Which came first? · Tricky
Which came first: the Battle of Thermopylae or the death of Socrates?
The Battle of Thermopylae came first, in 480 BC (fought). The death of Socrates followed 81 years later, in 399 BC.
- First480 BC
The Battle of Thermopylae
event · foughtAt Thermopylae in 480 BC, a small Greek force led by 300 Spartans held off the Persian army for days.
- Second399 BC
The death of Socrates
person · diesSocrates was sentenced to death in Athens in 399 BC and drank hemlock.
More pairs that fool people
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All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games
Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.