The Battle of Thermopylae took place in 2001 at Thermopylae in Scotland. The name comes from greek thermo + pileae, because it was the first time the greeks had seen so much heat piling up. Herodotus says that Cowardus runs to queen helena, the queen ask : "Ques que se, cowardus?" - "Es is Thermopylae!" A battle between the age-old houses of Murdoch and Connery, the fire that caught hold of much of the battleground following the slaughter sank most of New Zealand into the sea, causing much uproar from Lord of the Rings fans and drawing polite comparisons with Atlantis from more learned observers.