Because the olympic games were occurring at the same time as the expected persian invasion, the greek alliance sent only a small advance guard. The battle of thermopylae is one of historys most celebrated last stands. These have appeared in a range of media from plain text to historical fantasy. Having the spartans lose would not be satisfactory to the. Soldiers are philosophers by trade, as opposed to nature. Lets take for example the spartan political system at the time. The event has become a universal tale of courage and strength against insurmountable odds, inspiring the mythical spartan valor in modern culture. The movie, 300, released in 2006 is based on the graphic novel written by frank miller, 300. Perhaps the biggest problem with the movie 300 is that the film leaves the audience believing that the spartans were the only greek force to lead an attack against the persians. The movie focuses on the use of the classical past to portray everything from the upbringing of a spartan to the bravery of king leonidas and the 300 spartans on the battle fields of. Leonidas sent the local contingent to defend anopaea, a singlefile pass near thermopylae, while the 300 spartans and others remained on the narrow, yet somewhat larger pass of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae has been recreated in various mediums throughout the centuries, most recently in the movie 300. Battle of thermopylae, 480 bce, battle in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae during the persian wars.
The real 300 spartans history behind the frank miller 300 graphic novel and the film. The battle of thermopylae also served as the inspiration for the film 300 2006. Similarities and differences between herodotus the. They focus on king leonidas, the young foot soldier stelios, and the storyteller dilios to highlight the spartans aweinspiring toughness and valor. Why the legend of the spartan 300 still inspires us today. The legendary defense of the spartans at the hot gates of thermopylae has gone down in military history as one of the greatest last stands. The historical inaccuracies in 300 today i found out. Battle of thermopylae spartans vs persians youtube. Frank miller gives the story of leonidas and the battle of thermopylae a mythical treatment in his graphic novel 300. George cawkwell suggests that the gap between thermopylae and salamis was caused by xerxes systematically reducing greek opposition in phocis and boeotia, and not as a result of the battle of thermopylae.
Claiming that 300 isnt based on the battle of thermopylae because inbetween the actual battle and the making of the movie somebody produced a graphic novel of the battle is like saying shakespeares julius caesar isnt based on the life of julius caesar because inbetween plutarch and other roman historians wrote biographies of caesar the. Spenta productions the truth behind 300 for many iranians the cinematic movie 300 may come as a shocking revelation. This was a great telling of the battle of thermopylae. Analysis of the movie 300 the battle of thermopylae. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important. Its story is based on the famous battle of thermopylae, quote the battle of thermopylae r. The fall of reach by eric nylund refers to the thermopylae battle, in media. The battle that changed the world cartledge, paul on. The original 300 comicbookturnedmovie is just one example of this phenomenon. The battle of thermopylae is a battle in september 480 bc during the greekpersian war 480 479 bc. Writerartist frank miller and colorist lynn varley retell the battle of thermopylae in the exciting and moving graphic novel 300.
In one of the greatest, yet now forgotten, smallunit engagements in american history. Cross cultural connections the battle of thermopylae shares remarkable similarities with a battle described by sallust in his text, bellum catilinae, a text about the trial of catiline, a roman traitor who waged civil war. His accounts were instrumental in this book and for the history of the spartan 300. As herodotus claims in his record of the fight in book vii of the histories, the oracle at delphi had been demonstrated right when she declared that either sparta or one of her lords must fall. In 490 bc, after the defeat of the persians at marathon by the athenians and their allies, king darius began to gather an army to conquer athens and throughout greece for revenge.
It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. And what are the origins of the myth that just 300 spartans fought against. I havent read many graphic novels or comic books, but i sense that miller portrays leonidas like the superheroes of those media. It gives many important details that have been left out of other tellings. If the battle of thermopylae was fought today with 300. The first point should come as little surprise for a movie about the grecopersian wars, specifically the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc. The heroic fall of leonidas i and the 300 spartans. Battle of thermopylae greatest battles ancient history. The battle of thermopylae at the hot gates of greece. In 1955 a statue of leonidas was erected by king paul of greece in commemoration of his and his troops bravery. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. Find out what really happened at the battle of thermopylae in 480 b.
The movie leaves out the decisive amphibious battle that took place in the straits adjacent to thermopylae, where allied greek fleets led by athens held off the. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules. In the battle of 300 we read of a mighty king named xerxes. Is the xerxes of the movie 300 the same xerxes in the. Many of the greek soldiers, who fought with the spartan elite at the battle of thermopylae, were forced to fight because they were slaves.
After three days of holding their own against the persian king xerxes i and his vast southwardadvancing army, the greeks were betrayed, and the persians were able to. Made famous by the 1998 comic book and 2006 sword and sandal epic 300, the battle of thermopylae was the original against all odds conflict. Despite the awesomeness that is the 300 film and the sequel the epic battles, the amazing directing, the incredible cinematography by zack snyder, and all the impressive special effects our mission in this site is very specific, and thus, this article. T wo hundred and forty years ago, americas 300 moment occurred during the battle of brooklyn. It took place in a narrow gorge, called thermopylae, where a group of 300 spartan hoplites died heroically, blocking a way to the persian army of the tsar xerxes i. The fictionalized accounts of the battle have put thermopylae on the map.
Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Battle of thermopylae scene from the movie 300 youtube. I can only think of, were the guy runs back to sparta and tells the people about the battle. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. Choose from 282 different sets of thermopylae flashcards on quizlet. In herodotus the histories account of the battle of thermopylae their is no mention of the actions of queen gorgo, wife of king leonidas or the the events at sparta during the battle of. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian themistocles, met them by sea, most importantly at artemisium. It is the story of thermopylae, where king leonidas and the spartan 300 stood against. The spartan and thespian last stand has been immortalized in the works of herodotus and glorified in the 1962 movie the 300 spartans starring richard egan, along with many other mediums consisting of. Although there were 300 spartans present at the defense of thermopylae, there were at least 4,000 allies involved on the first two days and 1,500 men involved in the fatal last stand. In herodotus the histories account of the battle of thermopylae their is no mention of the actions of queen gorgo, wife of king leonidas or the the events at sparta during the battle of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. But to those of us who came up through americas school system, the battle of thermopylae, which is what the movie 300 is based on, is as familiar as george washingtons fabled cherry tree episode. The halo 2 volume 2 soundtack has a song titled finale.
They will read from herodotuss account of the battle at thermopylae, the narrow pass where 300 spartans and their greek allies made their lastditch stand against tens of thousands of xerxess invading army. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. After thermopylae after the war concluded, the anphyctionic league set up a memorable plaque to honor the brave sacrifice of the 300 spartans and allied greeks at thermopylae. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world.
The greek forces, mostly spartan, were led by leonidas. Thermopylae books about the battle of thermopylae thoughtco. Still a tiny figure compared to the forces against themthere is evidence that the vast persian army has been vastly exaggeratedbut more than the legend, which forgets some contributors. By guest in ancient greece, ancient world on march 21, 2016. Frank miller, author of the graphic novel 300, talked about the nature of the spartans in an interview, the spartans were a paradoxical people. This website is dedicated to king leonidas, the 300 spartans, 700 thespians and other greek warriors who fought to the death during the battle of thermopylae hot gates in august, 480 b. Written by our expert authors, these books can change the way you think.
The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. God king of the persians makes daily libations from book seven of herodotus. This book is about the battle of thermopylae in ancient greece, where 300. Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. The film promises to be a heavily stylized visual bacchanalia to be sure, but, in its subject matter and its timing, it promises to convey a message both about our understanding of the ancient past and our understanding of. Although the spartans were defeated and annihilated at thermopylae. If you have seen the movie 300 or read the graphic novel, compare the two versions of the story. I know 300 is said to be really close to the truth and unholleywood but what are some key diffrences.
Digg this frank millers graphic novel, 300, comes to theaters on march 9, putting the climactic battle between the ancient persians and the spartans on the big screen. Soon after the battle, the greeks built a stone lion in honour of those who had died and specifically for the fallen king leonidas. Learn thermopylae with free interactive flashcards. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The battle of thermopylae by 50 minutes book read online. What parts of the narrative seem to reinforce the fact that herodotus was a. But what if 300 marine infantrymen, along with a couple thousand other fighters, had to repeat what leonidas, 300 spartans, and their greek allies did in. The battle of thermopylae in 480 bc has become the archetype for the courageous last stand. So the battle of thermopylae included a land and sea component.
It is true that there was an epic battle at thermopylae where king leonidas of sparta took 300 soldiers, all with a male heir at home, into the hot gates. Battle of thermopylae scene from the movie 300 find more information about persian invasion of 480 bc on. Western democracy traces its roots to ancient greece, a land of squabbling citystates. With thermopylae lost, artemisum to the north was indefensible, putting an end to themistocless strategy of the concerted landsea defensive barrier. The battle of thermopylae fought between a massive persian. In ancient greece, women had no place in politics or debate unlike the film 300, in which queen gorgo argues her husbands case to send more spartan troops to thermopylae while he is fighting. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. When you start studying through the bible you will notice that the name xerxes appears in the book of ezra.
As the movie portrays his kingdom was large and he wanted to be treated like a god. What have you learned from reading herodotus that might alter your understanding of the battle of thermopylae. Why the legend of the spartan 300 still inspires us today greece is marking 2,500 years since the persian invasion was repulsed at the battle of thermopylae. But whats known about the battle between the forces of xerxes and leonidas. Similarities and differences between herodotus the histories and 300. Apart from comparing and contrasting the spartan culture with the rest of greece and.
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