Demophilus of Thespiae

Demophilus (Greek: Δημόφιλος Demophilos), according to Herodotus, was the commander of a contingent of 700 Thespians at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC). His father was Diadromes (Διαδρόμης).^[1]

Demophilus and his men fought at the battle and at the end they stood along with the 300 Spartans at the last stand, all were killed.^[2] The ancient Greek traveler and geographer Pausanias also wrote about the stay of the Thespians at Thermopylae together with the Spartans.^[3]

After the Battle of Thermopylae, the Persian army burned down the city of Thespiae. The citizens had fled to the Peloponnese.^[4] Later, the Thespians fought against the Persian army at the Battle of Plataea (479 BC).^[5]

Demophilos is immortalised in many books and movies. In the 1962 movie The 300 Spartans, Demophilus was portrayed by the Greek actor Yorgos (George) Moutsios.^[6]

In Thermopylae, there is a monument in memory of him and his men; it is next to the monument of Leonidas. There is also a monument to Demophilus in the modern Thespies.