Persia invaded Greece to bring it within its empire. The southern Greek coalition decided to force a sea battle as the first step to defeating the invasion, so they blocked the pass at Thermopylai to force the Persians to try to outflank it by sea and so fight the combined Greek fleet.
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Unfortunately for the Greeks they lost the sea battle at nearby Artemesion, so the Thermopylai land force had no further use and was withdrawn. The Spartan force and the Thespiaaans stayed behind to let the rest get away clear, and were killed to a man in an heroic self sacrifice.
