Commemorating Thermopylae: The Andreia of Glorious Defeat as a Literary Construct

In 480 BC the Persians defeated the Spartan led defence of the pass at Thermopylae. That defeat was a real catastrophe for the Spartan elite, however, arguably the episode became more celebrated than the Greek victories at Marathon, Salamis and Plataea. Glorious defeat was therefore transformed into the quasi-victory it has become in popular conception. Partly responsible for this reception is the fame of Herodotus’ history which relates the battle in detail and in which he relays the supposed comments generated afterwards. Why should the leadership qualities of Leonidas apparently be still regarded as worth admiring and was he really an epitome of good generalship? This chapter questions the generalship of Leonidas, and offers some doubts about the authenticity of the epitaphs ‘celebrating’ the actions of the Spartans at Thermopylae. Finally some reasons why the more positive than negative view of Thermopylae that have prevailed until now are also considered.