I'm sure we all know the story of Thermopylae by this point, but just in case, here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae
Now, the Greeks lost Thermopylae mainly due to a small pass that wound behind those fighting in the pass. It was defended by a small group of Greeks from a local city state (I believe that they were Phocians, but I may have been wrong). Instead of standing against the 40,000 odd Persians and perhaps even repeating the actions of Leonidas and his men in the main pass, they retreat back to their city.
Now, what if, instead of being given a mere 300, Leonidas convinced the oligarchs of Sparta to somehow lend him 600? He was aware of the pass, which is why the Phocians were there in the first place. Instead of Phocians, however, Leonidas places the additional 300 Spartans there instead. They will most likely stand and fight...what am I saying, they're pretty much brainwashed from birth to do just that!
So, my main question becomes this: would the additional Spartans manage to hold off the Persians in the pass? Could the Greeks go on to win the battle as a whole? And, if they did, what would be the consequences? I remember the Spartans as being a deeply religious people, and they had a prophecy going that said, as follows:
O ye men who dwell in the streets of broad
Lacedaemon!
Either your glorious town shall be sacked by the children of
Perseus,
Or, in exchange, must all through the whole Laconian country
Mourn for the loss of a king, descendant of great
Heracles.
I believe they did interpret it as either A) They lose thier king, or B) They lose thier city. If Leonidas won and survived, what would be the consequences?
Lots of questions, but I'm interested in the topic.