Based on Herodotus’ account, it can be surmised that Leonidas, realizing the hopeless situation of the Greek army and suspecting probably “that the allies were neither willing nor eager to share the danger, ordered them away, saying that it was not proper for himself to leave.” Some historians, however, suppose that Herodotus’ tale of seeing off the allies was meant to cover the fact that, seeing the hopelessness of further fighting, they simply fled.
Leonidas was left with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans, and the only civilian participating in the battle-the fortune-teller from Akarnania Megistias.
