Aristodemus the Trembler was a Spartan soldier who fought at the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE—but unlike the other Spartans who died heroically, Aristodemus is remembered for surviving, and for being disgraced because of it. Who was he? Aristodemus was one of the famous 300 Spartans chosen to fight alongside King Leonidas at Thermopylae against the invading Persian army of Xerxes I. He was one of two Spartans (alongside Eurytus) who suffered an eye infection and were temporarily bl