By Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - They defied a vast Persian army in 480 BC, rejected Italy's ultimatum during World War Two and told Europe to take a hike when presented with an unpalatable bailout deal in July, risking Greece's place in the euro zone. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras invoked that legacy when he made the crucial decision in June to call a referendum to reject bailout terms set by international creditors, only to accept a longer term loan deal days later on stricter conditions. Interviews with more than half a dozen ministers and aides involved in the crucial turning point in the Greek debt crisis highlight how Tsipras seized on the tradition of saying 'No' to escape a seemingly impossible political predicament.