped622]

I would never walk over that land, my culture ( moari / moariora ) respect the places where there's dead, The ancestors bodies have long gone but there mana and ora ( power/strength and spirit) are still there, thats why when we die our families takes our bodies back home to the urupa ( graveyard) so they can talk to us and gather our strength. ( imagine seeing the ocean turn red from all the blood running into it and all arms leags and heads that had been removed, the spatans definitely were powerful for their number's and a good sense of war to strategically force the Persians to attack through a little gap, good video very vast beautiful landscape, thanks bro

[@mylesgarcia4625]

What are you going to do then? Ride a drone or a hot air balloon? Duh. If there is NO disrespect in your heart, then it's OK to visit and pay your respects. But if there is disrespect and malice in your heart, then you don't need to be walking over any "sacred" ground to show what a jackass you really, like Donald Trump.

[@altairtodescatto]

I can get that, but what about unheard places? Probably everywhere is a graveyard to someone who died for the many thousands of years the humans walk around

[@aspart2842]

By that logic you can’t walk anywhere

[@nikolaostouloumis1573]

So proud for my ancestors so shame for the modern Greek state!

[@randomguyonyourscreen]

All thanks to freaking America

[@maxpowers513]

@@randomguyonyourscreen Your what hurts?

[@savageinshape]

have any bones been discovered?

[@mylesgarcia4625]

@Alex DeMidow Which must have been within just a few years after 480 BC. Maybe 5-10 years after; also while memories of the Battle were still fresh among the surviving Spartans. But I doubt that they were able to find and transport 300 skeletons?? Remember, there were also the remaining 700 Thespians plus a hundred or so attendants and squires, etc.

[@sierracosta47]

just to let you know the site is also a ww2 battlesite so some of those ruins might've been some defenses as well.

[@miketelander3639]

Thats what I was thinking too, theyve drilled cores in the area, original battlfield is about 20 m below.

[@raymondroysr.]

when i first saw this in the movie this became my dream to visit here well it did came true me an my wife came here in 2000 it was our 25 wedding ans.we stay here for 9 days what a place with respect we did not go into the battefield

[@Dustyholes]

Leonidas would have wanted you to walk on those grounds. That is why he and his men fought and died there. So free men can walk freely.

[@raymondroysr.]

@@Dustyholes alec thank you i will not step on no grave no one that why i did not go on it

[@marcellino1956]

now i see the pass they have been talking about for all these years

[@timatima2622]

The real Thermopylae was buried cause ocean levels were rising so the actual battle field was buried

[@chupol5659]

exactly ☺️

[@Greeceunplugged]

No no! You are both wrong! The sea was drown buck infact! I live here, i know!

[@Zionist298]

@@Greeceunplugged lol no he is right

[@marcussaint8247]

Considering that the Battle of Thermopylae happened 2,500 yeara ago, the original ground that the Spartans marched on must be many feet under the ground. If this is the obvious case, then we really are not walking on the very ground that the Greek Heroes marched on.

[@mnal5gex]

Don’t deny your feelings. It is a hidden sense we have that makes us aware of our surroundings. You can feel it when you’re there.

[@wingy200]

Cool it Palpy! This thinking leads to the dark side of the force!

[@mnal5gex]

@@wingy200 🤪 live in the moment Padawan

[@marcellino1956]

I bet i'd get the same feeling i did when i walked on the Custer last stand Battlefield

[@tray8411]

Major battlefield 2500 years ago and a major interstate right by it...Unreal

[@craigsinnott296]

The site really deserves the recognition and appropriate restoration. Best example I have seen is the battle of Bannockburn 1314, absolutely amazing, so well done. Would it be the Greek Government's call, or could it be done with private money and government approval ? I hope I make it to Thermopylae to pay my respect.

[@ethansmith4202]

Today it’s hard to see how it’s a “bottleneck” pass but the sea was much closer. However, games and movies always depict a cliff.

[@randomlyweirdjeff4638]

I can just imagine it.

[@MrGreen-qr5pe]

I don’t get it. In the movie and books there was an ocean next to where they fought. Where’s the ocean on this video and the cliff?

[@santinodagostino02]

I wish they dig up the ancient battlefield to find more artifacts.

[@shiblyalrahaman1425]

Thank you so much for this!

[@bitter_tongue8933]

_Battle of Pavan Khind_ *:-There's similar type of battle fought in India too in 1660 where 300 soldiers of Shivaji Maharaj stayed and defended the narrow Mountain Pass of just 20-25 feet in width full of slippery rocks, bcoz of waterfall, against the Army of 5000 Adil Shahi forces.* *:-What's amazing in this fight was Shivaji Maharaj & his strongest 600 soldiers escaped from months long siege on Fort Panhalgad and walked 50kms overnight through very deep jungles & mountains.* *:-Then 300 of them stayed along with Commander Baji Prabhu Deshpande to defend the pass and rest of 300 keep walking another 15kms and defeated siege on Fort Vishalgad to reach the fort safely* _:-This is similar story of displaying Great Valour on battlefield like Spartans 300 but less known._ *:-They didn't ate anything for 20hrs. They were doing nothing but walking overnight, then 300 fighting against 5000 army thinking it'll be over in 3hrs but instead lasted 10-12hrs long, until they heard the Canon fire signal that their king reached the fort Safely*

[@markmorris5880]

Being interested in the paranormal as I am, I wonder if anything could be picked up on here like has been at other famous battlefields like Gettysburg, it would be interesting to see what you could detect here at night when it was quieter.....!

[@signoguns8501]

You'd think that the Greek government and Greek people would want to preserve this site. This is where one of the most famous battles in all of history took place, and they've basically just left the place to rot. No memorials, no plaques, no statues of Spartans or Leonidas, nothing... You'd think that they would be extremely proud of this. Weird.

[@Dustyholes]

the Greek government right now is in total chaos. Greek pride is at an all time low.

[@pitsinokaki]

There is a statue of Leonidas and an inscription there, as well as a museum nearby.

[@signoguns8501]

@@pitsinokaki Ok, that's good to hear. This is the actually spot where it all happened though, right? Kolonos hill? They have to do something with this area as its such a historically valuable site.

[@pitsinokaki]

@@signoguns8501 Kolonos Hill is where the last stand took place, yes. I couldn't agree more with you on the rest. By the way, if you are interested, here are the arrowheads (mostly Persian) and spearheads found on Kolonos Hill, when the site was excavated in the 1930s: scottmanning.com/content/these-weapons-killed-leonidas/ The excavations bore out Herodotus' description of that hill as the place where the last stand happened.

[@signoguns8501]

@@pitsinokaki Cool. Thank you. I'll have a look now.

[@stevenparent7886]

Crazy to imagine that actually happened there.

[@gworsham32290]

So how did the ground the battle was fought on get buried?

[@rudyarellano4089]

I wonder how they battled with all that traffic in the background?😂😂😂

[@AubieClay]

Wish I got to see such a heroic battle

[@fazekaslaszlo]

actually this area used to be covered by the sea in 5th century BC :(

[@StephenMaybury72]

So where do you propose the battle took place if they were swimming here? Do you have any proof to back up your claim? And most importantly - have you visited the site yourself?

[@Imachowderhead]

the road to the right approximates the 480 BC shoreline.

[@andreat.2809]

jampurper is right

[@jamescobrien]

@@andreat.2809 where he walked while recording this, was not the sea during the time of the battle of Thermopylae. It was very close though.

[@StephenMaybury72]

@Alex DeMidow Are you telling me that? I've done years of research into this. The battlefield was not covered in water during that time, otherwise there would have been no battle. I've already stated clearly the layout of the battle and where the shore was, I don't need to repeat myself.

[@killezzhd4682]

In the movie 300 Leonids said pepole will forever remember this very place sad to see that no one really know that plqce

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Oh, many people know the place. Why do you there are at least 3 monuments there?? Besides, the ancient Spartans collected what they could find of the bones of the 300 and took some of them back to Sparta.

[@furrygreek5]

I would respectfully disagree with you. The location is very remote yet people come from all over the world to pay their respects to those who died here. More often that not you will see flowers and olive wreaths left on the epitaph marker on kolonos hill as well as the monuments to the Spartans and Thespians across the highway.

[@frankwilson4717]

That Was So VERY Long Ago! No Way, The Terrain Would Be The Same! Not Even The Sea Levels! The Hot Gates, Would Be, Where Those Hills In The Back Ground! That Dry Land, Was The Sea!!

[@princet1492]

I wish I was Greek but I’m only a little Syrian because because my great great great grandfather came from there wow that was a long time ago many people on the Syrian black side of our family have hazel eyes but I got green because my great grandmother Syrian black married an Irish Indian mixed man by the name of Horus

[@propbraker]

That’s great Tyrone.

[@Caesarean736]

Numerous battles even as recent as the middle ages between rival Princes of Morea and Achea. Daft to think those twin walls, not even 1ft wide were for defensive purposes and date back to 400BC! Think he got a bit carried away by the atmosphere. Very interesting site and you do get an idea of the actual battlefield but devoid of any archeological remains from that time.

[@StephenMaybury72]

First of all the wall is at least six feet wide in totality, more than adequate as a defence. It was built by the Phocians long before the battle ever took place, hence its name. Secondly, battles occurred as recently as WWII on the site. Thirdly, if you cross the road and visit the large museum, they have tens of thousands of artefacts which have been dug up from the site, including many thousands of arrowheads which were discovered on and around Kolonos Hill, proving there was a siege there dating to the time period of the battle. My advice to you would be to visit sites and study them before you make inane comments. Watching a video doesn't make you in any way an authority on the subject, so don't accuse me of getting "carried away".

[@Dustyholes]

@@StephenMaybury72 even if you do get carried away who cares lmao you’re on one of the most historic and badass battlefields of ALL TIME.

[@gates3492]

Thanks for the video thrilling bro

[@joshuamoore1091]

There were many battles here

[@bryanb7050]

No need to tingle. The real battle field is approximately 66 feet below that area as erosion and sediments have filled the real battle area in

[@Imachowderhead]

new deposits of dirt and sediment have filled in much of the Maliac Gulf as it existed nearly 2500 years ago. Over the prevailing centuries greater amounts of sediments have washed down onto the littoral plain at the coastline caused by erosion from farms and other cultivated land use further inland. Over the centuries these sediments slowly build up and fill in coastal wetlands where these waterways empty. There are many similar examples across the Aegean Sea where erosion washed down through river courses from further inland filling in areas along the coastline that actually once served as ports such as at Halicarnassus and Miletus.When Xerxes marched his huge polyglot army of the empire towards Athens the site of an ancient hot spring named Thermopylae (where the Spartans made their famous last stand) sat near the ancient coastline of the Malaic Gulf and at the foot of Mount Callidromus forming a great natural bottleneck in the topography. Since then millions of tons of sediment has washed in via rivers and small creeks filling in much of the Maliac Gulf such that the area no longer resembles the narrow stretch of land which served to halt Xerxes for 3 days until learned of alternate routes around the strategic pass. Had the current topography existed in 480 BC, Xerxes would have had no problem overcoming the small contingent of soldiers stationed at Thermopylae.

[@kevinhendryx665]

The audio static is so bad it's hard to hear what's being said.

[@graphguy]

That's the pass??? I grewup on this story, but I envisioned it be far narrower than this!

[@maxim13able]

What kind of strange feeling is felt ??

[@patrickgrimes8964]

The site of one of the most famous and heroic last stands in all of history and no statues, no plaques no nothing to commemorate the incredible valor demonstrated on this ancient battlefield. I sheepishly have to admit I was wrong about there being no statues or plaques at Thermopylae.

[@StephenMaybury72]

Hi. There is a 30 foot tall statue of Leonidas that faces the hill & the Greek camp; notice boards detailing the battle; a plaque on the top of the hill commemorating the fallen; and a relatively large museum. And, thankfully, not a McDonalds in sight!

[@patrickgrimes8964]

@@StephenMaybury72 I could see no statues or plaques on your video so I foolishly jumped to the conclusion that there were none. I have seen a large statue of Leonidas in Sparta and thought that might be the only one. Wrong. Thank you for responding.

[@StephenMaybury72]

@@patrickgrimes8964 Strangely, or not, the statue at Sparta is about 1/4 the size of the one at Thermopylae. I was actually quite surprised at the small size of the Sparta statue, although it's mostly because the Thermopylae one is on a high plinth.

[@deletebilderberg]

Epic!

[@rimonsathi3822]

where is the sea?

[@albibushi3006]

Where is the secret pass from where the persians broke in?

[@nighttrain0424]

That is not the battlefield. It blows my mind how many tourists walk the same ground mistakenly believing the site lies buried 20m below their feet...considered the actuality is clearly explained and presented at the Information Centre across the road 🤦‍♀️ The ruin of the Phocian Wall where most of the fighting took place lies on a foothill of Kallidromo just south-west of Kolonos. The Middle Gate was not by the water's edge, but in a small vale tucked out of view from the sea by the hill of the Phocian Wall. You can type the wall into Google Earth and see it for yourself. Where you are walking was salt marshes...

[@Golden-us3hj]

Fun fact since the reference is pretty interesting, the Mexican American war of 1846, the war that made America what it is today and expanded it to become a super power, was portrayed by the United States as an act of defense, of legal justification in response to Mexican aggression, but the truth of the matter was the compete opposite and it would turn out to be the most unjust illegal war ever waged. Opponents of the war called it what it was, a land grab and even demeaned its instigators as power hungry, looking for military glory, and that , this is where the Greek reference comes in, the United States was in no part the injured party, and its perpetrators knowing this would and have portrayed it as their Thermopylae, to say that that Mexican war was as courageous and legendary as the Greek conflict was a complete falsehood, but it would prove enough to trick the public and congress into voting in its favor, in result America gained 55% of Mexicos territory, some would say one of the most barefaced outrages that actually succeeded as they played the “ Texas Game” well

[@richardque4952]

To be exact there are 298 spartan.not to mention 700 theban who also perished.

[@sefayucel3873]

Do you know the çanakkale war

[@PunishedSeeker]

What was the wall for? And why was it dismantled? Also, did you see what the pass looked like that allowed the Persians to flank the Spartans and Greeks? I would like to see a recording of that.

[@StephenMaybury72]

You can see the pass in one of the other Thermopylae videos I've uploaded, I forget which one. It's simply a path that cuts through the hillside above the battlefield, which I believe is still in use today. The wall was to defend the Greeks from the Persian assault. The Persian army was huge by comparison. The Greeks knew they wanted to take Athens, so they "blocked" the sea route with their own ships to stop the Persian fleet from getting near the city. That way they forced the Persians to travel across land, and thus a wall was built to halt their advance... I am not sure anyone know what happened to the wall, or how high it was....

[@itoldyou5202]

Stephen Maybury all of that tingling sensation could be the ghosts of the people who died there, it would be great if people did some paranormal investigations there especially when where you say you feel the tingling sensation

[@StephenMaybury72]

Well it happened again on my second visit. Ironically I used to investigate the paranormal so I'm fully aware of the weird sensations, etc, that occur on battlefields. I've experienced it many times, but explaining it is very difficult. I think it has more to do with the energy of these places; that somehow they hold something as if the battles are permanently occurring. It is very hard to explain. I've seen ghosts in years past and I don't feel it is ghosts that are there creating these feelings, I think it is something else. Actually the "stone tape recording" theory, thought up in the 19th Century, is the closest we've ever come to an explanation. But I think there's more going on, on top of that.

[@saeedvazirian]

The Persians won the war though.

[@karaiskakis5172]

Stephen Maybury Hi Stephen i just read your comment bout the tingling and the weird sensations that you felt. Well I have been to Thermopylae as well in 2002 and I went for a walk and I was overcome with the rush of adrenaline and I started running through the trees and it felt like I was involved in a battle, I was in ecstasy. Until my friends started calling for me and I came to my senses . It was an unforgettable experience.

[@bobapbob5812]

I think the British army also fought the Germans here briefly in 1941

[@maxim13able]

Someone needs to do a prank there with spartan costumes

[@TimothyOBrien1958]

You should redo the audio. Loop in so we can hear what you say.

[@StalwartShinobi]

The litter is excusable when so many vehicle markings are there, they arent roads or paths, they are scar on the earth from so many people driving and working in the area

[@killezzhd4682]

A place where ppl fought for there freedom where they stand up to a mad king of power a battel that ppl will rememberer for all time it’s just a dead road where ppl drive by to get to work they don’t realize what happens here