Thermopylae

Thermopylae is a historic location in central Greece, a narrow coastal pass that links Thessaly to the southern regions. The name means "hot gates," a reference to geothermal springs and steam in the area. The pass lies between the Malian Gulf to the south and the foothills of the eastern Greek mountains, near the modern town of Thermopylae and the city of Lamia.

It is best known for the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE during the Persian Wars, where a small allied Greek force led by King Leonidas of Sparta held the pass against Xerxes' invading army for about three days before being outflanked.

The geography, an extremely narrow tract of land between the mountains and the sea, allowed a small force to impede a much larger one and became a lasting symbol of tactical heroism and sacrifice.

In 1941, during the German invasion of Greece, the pass again featured in fighting as Greek and Allied forces attempted to defend the route; although the defense was temporary, Thermopylae remains a cultural emblem.

Today, the site is marked by monuments and a small museum, and remains a popular destination for students of ancient history and visitors seeking a sense of the ancient world.