Which side do you think is writing each passage? How can you tell? What are some differences between the passages?

“Historians always like to argue that their work is significant. In Herodotus’ case, his claim that the great war between the Greeks and Persians was of unequaled importance (the most important) has been easily confirmed over the last two thousand years.

There was much more at stake during the Persian attempt to conquer the Greek mainland than the simple independence of the Greek states.  As subjects of the Persian king, the Athenian Greeks never would have had the opportunity to develop their unique democratic government. The legacy of democracy passed on to modern Europe and America would have vanished (disappeared). It is likely, had the Greeks been conquered during Xerxes’ invasion, that there never would have been such a thing as Western Civilization at all.

 One event above all, the doomed (fateful) defense of the pass of Thermopylae by a tiny Spartan holding force, is to thank for this. The glory of their end only added to the fame of the battle and helped ensure that Thermopylae, for generations afterwards, would serve as the model (best example) of sacrifice for liberty.” 

Source: British historian Tom Holland. Persian Fire. Published in 2005.

“The prophet Megistias first told the Greeks at Thermopylae that death was coming to them with the dawn. Then retreating Greek soldiers came and announced the approach of the Persian army.

The Greeks then took counsel (had a meeting), but their opinions were divided on what to do. Some wanted to leave their post and retreat, but others led by Leonidas (the Spartan king) spoke against this idea. Eventually most departed, while the Spartans prepared to remain at their post with their king (Leonidas).

It was not proper (the right thing to do) for Leonidas and the Spartans to abandon their post. In truth they were not really there to defend the pass, but to die for the freedom of all. Indeed when the Spartans asked the Oracle about this war when it first started, the Oracle had foretold (made a prophecy) that either the great and glorious cities of Greece would be completely destroyed by Persian men, or Sparta must mourn a dead king.

Considering (thinking about) this prophecy, and wishing to win distinction (fame) for their city, Leonidas and the Spartans did not abandon the post to which Greece had assigned them, but gladly sacrificed their own lives for the common salvation(saving) of all Greeks. There is an inscription written over these men, who were buried where they fell.  It reads simply: “Here three hundred from Sparta once fought two million. May we never forget.”

Source: Herodotus of Halicarnassus, The Histories, 440BCE