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10 Euros Battle of Thermopylae
| Issuer | Bank of Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
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| Value | 10 Euros |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | The reverse features a monumental close-up of a Greek hoplite (common soldier) in the foreground, depicted in three-quarter view and bearing a large round aspis (shield) that dominates the composition; the tips of spears from the surrounding phalanx rise behind him, evoking the disciplined depth of the classical Greek battle formation. The interior face of the shield serves as the primary legend field, bearing the inscribed place name, date of the battle, the issue year, and the name of the Spartan king Leonidas, together with the mint mark. The design underscores the symbolic importance of the shield—both as personal protection and as the collective instrument of phalanx warfare. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Issued as part of Greece's ongoing "Greek History and Civilization" series, this coin commemorates the 2,500th anniversary of the 480 BC battle in which a Spartan-led coalition held the coastal pass against the Achaemenid Persian force under Xerxes I for three days before a local resident, Ephialtes of Trachis, revealed the mountain path that allowed the Persians to encircle the defenders. The Spartan king Leonidas dismissed most of the allied troops and remained with his 300 Spartans, roughly 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans — the Thespians, often overlooked, stayed voluntarily and died to the last man.