Thermopylae and the Ancient Sources
LISTENING FOR LEADERSHIP
There are two different versions of the battle; Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus. Do the Spartans presented here uphold the ethos and values of their culture? Consider the relationship between the leader and followers and how, context influences leadership.
Readings
Herodotus and the Battle of Thermopylae (Link here)
For the Full text of Herodotus (optional for those who want to read more Herodotus), Book 7.138-end. (Reading Questions for Herodotus)(Link to The Perseus Project and Herodotus, Book 7.100)
Diodorus Siculus 11.4-11.11 (Text of Diodorus)
Questions:
What type of leader was Leonidas – what decisions did he make as a leader and why did others follow him?
List Leonidas' character traits - which ones make him a good leader and why?
Thucydides compares the situation at Pylos to that at Thermoplyae – is this a fair comparison? Why or why not?
How does Diodorus' version differ from Herodotus's story? Is Leonidas different here?
Why have audiences, both ancient and modern, remembered Leonidas?
