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Amnorix · 09-16-2010, 09:19 PM

September 17. Big day. BIG.

480 BC. The Battle of Thermopylae. Today begins the battle between the Greeks, including 300 Spartans under their King Leonidis, against the Achaemenid (a/k/a Persian) Empire of Xerxes I. The battle was a part of the second Persian invasion of Greece, and a delayed reaction to the Persian defeat at the Battle of Marathon which had ended the first invasion. In this battle, one of the most famous in history, the Greeks sought to block the important pass of Thermopylae. The terrain and conditions acted as a tremendous force multiplier for the approximately 7,000 Greeks, who were able to block the Persian advance of between 70,000 to 300,000 Persian troops (by modern estimates -- the ancient numbers are absurd, some of which range into the millions). After several days of battle, a local resident showed the Persians a small path that could be used to get behind the Greek lines. Knowing defeat was inevitable, King Leonidis dismissed most of teh army, and stayed behind with a force of about 1,500, including 300 Spartans, 400 Thebans and 700 Thespians, nearly all of whom were killed to a man.

Upon hearing of the defeat, the Greek navy, which was similarly blocking the Persian navy, then withdrew to Salamis, where it would soon defeat the Persians in one of the most famous sea battles of antiquity.

1630. Boston, Massachusetts, is founded.

1787. The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia.

1862. General McClellan snatches a weak tactical and strategic victory from the jaws of overwhelming victory in the bloodiest day of combat in United States history, the Battle of Antietam. (more next post)

1920. The National Football League is organized in Canton, Ohio.

1939. The Soviet Union joins the Germans in assaulting Poland.

1944. Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne assault in history, commences, with allied troops parachuting into the Netherlands. It won't go well, as those who have seen the movie A Bridge Too Far, will know.

1978. The Camp David Accords are signed by Egypt and Israel.

1983. Vanessa Williams is crowned the first black Miss America. That also won't go well, though Ms. Williams will recover to have far more fame and success than most winners of the pageant.

09-16-2010, 09:19 PM	#679
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	September 17. Big day. BIG. 480 BC. The Battle of Thermopylae. Today begins the battle between the Greeks, including 300 Spartans under their King Leonidis, against the Achaemenid (a/k/a Persian) Empire of Xerxes I. The battle was a part of the second Persian invasion of Greece, and a delayed reaction to the Persian defeat at the Battle of Marathon which had ended the first invasion. In this battle, one of the most famous in history, the Greeks sought to block the important pass of Thermopylae. The terrain and conditions acted as a tremendous force multiplier for the approximately 7,000 Greeks, who were able to block the Persian advance of between 70,000 to 300,000 Persian troops (by modern estimates -- the ancient numbers are absurd, some of which range into the millions). After several days of battle, a local resident showed the Persians a small path that could be used to get behind the Greek lines. Knowing defeat was inevitable, King Leonidis dismissed most of teh army, and stayed behind with a force of about 1,500, including 300 Spartans, 400 Thebans and 700 Thespians, nearly all of whom were killed to a man. Upon hearing of the defeat, the Greek navy, which was similarly blocking the Persian navy, then withdrew to Salamis, where it would soon defeat the Persians in one of the most famous sea battles of antiquity. 1630. Boston, Massachusetts, is founded. 1787. The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia. 1862. General McClellan snatches a weak tactical and strategic victory from the jaws of overwhelming victory in the bloodiest day of combat in United States history, the Battle of Antietam. (more next post) 1920. The National Football League is organized in Canton, Ohio. 1939. The Soviet Union joins the Germans in assaulting Poland. 1944. Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne assault in history, commences, with allied troops parachuting into the Netherlands. It won't go well, as those who have seen the movie A Bridge Too Far, will know. 1978. The Camp David Accords are signed by Egypt and Israel. 1983. Vanessa Williams is crowned the first black Miss America. That also won't go well, though Ms. Williams will recover to have far more fame and success than most winners of the pageant.
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