How did the Battle of Thermopylae help Athens?

Answer 1

It bought time.

If the battle hadn't taken place then the Athenians would not have been able to retreat around the coast and eventually use its navy to mount a counter-attack.

Another view:

It helped them not at all. They had all the time they needed to evacuate their city and prepare for battle in the months that the Persian army and fleet assembled in Asia Minor and ponderously made their way across into Europe and down the coast of Greece.

The purpose of the Thermopylai defence was to provoke a sea battle in the strait opposite at Artemesion. The sea battle failed, and was successfully refought by the Greek navies at Salamis.

For more information on the strategies of both sides see the related question below:

Answer 2

Thermopylae was a holding action to force the Persians to try to turn the position by a naval attack. The Greek fleet was waiting to pounce, hoping to destroy the Persian fleet and so remove its threat to the Greek cities. With that gone, the Greek cities could send out their armies to combine and defeat the Persian army.

The Greek fleet lost the naval battle at Artemesion beside the pass, so the holding of the pass at Thermopylae was to no avail. Athens was evacuated and captured by the Persian army.

The Greeks succeeded in a later naval battle at Salamis.

Answer 3

The defence of the pass at Thermopylae fulfilled its purpose of forcing the Persians to outflank it by sea, and so precipitated a sea battle with the Greek fleet lying in wait in the strait of Artemesion beside the Thermopylae Pass. Athens provided a major part of that fleet, but had no soldiers at the Pass as they were all aboard its warships.

As the Greeks lost the sea battle, the blocking force in the Pass was withdrawn as it had no further purpose. The Spartan and Thespian army contingents stayed behind to cover their withdrawal and were slaughtered.

So the minor action at the Pass helped the Athenians not at all. They went ahead with their evacuation of Athens, sent their families to sanctuary in other southern Greek cities and prepared to fight on at sea while the Persians occupied their city.

Answer 4

The Battle of Thermopylae gave the Athenians the time they needed to assemble 200 ships.

Answer 5

spartans