In August 480BC, a handful of Greeks managed to change the course of history helping shape Western civilisation as we know it. It took nearly 2,500 years for an act of defiance as significant as the battle of Thermopylae to take place again ... and the parallels between these two historic events couldn’t have been starker.

On July 5 2015, the day of the Greek referendum, a coalition government comprising two groups representing vastly differing political convictions managed to rally the vast majority of the nation behind a resounding No vote and blocking the advances of the modern-day enemy, the same way Leonidas and his 300 Spartans had united the conflicting Hellenic state-nations against the advancing Persian hordes.

And as a modern-day warrior King, Alexis Tsipras, the Greek Prime Minister has had 72 hours ahead of him between the day after the referendum and today (July 7) to fight the battle of his life for the lives of millions of Greek people, exactly as did Leonidas who fought for three days before his honourable death on the battlefield.

Back then, as is the case today, the Greeks were vastly outnumbered. And yet on both occasions they managed to put together two of history’s most famous last stands.

Greeks woke up on Monday with mixed feelings, dazed, confused and uncertain as to what the future holds for them. Yet, despite the various shaky scenarios regarding the reopening of the banking system and the return to liquidity and economic normality, Greeks can’t help but have an overwhelming feeling of pride accompanied by a smirk on their lips.

For Greek expats in the UAE and the GCC and those in the diasporas of America, Australia and elsewhere, a Yes or a No vote wouldn’t have made a huge difference to their lives and lifestyles. Other than having to care and cater for family members back home by chipping in to help them get by, not much else will change.

But the significant margin of the No vote has given Greeks everywhere — and millions of other Europeans — something that a Yes vote couldn’t possibly have, — the four-letter word that had been lost from the lips and minds of vast segments of the community for a while now. ‘Hope’ has returned and with it the optimism that those governing the fortunes of the Continent’s nations will reconsider, rethink, re-evaluate and eventually readjust the injustice inflicted upon millions as a result of the stubborn and steadfast fascination with austerity policies.

The onus is now on both the Greek government and its lenders to calmly deliberate the deeper meanings and messages that emanated from the people’s vote and work together for a solution. One that will eventually help Greece see light at the end of the tunnel, away from personal, selfish and egotistical considerations.

This should not be about exacting revenge upon the Greek people for their defiance against all odds. This should not be about the smirk on the face of the Greeks.

This should not be considered as a divisive action designed to split and eventually dismantle the European Union but rather as an act that will further cement the principles and ideals upon which European unification was conceived and built upon.

This must be about the beginning of a new era for everyone in Europe. All parties must rally behind an agreement that will herald a sustainable solution to the Greek debt crisis for a better today and a more hopeful tomorrow.

The writer is the Head of PR at Gmasco.