Molon labe, meaning ‘come and take [them]’, is a classical expression of defiance. It is among the Laconic phrases reported by Plutarch, attributed to King Leonidas I in reply to the demand by Xerxes I that the Spartans surrender their weapons. The exchange between Leonidas and Xerxes occurs in writing, on the eve of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC).
Bibliography
“Molon Labe.” 2023. Wikipedia, January. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Molon_labe&oldid=1131324700.