On this day in 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae began. The battle was part of a war between the Persian Empire under Xerxes I and a coalition of Greek city-states led by Sparta under Leonidas I. Xerxes had amassed a massive land and naval force, and subsequently set out to conquer all of Greece. In response, the Athenian politician and general Themistocles proposed that the allied Greeks block the advance of the Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae while simultaneously blocking the Persian navy at the Straits of Artemisium.
When the invasion began, the Athenians consulted the Oracle at Delphi for guidance. The Oracle foretold disaster:
Wretches, why sit ye here? Fly, fly to the ends of creation, Quitting your homes, and the crags which your city crowns with her circlet. Neither the head, nor the body is firm in its place, nor at bottom Firm the feet, nor the hands; nor resteth the middle uninjur’d. All- all ruined and lost.
Discouraged, the Athenians sent another messenger to the Oracle and got this reply:
far-seeing Jove grants this to the prayers of Athene; Safe shall the wooden wall continue for thee and thy children. Wait not the tramp of the horse, nor the footmen mightily moving Over the land, but turn your hack to the foe, and retire ye. Yet shall a day arrive when ye shall meet him in battle. Holy Salamis, thou shalt destroy the offspring of women, When men scatter the seed, or when they gather the harvest.
When the Persian Army arrived at Thermopylae, they found the Greeks blocking the only pass. But a local shepherd told them about a secret path around the pass. Subsequently, Leonidas, aware that his force was being outflanked by the Persians, dismissed the bulk of the Greek army and remained to guard their retreat along with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians. these few Greeks fought to the death to delay the Persians. The Persians overran Boeotia and then captured the evacuated city of Athens.
The Greek fleet had already suffered heavy losses to the Persian fleet at the Battle of Artemesium. However they maneuvered to again bring the Persian fleet to battle in the Straits of Salamis. The Persian navy rowed into the Straits of Salamis and tried to block both entrances. In the cramped waters, the great Persian numbers were an active hindrance, as ships struggled to maneuver and became disorganized. Seizing the opportunity, the Greek fleet formed in line and achieved a victory. Unable to further supply his army without his fleet, Xerxes withdrew to Asia. Thus the Oracle’s prophecy about the wooden walls (the Greek ships) came true.
Léonidas aux Thermopyles – Jacques-Louis David
Found NEMO!!!
BADA BING!
Once you hit a certain age life is just a delicate balance of trying to stay awake and trying to fall asleep. While slowly getting worse at both.
The feeling that rushes over you when the teacher walks up to you during an exam, looks at your paper, then shouts out “guys please make sure you read the questions carefully”.
If you choose not to get vaccinated, it’s your decision. BUT when you get sick, DO NOT drag your infected ass to a hospital. Don’t make the rest of us pay for your choice to get sick. Be proud of your decision – whither & die at home with your freedom.
I started dating a weather girl. It’s nice to have a woman that’s wrong most of the time.
Looking back at all the successes and failures in my life, I can’t help but be proud that at least the potty training thing stuck.
When an army chaplain says a prayer before camouflage training is it a blessing in disguise?
Him: I would go all the way to hell and back for you. Her: You don’t have to come back.
Sign on front door…CAUTION Nudists live here. If this lifestyle offends you… DO NOT knock or ring the bell!
Stephen King predicts tRUMP supporters will deny ever voting for him.
Sign on the new ‘predator patio’ at the White House… Children under 16 must not be accompanied by parent or guardian.
It’s wild living in the information age and the dark age at the same time.
I have -sexdaily – dyslexia.
Aging is wild. One day you’re invincible, the next your knee makes a noise that sounds like bubble wrap. My warranty expired, the parts are backordered, and the user manual is in a language I don’t understand.
Why is “Dark” spelled with a K, and not a C? Because you can’t C in the dark!
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who prevent history from being taught intend to repeat it.
Trump said Epstein is a Democratic hoax from when Obama was president. But now Trump says he was an FBI informant on Epstein. So tell me… How did Obama get Trump to spy on a hoax?
For those struggling with English:
Don’t – do not.
Won’t – wo not.
Wind and solar are worthless when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Also, I just threw away my bed because I realized I’m awake most of the time.
My wife yelled from upstairs and asked: “Do you ever get a shooting pain across your body, like someone’s got a voodoo doll of you and they’re stabbing it?” I replied: “No.” She responded: “How about now?”
Left over screws means you have reassembled your computer more efficiently.
I hate it when I leave stuff in my electronic cart and don’t buy it. Then the company emails me and says, “Forgot something?” Yeah, I forgot I don’t have $900.
Screenshot
On this day in 1978, the video for Queen’s single ‘Bicycle Race’ was filmed at Wimbledon Stadium, Wimbledon, UK. It featured 65 naked female professional models racing around the stadium’s track on bicycles, which had been hired for the day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt0V0_1MS0Q
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