Atlas of Battles

battle, ancient

Battle of Thermopylae

Battle of Thermopylae was a battle fought in 323 BC at Thermopylae, in what is now Greece. It was part of the Lamian War, which ran from 323 BC to 322 BC. The recorded result: Greek coalition victory. Recorded strength: Unknown against 13,000 infantry; 600 cavalry.

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View of the Thermopylae pass at the area of the Phocian Wall. In ancient times the coastline was where the modern road lies, or even closer to the mountain.
View of the Thermopylae pass at the area of the Phocian Wall. In ancient times the coastline was where the modern road lies, or even closer to the mountain.. Fkerasar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought323 BC
WhereThermopylae, Greece38.805N, 22.563E
OutcomeGreek coalition victory
BelligerentsAthens; Aetolian League; Thessalian LeagueagainstMacedonia
Part ofLamian War323 BC to 322 BC

Where it sits in the Lamian War

Battle of Thermopylae, 323 BCBattle of Plataea, 323 BCBattle of Amorgos, 322 BCBattle of the Echinades, 322 BCBattle of Crannon, 322 BC323 BC322 BCBattle of Thermopylae, 323 BC
5 placed engagements of the Lamian War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date323 BC (year precision)
PlaceThermopylae, Greece
38.805N, 22.563E
KindBattle, ancient
StrengthUnknown13,000 infantry; 600 cavalry
Commanders
  • Leosthenes
  • Menon IV of Pharsalus
Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae 279 BCEBattle of Thermopylae (254)Battle of ScarpheiaBattle of ThermopylaeBattle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae 279 BCEAthensPatraLarissaIoaninaAgrinioChalkidaPirgosVolos100 km38.805N, 22.563E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 7 times between 480 BC and 1941.

In the same war

Battle of Thermopylae is one of 137 engagements of the 4th century BC in the atlas and one of 493 in present-day Greece.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4872539, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Thermopylae (323 BC), revision 1370590960, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.