It’s an interesting story, the runner heading for Sparta to ask them to get their asses in gear, and being told, no, we can’t make it just now.
The rest of it — Sparta’s showing up not long after the battle was over, to take control of Greece on behalf of their Persian allies, finding out instead that the real Greeks had prevailed.
I regard the Spartans as GINOs. :’)
Some other time I’ll post a topic about how the 700 Thespian warriors stuck in the fight at Thermopylae and shamed the Spartans into doing the same — and getting no credit for even having been there. :’)
It’s just that people have a hard time envisioning savage thespians. :-))