The 300 Spartans are slumbering under this hill.
The tumulary stone was established not so long ago – several thousands years after.
And Persian hordes – 1 700 000 soldiers according to data from Herodotus – came from that far off, where the highway lays now.
This is Thermopyles. At that time it was 70 meters long from the mountains to the sea.
I was absorbed by Sparta and 300 Spartans history, and ancient history in whole when I was a little boy. I dreamed of theses warriors, gods and heroes, and used to draw them during that boring biology classes.
And now here I am, on that ancient land. The place is filled with an incredible energy! I shiver.
A monument to Tzar Leonid and his three hundred spartans was established closer to the sea during the present time. At last…
Here is the description and scheme of the battle for those unfamiliar with this history.
After some time, sitting in the bus, I won Athene Pallada in a lottery. That was actually the first time in my life I won something. 
Some kind of a sign?
Keepsake?
As if “Thank you, Victor, for the visit. Your 300 Spartans”.
Athene was so warm.
More about Greece:
For Winter Holidays? To Athens!
Antinous – Favorite of Emperor Hadrian
A Miracle in Clouds – Meteora Monasteries of Greece
April 17, 2012 at 11:07 am
I know that shivery feeling when you stand in a spot where so much notable history has taken place. Thanks for sharing these photos.
April 17, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Where You had these feelings?
April 17, 2012 at 11:06 pm
At the fortress near Sparta, Mystras, where you could see that the defenses were excellent; an unassailable cliff on one side and a view of the valley on the other side where you could see an approaching army three days’ march away.
April 18, 2012 at 5:24 am
Exellent place indeed. You are lucky.
April 17, 2012 at 3:47 pm
WOW how wonderful to be in such a place. Thanks so much for sharing
April 17, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I get that feeling too when i am on an ancient site! Wonderful photos! brings back equally wonderful memories!
April 17, 2012 at 10:02 pm
But not on every ancient site.
April 17, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I also get that very feeling whenever I am on a historical site. The most I have ever felt this was in the Colosseum in Rome.
April 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm
The Colosseum is in our plans.
April 17, 2012 at 10:03 pm
I truly do thank you for sharing. I could feel the power of the history through your images and commentary. I will never see this place, so it is wonderful to ‘go along’ on your travels.
April 17, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Another wonderful post Victor. Thanks for sharing
April 20, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Though I have never this site, I am familiar with the Spartan history. I can understand the overwhelming feeling one gets when you connect with these historic places. I felt that connection at Gettysburg. There are moments when you can almost hear the battle cries…enjoyed this.
April 20, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Yes. Straight to the point.
April 21, 2012 at 8:03 pm
As I walked on the ancient wall that winds around York, England, I paused to look through one of the arrow slots, hands touching stone walls constructed by men who’d been dead over a thousand years, and got that shivery feeling. Thanks for this excellent post.
April 21, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Yes. May be our subconsciousness remember this past.
April 22, 2012 at 8:29 pm
This is really a different view of Greece. I think I’ve only seen pictures of sunshine and water up til now. Thanks for sharing that bit of history.
April 22, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Greece is the Paradise for history-lovers.
April 22, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I’ll bet it is! Hope to get there ourselves someday.
May 9, 2012 at 4:48 am
Fascinating!