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Amidst the great deeds of Xerxes and his Greek foes

All the valour of the second of the Persian wars

Stands out a single battle as the most heroic

The defence of a mountain pass by a Spartan force

A strategic error left several hundred Spartan men

Surrounded by an overwhelming Persian might

For two days they managed to hold on to the pass

Led by king Leonidas to the last man they did fight

Thermopylae

The Spartans were exceptional in their courage

Whatever number their foe they would not retreat

With hearts of steel and incredible battle prowess

They managed to achieve such an amazing feat

Even though the Spartans lost this great battle

Time was gained for the Greek armies and fleet

The progress of the vast Persian army was halted

And the Greeks were prepared their foe to meet

Thermopylae

At Salamis the Persian fleet was largely sunk

And at Plataea the Greek army proved the best

It was the beginning of the empire’s downfall

Establishing the Greek dominance of the west