Ephialtes of Trachis

Ephialtes of Trachis was a Greek man from Malis who betrayed his countrymen by showing Xerxes the secret mountain path (the Anopaea path) that allowed the Persians to outflank the Greek defenders at Thermopylae in 480 BCE. According to Herodotus, he was motivated by a desire for a monetary reward. His act of treachery forced Leonidas to dismiss most of the Greek allies and make his famous last stand; in Greek culture, the name Ephialtes became synonymous with traitor and also means 'nightmare.'

• Nationality: greek
• Roles: other