"Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World"

[hoplite14gr]

We are currently reserch the Phokian and Lokrian armies as part of our shield device project. After the 1st Holy War (Kirrean) very few of the 22 cities of the Phokian confederation could provide hoplites. Also most of the fighting done against the Thessalians was done in terrain unsuitable for the phalanx. The Phokian army had mostly psiloi/peltasts and "ekdromoi type" hoplites. Only in the last Holy War by ursuping the Delfic money and hiring mercenaries they got enough hoplites, cavalry and artillery.
The hoplites were minority in the Phokian force guarding the Kalidromo pass.
The Persian archers worked havoc in the light armored men and the hoplites did not press the charge as the Spartans did. For the psiloi to get covered in the rocks and trees they had to clear the open ground and so the few hoplites retreated too. So in my opinion the Leonidas should have sent at least the Myceneans and Phleiasians to bolster the Phokians.
Kind regards