Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Thermopylae
The main reason for stopping in Stylida was it’s proximity to Thermopylae. After reading the book “Gates of Fire” by Steven Pressfield regarding a famous battle fought here between 10,000 Greeks against 1,700,000 Persians. The Greeks held them off with fierce fighting for 2 or 3 days but the treacherous Greek Euphalatis guided the invading army along a mountain path to attack from the rear. Before this occurred most of the Greek army had retreated leaving 1000 Greeks to defend the narrow pass (including 300 Spartans) the Greeks still managed a great fight but all died in the end. The narrow mountain pass is no longer there, as the coastline has moved out by approx 1 km but there is a monument showing where the original coastline would have been. The Greeks managed to hold the invading army off for long enough that the rest of Greece was able to prepare for battle and eventually defeat the Persians.
After this we drove to the thermal spring close by and took a gentle stroll along the steaming river.
Looking for some more attractive thermal springs we ventured further along the gulf to kamenavourla. We picnicked on a grassy beach and then went for a stroll along the seafront; thermal springs forgotten. We walked for a good couple of hours and the boys enjoyed watching the fishermen sitting on the beach.
The main reason for stopping in Stylida was it’s proximity to Thermopylae. After reading the book “Gates of Fire” by Steven Pressfield regarding a famous battle fought here between 10,000 Greeks against 1,700,000 Persians. The Greeks held them off with fierce fighting for 2 or 3 days but the treacherous Greek Euphalatis guided the invading army along a mountain path to attack from the rear. Before this occurred most of the Greek army had retreated leaving 1000 Greeks to defend the narrow pass (including 300 Spartans) the Greeks still managed a great fight but all died in the end. The narrow mountain pass is no longer there, as the coastline has moved out by approx 1 km but there is a monument showing where the original coastline would have been. The Greeks managed to hold the invading army off for long enough that the rest of Greece was able to prepare for battle and eventually defeat the Persians.
After this we drove to the thermal spring close by and took a gentle stroll along the steaming river.
Looking for some more attractive thermal springs we ventured further along the gulf to kamenavourla. We picnicked on a grassy beach and then went for a stroll along the seafront; thermal springs forgotten. We walked for a good couple of hours and the boys enjoyed watching the fishermen sitting on the beach.
