Over 10,000 Greek mercenaries, hired to help seize the Persian throne, were suddenly abandoned deep in enemy territory in 401 BC after their commander was killed in battle.
 Known as the Ten Thousand, these soldiers had been recruited by Cyrus the Younger. He intended to use their formidable fighting skills to depose his own brother, Artaxerxes II, and claim the Persian Empire for himself.
 The decisive confrontation came at the Battle of Cunaxa. The Greek hoplites fought with discipline and courage, securing a victory on their section of the battlefield. However, Cyrus, in a reckless charge, was killed.
 With Cyrus dead, the Greeks' purpose for being in Persia vanished. They were now a victorious army, yet stranded hundreds of miles from any friendly land, surrounded by a hostile empire.
 Their situation worsened significantly when Tissaphernes, a Persian satrap, feigned friendship. He lured the senior Greek generals and officers into a trap under the guise of negotiations, then treacherously had them all executed.
 Leaderless and facing what seemed like certain doom, the remaining Greeks could have surrendered. Instead, they found new resolve.
 A younger officer, an Athenian named Xenophon, was among those who stepped forward to rally the demoralized troops. New leaders were elected, and they made a bold decision: to fight their way north to the Black Sea and then back to Greece.
 What followed was an epic march of survival spanning nearly two years, from 401 BC to 399 BC. The Ten Thousand battled their way through hostile tribes, crossed treacherous mountains, and endured harsh weather and starvation.
 Their discipline and tactical adaptability were constantly tested as they fought off pursuing Persian forces and navigated unfamiliar, unforgiving terrain.
 One of the most famous moments of their journey was when the vanguard reached a mountain pass and caught sight of the Black Sea, shouting "Thalatta! Thalatta!" ("The Sea! The Sea!") signifying they were nearing Greek-colonized lands.
 After an arduous journey of thousands of miles, the majority of the survivors eventually made their way back to Greece.
 Their incredible feat of endurance, leadership, and military prowess was recorded by Xenophon himself in his work, Anabasis, which remains a classic of military history and a testament to human resilience.