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Thermopylae

Thermopylae

Texas 144.1

Regular price $7.00 Sale

Thermopylae - the narrow pass where 300 took their stand against overwhelming odds.

Ancient History

Molon labe (Ancient Greek: μολὼν λαβέ, romanized: molṑn labé), Pronounced: mo-lone lah-beh;

I means; 'come and take [them]', is a classical expression of defiance. It is among the Laconic phrases reported by Plutarch, attributed to King Leonidas.

In 480 BC, Persia was invading Greece. The Spartans were the only group of people standing in their way. King Leonidas chose a narrow pass called Thermopylae to maximize their defensive efforts. The Persian King Xerxes demanded the Spartans surrender and put down their weapons.

Leonidas' response was “Molon Labe”, or “Come and take them.”

American History

Fort Morris - 1778

"The British commander, Colonel Fuser, demanded Fort Morris' surrender through a written note to the American rebels. Though clearly outnumbered (he had only about 200 men plus artillery), Colonel McIntosh's defiant written response to the British demand included the following line: "As to surrendering the fort, receive this laconic reply: COME AND TAKE IT!". The British declined to attack, in large part due to their lack of intelligence regarding other forces in the area. Colonel Fuser believed a recent skirmish in the area, combined with Colonel McIntosh's bravado, might have reflected reinforcements and so the British withdrew." - Wikipedia

Texas

"In early January 1831, Green DeWitt wrote to Ramón Músquiz, the top political official of Bexar, and requested armament for defense of the colony of Gonzales. This request was granted by delivery of a small used cannon. The small bronze cannon was received by the colony and signed for on March 10, 1831, by James Tumlinson, Jr. The swivel cannon was mounted to a blockhouse in Gonzales and later was the object of Texas pride. At the minor skirmish known as the Battle of Gonzales—the first land battle of the Texas Revolution against Mexico—a small group of Texans successfully resisted the Mexican forces who had orders from Colonel Domingo de Ugartechea to seize their cannon. As a symbol of defiance, the Texans had fashioned a flag containing the phrase "come and take it" along with a black star and an image of the cannon that they had received four years earlier from Mexican officials. This was the same message that was sent to the Mexican government when they told the Texans to return the cannon; lack of compliance with the initial demands led to the failed attempt by the Mexican military to forcefully take back the cannon." - Wikipedia

  • 3x2"
  • Twill/Embroidered Black/Grey
  • Hook Backing
  • Release: 2/2/2021