Μενταγιόν

Leonidas Spartan Sword Pendant
Handmade pendant sword in 925⁰ sterling silver and gold plated.
On the reverse side is the inscription “μολών λαβέ” which means “come to get”. This phrase was the answer to Xerxes when he asked him to hand over the arms of the defending Greeks to the Thermopylae. Leonidas was a warrior king of the Greek city-state of Sparta. Arguably, one of the greatest heroes in the history of ancient Greece. In 480 B.C Leonidas led an army of 6,000 to 7,000 Greeks from many city-states, including 300 Spartans, who fought the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae. Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes could pass. The Persians succeeded in defeating the Greeks but sustained heavy losses. A local resident named Ephialtes led the Persian general by a mountain track to the rear of the Greeks. King Leonidas sent away all the Greek troops and stayed behind with 300 Spartans, 400 Thebans, and 700 Thespian volunteers who refused to leave. They were all killed on the battlefield, protecting their homeland.