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Malis and the Malian Gulf

The land of the Malians at the head of the Malian Gulf, north of Thermopylae, 480 BCE

Malis was the small country of the Malians round the head of the Malian Gulf, between the Spercheius river and the pass of Thermopylae. Its towns included Anticyra, Trachis and Anthela. In 480 Xerxes' army crossed it to reach the pass, and a Malian, Ephialtes, showed him the path over the mountain.

In the game: Malis is the land of the Thermopylae level. Its gulf, its shepherds and fishermen, and Ephialtes of Malis appear in the level's notes, chatter and field briefings.

The tidal gulf

Ancient account

Herodotus says Xerxes came into the Malian land along a gulf where the sea ebbs and flows every day, which he thought worth noting. The first city from the north was Anticyra, where the Spercheius flows out, and then came the rivers Dyras, Melas and Asopus. The gulf shore lies kilometres further out today because of the Spercheius's silt.

Herodotus 7.198-200

Ephialtes the Malian

Ancient account

Herodotus names Ephialtes son of Eurydemus, a Malian, as the man who told Xerxes of the path over the mountain, hoping for a great reward. He adds that the Amphictyons later put a price on his head, and that he fled to Thessaly. Others named different men, and Herodotus says he gives his own judgement.

Herodotus 7.213-214

The Malians on the King's side

Ancient account

The Malians gave earth and water to Xerxes' heralds with the Thessalians and others of the north. At Plataea the next year Malians stood in Mardonius's line among the Greeks of the King's side, facing the Athenians, Plataeans and Megarians.

Herodotus 7.132, 9.31

Anthela and the Amphictyons

Ancient account

Herodotus says that at Anthela, near the pass, there was a temple of Demeter Amphictyonis, with seats for the Amphictyons, the league of peoples who met there and at Delphi. The meeting place gave the small land of Malis a part in the affairs of all Greece.

Herodotus 7.200