The Battle of Salamis

This battle is one of the turning points in European history. It is also a great heroic tale. September 20, 480 B.C. marks the day that a small alliance of men saved Europe from enslavement. It also marks the moment that started the distinctive European culture.

The Heroic Stand of King Leonidas

The battle started in Thermopylae King Leonidas noted for his brave stand against the Persians in 480 B.C. When King Leonidas saw that he was helpless in the war he sent most of his troops in retreat for his 300-man royal guard stood up to the Persians for two days. He became a hero of a cult at Sparta.

The Battle of Marathon 490 B.C.

This battle is one of historys' most important military engagements of all time. This battle is also one of the earliest recorded battles. Their victory over the Persians gave the Greek city states confidence and belief in their existance. In September of 490 B.C. the Persian armada of 600 ships invaded force of about 20,000 military men on Greek soil just north of Athens. Their mission was to crush the Greek states because of their support of the Ionian cousins who had disagreed with the Persian rule. The Greek military revolted and the left over Persian military escape. This gave the Greek city states confidence in standing up for themselves in hand to hand military combat.