Old Testament trivia
In my look at Yon's Gates of Fire piece, I mentioned that the novel by Pressfield had to do with the battle of Thermopylae, in August 480 BC.
The Spartans and their allies were overrun by a massive Persian invasion force.
It may interest readers of the Old Testament that this invasion was the very one being prepared by King Xerxes in Esther Chapter 1.
I’ll bet Xerxes had no idea he was setting into motion events that would still inspire soldiers 2500 years later.
This invasion was for the most part thwarted in September 480 BC, at the naval battle of Salamis. The Greek fleet dealt a strong blow to the Persian fleet.
Xerxes returned home with a large portion of his army, leaving behind a smaller force.
This smaller force was then defeated in 479 BC, at the battles of Plataea and Mycale.
The Spartans and their allies were overrun by a massive Persian invasion force.
It may interest readers of the Old Testament that this invasion was the very one being prepared by King Xerxes in Esther Chapter 1.
I’ll bet Xerxes had no idea he was setting into motion events that would still inspire soldiers 2500 years later.
This invasion was for the most part thwarted in September 480 BC, at the naval battle of Salamis. The Greek fleet dealt a strong blow to the Persian fleet.
Xerxes returned home with a large portion of his army, leaving behind a smaller force.
This smaller force was then defeated in 479 BC, at the battles of Plataea and Mycale.
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