Thermopylae

[ ther-mop-uh-lee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a pass in E Greece, between the cliffs of Mt. Oeta and the Gulf of Lamia: Persian defeat of the Spartans 480 b.c.

Thermopylae

/ θəˈmɒpəˌliː /

(in ancient Greece) a narrow pass between the mountains and the sea linking Locris and Thessaly: a defensible position on a traditional invasion route from N Greece; scene of a famous battle (480 bc ) in which a greatly outnumbered Greek army under Leonidas fought to the death to delay the advance of the Persians during their attempted conquest of Greece

Foreign-policy experts rush to compare Libya to Bosnia, the Punic Wars, Iraq, Kosovo, Thermopylae, and so forth.

In Rajistan every small kingdom had its Thermopylae, and every little town has produced its Leonidas.

Here have I come on the wings of love—the whole way from Thermopylae in five days; and all for a woman like this!

At Thermopylae the advance-guard was composed of Spartans led by Leonidas who determined to defend the narrow pass.

Well, we will all do our best, you may be sure; but since Thermopylae, I doubt if men have fought against longer odds.

Descended, perhaps, from one of the band— Deathless in story and song— Who combed their long hair at Thermopylae's pass?

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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