Crossword Genius

Complex play on Rome lost in the battle (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thermopylae

'battle' is the definition.
(I know that Thermopylae is a pitched battle)

'complex play on rome lost in the' is the wordplay.
'complex' is an anagram indicator.
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'lost in' is an insertion indicator.
'play'+'rome'='playrome'
'playrome' with letters rearranged gives 'ermopyla'.
'ermopyla' going within 'the' is 'THERMOPYLAE'.

(Another definition for thermopylae that I've seen is " Ancient Greek battle".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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