“Over the body of Leonidas there was a fierce struggle between the Lacedæmonians and Persians, until the Greeks by their valour rescued it, and drove back the enemy four times. This battle lasted until those with Epialtes came up. When the Greeks heard of their arrival, they changed their plan of defence. For they retreated to the narrow part of the pass-way, and, retiring even behind the cross wall, came and took up their position all in a body, save the Thebans, on the hillock. This hillock is in the pass where now stands the stone lion set up in honour of Leonidas.”[128] “In this position, while such as had swords, still defended themselves with them, and even with their hands and teeth, they were buried by the barbarians beneath showers of missiles; some assailed them in front and pulled down the wall; some went round and attacked them on all sides.” From the tales which Herodotus tells of the personal incidents in connection with the battle, there is but little to be gathered which can be said to contribute to the history of the time. ◆H. vii. 229.◆ In the tale of the two men Eurytos and Aristodemos there is a purely incidental detail which is, in its way, of significance. They had been sent away from the camp by Leonidas, and lay at Alpenoi, “in the last stage of ophthalmia.” [Illustration: FIRST AND SECOND MOUNDS, MIDDLE GATE, THERMOPYLÆ. 1. Second Mound. 2. Little Valley. 3. First Mound. Sulphur Deposit in foreground. [_To face page_ 312. ] #THE TOMB OF THE FALLEN.# At the present day the reed-cutters in the marsh at the west gate suffer from this disease. ◆H. vii. 233.◆ The Theban contingent did not take any part in the last battle on the mound. When the Greeks retreated from the broader part of the pass, the Thebans remained behind and surrendered. It is significant to note that this surrender was made at the time when the Greeks were made aware that the division of Hydarnes was going to attack them in the rear. It was probably years afterwards, when Herodotus visited the scene of the battle, that he made a copy of the inscription which was engraved on the monument raised on the mound to the memory of the Peloponnesian Greeks who had fallen. Its words summarized, no doubt, the impression which the battle had made on the Greek world as a whole. Their memory is recorded in the lines:— “Here, with three hundred myriads, once fought Four thousand men of Peloponnese.” The next lines quoted by Herodotus refer to the Lacedæmonians alone:— “Stranger, unto the Lacedæmonians tell That here we lie obedient to their laws.” The epitaph of the seer Megistios followed, written by his friend the poet Simonides.