Book 6: Dienekes, Chapter 24 - 29 Summary

The first wave of the enemy troops, made up of Medes, filter through the narrows in fancy uniforms. They carry light shields and small spears that resemble javelins. Leonidas decides to hold the Spartans back and send in the Thespians for the first clash of the battle. The Thespians form ranks 64 shields across an area inside the narrows called the "dance floor." On one side is a shear mountain wall, the longest leg of an obtuse triangle and where the Thespians form. On the other a cliff drops to the sea, and this is where the Medes form their line. To the rear is the battle wall, and behind that the main Hellenic forces. The main Persian forces wait to the front beyond the narrows, but cannot be seen from the battle wall due to the curving...