Spartans & ANZACs – 480 BC · 1941 – Exhibition

Australia had its own Thermopylae. We’ve just forgotten it.

In 480 BC, one of history’s most famous battles was fought in central Greece at the narrow coastal pass of Thermopylae. For three days, a few thousand Greeks—led by 300 Spartan warriors and their king, Leonidas I—held back a vast Persian army. Eventually encircled, the Spartans and their allies were killed. Their stand, however, allowed thousands of comrades to escape and fight on, leaving an enduring example of courage and sacrifice.

In April 1941, on the eve of Anzac Day, Australian and New Zealand troops returned to this same ground. Outnumbered and under relentless pressure from advancing German forces, ANZAC units used the rugged terrain of Thermopylae and nearby Brallos Pass to delay the enemy, enabling thousands of Allied soldiers to withdraw to safety.

SPARTANS & ANZACS draws a powerful connection between these two defining moments. It reveals how service, sacrifice and mateship transcend time, linking ancient warriors with modern soldiers in a shared legacy of courage.

This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict—and how these stories continue to shape the meaning of remembrance today.

Galleries of Remembrance
Free entry

This exhibition was supported by the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council.