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"As usual, there are superb images of artifacts from the time, the battlefield as it is today, and the excellent illustrations of artist Steve Noon. Overall, a truly exemplary book on what has to be one of the turning events of history. It is a book that is a must read for anyone who has an interest in history." -Scott Van Aken, "modelingmadness.com" (November 2007)
Product Description
An authoritative re-telling of one of the greatest tales of heroism of all time and a decisive moment for the history of the world, Leonidas and the 300 Spartans' fight to the death against overwhelming Persian forces preserved the future of Greece and the golden age of classical civilization. Nic Fields vividly describes the battle for the pass of Thermopylae as the combined Greek forces held off the army of Xerxes, buying time for a retreat which would save Greece. Lavishly illustrated and with full-colour artwork, detailed maps and dramatic battle scenes, this is an in-depth analysis of one of the most famous acts of resolute defence in the face of overwhelming odds.
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The Persian empire was brought into existence suddenly by the victories of Kyros the Great (r. c. 550-530 BC) - almost as suddenly as it was to be destroyed little more than two centuries later by the victories of Alexander the Great. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The Persian empire was brought into existence suddenly by the victories of Kyros the Great (r. c. 550-530 BC) - almost as suddenly as it was to be destroyed little more than two centuries later by the victories of Alexander the Great. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really liked this Osprey Campaign book. This battle is so famous that we always tend to believe that we know all the facts about it - and of course we are wrong.
I learned a lot from this book and maybe for the first time I really clearly understood what were the sources of superiority of Greek hoplits when facing huge Persian armies. Nic Fields explained very well his point, describing the fight between a close combat army (Greeks) against a distance combat army (Persians). It is clear that when the latter was forced to fight on ennemies terms, it would suffer greatly, even if at the end the numbers would make the decision.
Important points are well described, like the poor performance of Greek troops covering the mountainous track, which failed to stop or even delay advancing "Immortals". Nic Fields claims also and proves, that Leonidas decision that the rearguard must stay and fight rather than escape, was tactically very sound and allowed most of the Greek army to retire and fight another day - namely in victorious and decisive battle of Plataea in 479 BC.
This book is very clearly written and is a very easy and pleasant read. Illustrations are excellent, however, the colour plates are slightly less good that I expected. Steve Noon is possibly the most talented Osprey illustrator when modern wars are concerned - but here, in the ancient warfare he seems to be less comfortable. I do not know why, but all the books about Greek-Persian wars seem to be victims of a curse affecting the illustrations - just remember the HORRIBLE Osprey Elite issue about armies of Ancient Persia! Here the three colour plates are not bad, but could definitely be better.
Still, this doesn't affect my rating. Five stars, well deserved, and I will be looking forward for the next Nic Fields book - why not "Salamis 480 BC"?
I learned a lot from this book and maybe for the first time I really clearly understood what were the sources of superiority of Greek hoplits when facing huge Persian armies. Nic Fields explained very well his point, describing the fight between a close combat army (Greeks) against a distance combat army (Persians). It is clear that when the latter was forced to fight on ennemies terms, it would suffer greatly, even if at the end the numbers would make the decision.
Important points are well described, like the poor performance of Greek troops covering the mountainous track, which failed to stop or even delay advancing "Immortals". Nic Fields claims also and proves, that Leonidas decision that the rearguard must stay and fight rather than escape, was tactically very sound and allowed most of the Greek army to retire and fight another day - namely in victorious and decisive battle of Plataea in 479 BC.
This book is very clearly written and is a very easy and pleasant read. Illustrations are excellent, however, the colour plates are slightly less good that I expected. Steve Noon is possibly the most talented Osprey illustrator when modern wars are concerned - but here, in the ancient warfare he seems to be less comfortable. I do not know why, but all the books about Greek-Persian wars seem to be victims of a curse affecting the illustrations - just remember the HORRIBLE Osprey Elite issue about armies of Ancient Persia! Here the three colour plates are not bad, but could definitely be better.
Still, this doesn't affect my rating. Five stars, well deserved, and I will be looking forward for the next Nic Fields book - why not "Salamis 480 BC"?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this short book, Nic Fields presents us with a look at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, the battle that delayed the Persian army and saved Greece.
Yet, there is more to this book than simply a description of this famous event. Fields covers the 'before, during, and after' stages of the battle, explaining to the reader the origins of the campaign as well as its conclusion with the defeat of Mardonios's army at Plataea in 479 BC.
He presents us with short biographies of the commanders of both sides, covering Leonidas of Sparta and the Great Persian king, Xerxes. He also explains to the reader the equipment and fighting techniques of the Greek and Persian armies, explaining how they differed and how this would ultimately be the deciding factor of the campaign.
With the background explained, as well as the Greek and Persian plans layed out, Fields then details the events of the battle. He is assisted by three wonderful 3D bird's eye-view maps that cover the differnt stages of the battle. These aren't as detailed as some of the maps contained in other Osprey Campaign titles, but that's more to do with the lack of notable sites on the battle terrain. Steve Noon provides three terrific colour plates, showing the Persian scout spying on the Spartans at rest while the other two plates show the Greeks and Persians in battle. These are generally very good, and the detail is crisp rather than the typically muddy illustrations that are usually thrown together for Osprey Campaign titles.
With plenty of maps, photographs of the modern battlefield and archaeological finds, as well as diagrams and a bibliography, this book should be the standard introduction to this legendary battle. That said, it shouldn't be the only book you read on the subject as there are other more in-depth and scholarly works available. If it had one fault, it is that only a few pages of the book actually cover the battle, but I suppose this is because of the lack of written sources beyond Herodotus's account.
I have to say that I found this book an eye opener. It dismisses some of the more bombastic statements made about the battle, explaining that it was far more than 300 Spartans who made tha last stand, as their helot servants, the Thespian Hoplites and the Thebans were all there with Leonidas on the last day as Xerxes troops surrounded them, even if the Thebans did surrender.
A good introductory title.
Yet, there is more to this book than simply a description of this famous event. Fields covers the 'before, during, and after' stages of the battle, explaining to the reader the origins of the campaign as well as its conclusion with the defeat of Mardonios's army at Plataea in 479 BC.
He presents us with short biographies of the commanders of both sides, covering Leonidas of Sparta and the Great Persian king, Xerxes. He also explains to the reader the equipment and fighting techniques of the Greek and Persian armies, explaining how they differed and how this would ultimately be the deciding factor of the campaign.
With the background explained, as well as the Greek and Persian plans layed out, Fields then details the events of the battle. He is assisted by three wonderful 3D bird's eye-view maps that cover the differnt stages of the battle. These aren't as detailed as some of the maps contained in other Osprey Campaign titles, but that's more to do with the lack of notable sites on the battle terrain. Steve Noon provides three terrific colour plates, showing the Persian scout spying on the Spartans at rest while the other two plates show the Greeks and Persians in battle. These are generally very good, and the detail is crisp rather than the typically muddy illustrations that are usually thrown together for Osprey Campaign titles.
With plenty of maps, photographs of the modern battlefield and archaeological finds, as well as diagrams and a bibliography, this book should be the standard introduction to this legendary battle. That said, it shouldn't be the only book you read on the subject as there are other more in-depth and scholarly works available. If it had one fault, it is that only a few pages of the book actually cover the battle, but I suppose this is because of the lack of written sources beyond Herodotus's account.
I have to say that I found this book an eye opener. It dismisses some of the more bombastic statements made about the battle, explaining that it was far more than 300 Spartans who made tha last stand, as their helot servants, the Thespian Hoplites and the Thebans were all there with Leonidas on the last day as Xerxes troops surrounded them, even if the Thebans did surrender.
A good introductory title.
Format:Paperback
This book explores not only the battle itself, but also gives some background to the protagonists on each side; the Spartan-led alliance of Greek states and the Persian Imperial forces. As well as giving some detailed maps of the region and giving a clear description of the topography that was to play such a crucial role in the conflict, there are also some well-thought out speculations as to why this particular piece of ground was chosen and how it affected the actions of those involved. Each stage of the battle is described in detail, using both contemporary and later documentation as well as some sound guesswork given the circumstances and the troops involved. Some of the legends surrounding this iconic event are also given and the reader is given free reign to make up their own mind as to their validity.
However, there are a couple of issues to take with this book that means I could not give it full marks. Firstly, the author states that in all probability the Spartan hoplites would have worn a mixture of bronze and linen armour as did other Greek states. The only (albeit scant) evidence we have for the Spartan cuirass of the time gives no evidence for linen armour at all. The only benefit linen armour had over bronze at the time was its cost and comfort to the wearer, not features one would necessarily identify with the elite, utterly unflinching Spartans. I would have preferred a little more choice given to the reader to make up their own mind, with arguments for and against, rather than an iffy assumption. Indeed the Osprey 'Spartan Army' title does state that only a bronze cuirass was likely at the time!
The second point may seem trivial to some, but for me was a major one. The artist has used a single model (presumably himself) for painting every single figure in the colour plates. If you had only a small group in each illustration this would not be an issue, but in battle scenes involving several dozen protagonists it is downright odd to see an identical face under every helmet! Not only that, but I'm afraid the physiques of the Spartan hoplites in particular fall well short of athletic. If you are going to bother having battle scenes in an illustration, there should be more effort made to make them look authentic.
Overall I would still recommend the book, because its merits outweigh its failings, but suffice to say it left me a trifle flat compared to the majority of Osprey's excellent titles.
However, there are a couple of issues to take with this book that means I could not give it full marks. Firstly, the author states that in all probability the Spartan hoplites would have worn a mixture of bronze and linen armour as did other Greek states. The only (albeit scant) evidence we have for the Spartan cuirass of the time gives no evidence for linen armour at all. The only benefit linen armour had over bronze at the time was its cost and comfort to the wearer, not features one would necessarily identify with the elite, utterly unflinching Spartans. I would have preferred a little more choice given to the reader to make up their own mind, with arguments for and against, rather than an iffy assumption. Indeed the Osprey 'Spartan Army' title does state that only a bronze cuirass was likely at the time!
The second point may seem trivial to some, but for me was a major one. The artist has used a single model (presumably himself) for painting every single figure in the colour plates. If you had only a small group in each illustration this would not be an issue, but in battle scenes involving several dozen protagonists it is downright odd to see an identical face under every helmet! Not only that, but I'm afraid the physiques of the Spartan hoplites in particular fall well short of athletic. If you are going to bother having battle scenes in an illustration, there should be more effort made to make them look authentic.
Overall I would still recommend the book, because its merits outweigh its failings, but suffice to say it left me a trifle flat compared to the majority of Osprey's excellent titles.
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