Amidst the great deeds of Xerxes and his Greek foes
All the valour of the second of the Persian wars
Stands out a single
battle as the most heroic
The defence of a mountain pass by a Spartan force
A strategic error left several hundred Spartan
men
Surrounded by an overwhelming Persian might
For two days they managed to hold on to the pass
Led by king Leonidas to the last
man they did fight
Thermopylae [4x]
The Spartans were exceptional in their courage
Whatever number their foe they would
not retreat
With hearts of steel and incredible battle prowess
They managed to achieve such an amazing feat
Even though the
Spartans lost this great battle
Time was gained for the Greek armies and fleet
The progress of the vast Persian army was
halted
And the Greeks were prepared their foe to meet
Thermopylae [4x]
At Salamis the Persian fleet was largely
sunk
And at Plataea the Greek army proved the best
It was the beginning of the empire's downfall
Establishing the Greek dominance
of the west