The Vale of Tempe image - Wildfire Games

The Tempe Pass is a strategic pass in Greece since it is the main route from Larisa through the mountains to the coast. Because of this it has been the scene of numerous battles throughout history. However, it can be bypassed from the Sarantoporo Pass with which does take longer. In 480 BC 10,000 Athenians and Spartans tried to stop Xerxes's invasion, but the Persians bypassed the Greek force by marching through Sarantoporo. During the Third Macedonian War in 164 BC the Romans broke through Perseus of Macedon's defenses and later defeated him in the battle of Pydna. During the revolution of Andriskos in 148 BC the valley was the site of another conflict. There were other battles fought there during the barbarian raids that mark the end of the Roman era in Greece and then later in Byzantine and Ottoman times.

The scene in this screenshot depicts the Spartan and Athenian commanders (along with their entourage) deciding to abandon their position at the mouth of the Vale.