KING LEONIDAS OF SPARTA : "BECOMING MAN EXCELLENT" (BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE, HERODOTUS) - Leonidas I ("son of the lion"; died 11 August 480 BC) was a warrior king of the Greek city-state of Sparta, and the 17th of the Agiad line; a dynasty which descent from the demigod Heracles. He was the husband of Gorgo, the daughter of Cleomenes I of Sparta. Leonidas had a notable participation in the Second Persian War, where he led the allied Greek forces to a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) while defend the pass from the invading Persian army. The Persian ambassador asked him forcefully to surrender their arms. To this Leonidas gave his famous answer: Μολων λαβέ, "Come and get them." He chose to dismiss all troops except the Thebans, Thespians and helots of Sparta and save the glory for the Spartans. When Leonidas was killed, the few Spartans retrieved his body after driving back the numerus Persians four times. Herodotus says that Xerxes' orders were to have Leonidas' head cut off and put on a stake and his body crucified. This was considered sacrilegious. A hero cult of Leonidas survived at Sparta until the Antonine (Roman) era (2nd century AD). Both ancient and modern writers have used the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending its native soil. The performance of the defenders is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The Battle of Thermopylae has remained a cultural icon of western civilization ever since it was fought. Sparta was the subject of fascination in its own day, as well as in Western culture following the revival of classical learning. Sparta was subject of considerable admiration in its day, even in its rival, Athens. The adjective "spartan" is used to imply simplicity, frugality, or avoidance of luxury and comfort. The term laconic phrase describes a very terse and concise way of speaking that was characteristic of the Spartans. Herodotus : " There in that travail fell Leonidas, fighting most gallantly, and with him other famous Spartans...", "Four thousand warriors, flower of Pelops' land, Did here against three hundred myriads stand."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Herodotus/7D*.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta