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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts, 480 B.C. on the coast of Greece. In a military camp, middle-aged

warrior Dionysk makes his final preparations for battle.

He rubs sand on his spear handle so it's easier to grasp.

He checks if the leather strap on the back of his shield is properly attached.

Everything seems to be ready, and although he's trained for a war his entire life,

today, Dionys will be fighting his first ever battle,

and he hopes not his last.

Dia Nikas is a unit commander in the Spartan army.

The Spartans are leading the fight to protect their homeland of Greece from the invading Persians.

They're making their stand here at Thermopylae, a narrow strip of land between the mountains

and sea.

Because of the unique geography, the larger Persian force can't surround the Greeks, and instead it will be a

head-on fight, and Dionysse and his warriors will be on the front line.

Dionysse takes up position beside his men.

In the distance he can see the vast Persian army flooding across the ground toward them like some great unstoppable tide.

When they come within range, their archers open fire.

Deadly arrows rain down on the Greek lines.

Dionyquez raises his circular shield above his head

and shelters himself as wave after wave of archery fire hisses from the skies above, but he knows this is just the beginning.

...