The pass of Thermopylae, known for the historic battle in the fifth century BCE where the Persian invaders were defeated by a group of Greek forces, has a straightforward etymology. The prefix thermo- means “hot,” as seen in words like thermometer and thermostat. The suffix pylae, also seen in the word pylon, is a Latin-influenced form of the plural of pyle, meaning “gate,” “pass,” or “entrance.” Therefore, Thermopylae translates to “hot gates,” referring to the area’s sulfur springs and its role as an entrance to Thessaly. In Greek mythology, it was also considered the gateway to the underworld, adding a deeper significance to the name.
