Leonidas Statue

Leonidas (about 540 BC-480 BC) was king of Sparta from dynasty Agiadon and ascended the throne in 488 BC

Obeying an oracle of Delphi, saying: “The city of Sparta will be wiped off the map or grieve the king of” Leonidas took over the leadership of the allied Greek army successfully keep them united and forget their differences.

His military genius became apparent at Thermopylae by way arrayed military departments and the speed at which alternate on the battlefield. At the same time he showed his heroism: when Xerxes sent him a messenger and asked him to hand over their arms and surrender, the Spartan king replied “Molon Labe”, meaning “Come and get it ‘, wanting so cause him to give battle to prove his worth.

King Leonidas fell fighting against the Persians at Thermopylae point and became a symbol of patriotic sacrifice. Faced with numerous Persian forces Leonidas with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians they barricaded themselves at Thermopyles, where after betrayal of Ephialtes, exterminated all.

The sacrifice of Leonidas and his 300 comrades became a timeless symbol and the position fell Leonidas and fellow of the ancients erected monument engraved on the famous epigram of Simonides:

“Oh xein ‘angellein Lakedaimoniois that tῇde
keimetha, per Keynes rimasi peithomenoi.”

Which means: “Stranger, tell the Spartans that we lay here dead, faithful to the law,” meaning “died here following the Spartan traditions.”

His remains were sent for burial in Sparta in 440 BC

The modern state has built a monument-tomb in the City of Sparta.

Statue in Sparta located in the city center with the cenotaph of the king. the form of King Leonidas in Sparta is based on a representation of a warrior discovered by the British School in 1920 and was identified with the fallen king.