How Logistics Defeated Xerxes | The Persian Invasion Of Greece
Why did Xerxes win at Thermopylae—but lose at sea?
This documentary follows the Second Persian invasion of Greece in 480–479 BC, from the famous stand of the 300 Spartans to the decisive naval battle at Salamis.
We examine why the Spartans were not alone at Thermopylae, how Persia’s enormous army depended on ships, coastal supply lines and the bridges across the Hellespont, and how Themistocles turned the narrow Strait of Salamis into a trap for the Persian fleet.
Thermopylae was a Persian victory. Athens fell and burned. But Salamis broke the invasion plan, threatened Xerxes’ communications with Asia and gave the Greek alliance the opportunity to continue the war at Plataea and Mycale.
This is the story of Xerxes, Leonidas, Themistocles, Artemisia—and the logistics that decided the Persian Wars.
Chapters
00:00 The myth of the 300 Spartans
00:30 Why Persia invaded Greece
02:02 Xerxes’ invasion plan
02:31 The army that had to keep moving
03:24 Bridges, canals and Persian logistics
04:19 How Greece prepared for the invasion
05:02 Greek hoplites vs the Persian army
05:50 Thermopylae: more than 300 Spartans
06:37 Why the pass held
06:54 Artemisium and the Persian fleet
07:48 Ephialtes reveals the mountain path
08:48 The last stand—and a Persian victory
09:06 Athens falls and burns
09:54 Why Themistocles chose Salamis
10:21 The Persian fleet enters the strait
11:07 Artemisia warns Xerxes
11:30 The message that baited the Persian fleet
12:07 Xerxes closes the exits
12:49 The trap closes around both fleets
13:21 The Battle of Salamis
14:33 Why Salamis wrecked the invasion plan
15:00 The war continues under Mardonius
15:11 Plataea and Mycale
15:27 Why Thermopylae became the legend
Sources and further reading
Herodotus — The Histories, Book VII
Herodotus — The Histories, Book VIII
Aeschylus — The Persians
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Salamis
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Artemisia of Caria
Peter Green — The Greco-Persian Wars
Barry Strauss — The Battle of Salamis
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