The first day of our trip took us north through Karmeno Vourla, Kalembaka and Thermopylae where the famous battle took place in 480 BC about which Hollywood made the movie, 300. The Greeks vs. The Persians again. While the Greek army was large the Persian army was larger and was large ly successful. Most of the Greek army retreated but a small group of Spartans, led by Leonidas essayed to block the only pass the Persians thought they needed to get into the country’s interior. History’s most famous “last stand” gave Athens the time to prepare for battle. The Athenians then succeeded in thrashing Xerxes fleet and sent the Persians home.