yes but surrender was no option for spartans.
their whole society was based on war. they were the best warriors in that region.
they lived a very simple (spartanic, thats where the word comes from) life.
they only lived to fight.
They were told by their mothers to come back home with or on their shields. not without them. (what is the first thing you would throw away when you run?).
a spartan warrior that surrenderd wasnt allowed to come home again, he was no spartan anymore.
so at the thermopyles they had no other option than to stay and fight.
their whole society was based on war. they were the best warriors in that region.
they lived a very simple (spartanic, thats where the word comes from) life.
they only lived to fight.
They were told by their mothers to come back home with or on their shields. not without them. (what is the first thing you would throw away when you run?).
a spartan warrior that surrenderd wasnt allowed to come home again, he was no spartan anymore.
so at the thermopyles they had no other option than to stay and fight.