Thermopylae
(
Θερμοπύλαι), or simply
Pylae
(
Πύλαι). “The Hot Gates,” or
“The Gates.” A celebrated pass leading from Thessaly into Locris. It lay
between Mount Oeta and an inaccessible morass, forming the edge of the Malic Gulf. At one end
of the pass, close to Anthela, the mountain approaches so close to the morass as to leave room
for only a single carriage between; this narrow entrance formed the western gate of
Thermopylae. About a mile to the east the mountain again approached close to the sea, near the
Locrian town of Alpeni, thus forming the eastern gate of Thermopylae. The space between these
two gates was wider and more open, and was distinguished by its abundant flow of hot springs,
which were sacred to Heracles: hence the name of the place. Thermopylae was the only pass by
which an enemy could penetrate from northern into southern Greece; whence its great importance
in Grecian history. It is especially celebrated on account of the heroic defence of Leonidas
and the 300 Spartans against the mighty host of Xerxes in B.C. 480; and they only fell through
the Persians having discovered a path over the mountains, and thus being enabled to attack the
Greeks in the rear. This mountain path commenced from the neighbourhood of Trachis, ascended
the gorge of the river Asopus and the hill called Anopaea, then crossed the crest of Oeta, and
descended in the rear of Thermopylae near the town of Alpeni (
Herod.vii.
207-228; Pausan. iv. 35, 9; x. 19-22). See
Schliemann, Untersuch. d.
Thermopylen (1883); and the article
Xerxes.