Leonida's Shield - Spartan king - Battle of Thermopylae - 300 Spartans - Paperweight - Pure Bronze Statue

Item Specifics

Condition: New, Made in Greece.
Material: Pure Bronze
Height: 8 cm - 3,1 inches
Width: 8 cm - 3,1 inches
Weight: 330 g

Battle of Thermopylae, (480 bce), battle in central Greece at the mountain pass of Thermopylae during the Persian Wars. The Greek forces, mostly Spartan, were led by Leonidas. After three days of holding their own against the Persian king Xerxes I and his vast southward-advancing army, the Greeks were betrayed, and the Persians were able to outflank them. Sending the main army in retreat, Leonidas and a small contingent remained behind to resist the advance and were defeated..
E tan e epi tas - "Come back with this shield, or on it." - Before any Spartans (Σπαρτιάτες) would march off to battle, the matriarchs would give the warrior his shield and say, "Come back with this shield, or on it." (Gr. Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς ). This phrase was recorded by the ancient Greek historian, Plutarch.