Battle of Thermopylae The Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most famous battles in human history. It featured two of the ancient world's most prominent cultures, the Achaemenid-led Persian Empire and the fragmented yet culturally advanced Greeks. It also included some of history's most famous leaders, such as the Persian king Xerxes I and the Spartan king and military general Leonidas. The drama of this battle has been glorified by people almost since the moment it occurred. More recently, it has been the subject of many famous paintings which usually depict the famous last stand made by the Greeks, specifically Leonidas and his Spartan soldiers. Plus, the film 300 (2006) is based on the Battle of Thermopylae, showing how this event still lives on in our collective memory.