Thermopylae refight.

Last night,the thrifty three,Paul,Graham and I refought this famous battle,and managed to recreate history,and gave both sides a fright in the process!!(Dave couldn't make it because of family commitments,and poor old Brian is having to "isolate" because of "track and trace" commitments!)

Top photo shows the first "wave" of Persians attacking the wall(Medes and Kissians) bottom shows the result!!-Spartans standing firm,although one unit was lost and replaced with a Thespian unit.

The second "wave"-Immortals attack the wall,and as the bottom photo shows,gaining a little success-can the Thespians save the day??

Ephialtes(BOOOO!) leading the Elite Persians up the pass towards the Phokians(nick-named the Knee-Knockians!!) as the srtuggle for the wall continues.

Top photo shows the Immortals having been pushed back,and retiring(it's good being retired!) behind their lines-the "king of kings" is not amused,and orders a grand attack by the rest of his "motley Crew".Bottom photo shows the Elite troops forming line prior to charging into the Phokians-great stuff!(is that Ephialtes(BOOO! leading them??)

In this shot the mass of Persians have attacked the wall,which is a bout 50/50 Spartans and Thespians now.The Phokians are fighting the Elite troops to prevent them from attacking the Spartan position in the rear-will the succeed in stopping them??

NO!!!-the brave Phokians had to retire(did you know that it's good being retired?) leaving the Persians ready to march on the rear of the Spartans.Leonidas now had to make two decisions-one good and one not too good!!-He ordered the Greek allies to go home and save the nation-good decision,then, to stop a Spartan unit from giving ground,he put himself into the fray,got himself killed(wonderful dice throwing from Xerxes(ie ME!) leading to the collapse of the Spartans-not too good a decision-but historically correct!

What was left of the Spartan and Thespian command retired(not even going to say it!) to a nearby "Last Stand Hill" and there the myth and legend of the famous 300 Spartans begins!

This was a lively,entertaing and enlightening game-well done to us all-next week we will,hopefully be playing a Napoleonic game(as near to the 18th as we could make it!) involving Dutch/Belgians against French.-roll on next week.