Leonidas Shield - Letter Λ, Meander Design - 480 BC, Battle of Thermopylae - 300 Spartans - Plexiglass Base - pure Bronze Sculpture

Item Specifics

Condition: New, Made in Greece.
Material: Pure Bronze
Height: 18 cm - 7,1 inches
Width: 15 cm - 5,9 inches
Shield Width: 12 cm - 4,7 inches
Length: 5,5 cm - 2,2 inches
Weight: 1200 g

The Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC during the Second Persian invasion of Greece has long been a subject of cultural fascination, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. This "against all odds" story is passed to us from the writings of the Greek Herodotus, who was not present at the battle himself. He relates the story of 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians defending the Pass of Thermopylae against almost "2 million" Persians on the third day of the battle. (For the first two days, the Greek force had numbered somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000.)
Although modern historians have questioned the numbers presented by Herodotus, with most at around 100,000 to 250,000 invaders, the story has resonated with authors and poets for centuries over the inspiring bravery and resolution of the Spartans.
The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is often used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain to maximize an army's potential, and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The sacrifice of the Spartans and the Thespians has captured the minds of many throughout the ages and has given birth to many cultural references as a result.
The Spartan shield . The Λ (lambda) stood for Laconia their homeland. Not only did it protect the user, but it also protected the whole phalanx formation.
In ancient Greece, Meander was a symbol for 'infinity' and the 'eternal flow of things'. This is an obvious association, due to the pattern's unbroken, continuous style. Today, the Greek Key is known to symbolize 'eternity' and 'unity' because of the continuous line pattern.