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An alliance of Greek cities-states defeated the Persian invasion army at Thermopylae’s mountain pass in the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. In one of the greatest last stand of history, the Greeks defeated the Persian army in a battle that was vastly outnumbered. Persian King Xerxes led an Army of over 100,000 men (Persian king Xerxes prior to war had about 170,000) and marched them through Greece. He was confronted with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians and 400 Thebans. Xerxes waited 10 days for King Leonidas’ surrender or withdrawal, but he left no choice and pushed on. All the Greeks died after three days of fighting. The Spartan victory was not what they expected. Ephialtes, a local shepherd defected to Persians. He informed Xerxes about the Persians’ separate Thermopylae path, which could be used by the Persians to defeat the Greeks. –cyberian2005