Thermopylae

The Thermopylae today. In ancient time, the coastline was at the position where the modern road is.

Image showing where the modern coastline is, and where it was at different times

TheTheromopylaewas a small passage between theKallidromoand theMalian Gulfwhich was very important inAntiquity:it was the only passage from the gulf toCentral Greece.Today, there are sable deposits and the passage is a lot wider. The namThermopylae points to the fact that at the location there arehot springs,with verysulfuricwater.

Herodotuswrites, that the passage was very narrow, and that at its narrowest point it was only about 15 metres (49 ft) wide, which would allow onecarriageto pass. During Ancient Greek history, many battles were fought at the location. The most famous is probably theBattle of Thermopylae,which was fought in 480 BC.