Throughout history, tales of legendary last stands have immortalized the courageous sacrifice of the brave soldiers who were willing to lay down their lives for something greater than themselves. One of the most famous heroic last stands in history was the Battle of Thermopylae, where a vastly outnumbered Greek force faced off against a seemingly unstoppable, massive force of Persians. The movie 300 depicts this last stand by romanticizing and emphasizing the role that the Spartans played against the Persian invaders. Although the movie does make an effort to stay true to the historical record, it does employ some artistic freedom in order to create a more dramatic and action-filled film. Some changes that stray away from the original sources …show more content…
Throughout the movie, the Spartans are shown as heavily disciplined, fearless, and almost invincible in combat. Diodorus, another prominent historian regarding the Battle of Thermopylae, describes the Spartans as "superior in valor" and leaving the pass "strewn with dead bodies" (7). Their courage is especially seen on the third day of battle as the Spartans were surrounded. In the face of certain death, they gave their lives for all of Greece and "defended themselves to the last, such as still had swords using them, and the others resisting with their hands and teeth" (Herodotus, 225). This strong fighting spirit and resolve that the Spartans show is reminiscent of elite forces that have fought throughout history, especially in the face of tremendous odds. However, the movie does slightly deviate from the historical record in an attempt to humanize the Spartans. On the second day of battle, the Spartan captain's son was killed, so he went on a rampage and had to be pulled back by the others (1:14:00). Although this most likely did not occur, many have seen loved ones fall in battle and its inclusion presents the realities of war. As the Spartans were people too, so were the Persians that were fighting them. In some portions of the battle, the movie revealed the fear that swept many …show more content…
The portrayal of the battle tactics and technology, battlegrounds, and characters serve to give the movie credibility as a representation of the battle as they mostly match the accounts of Herodotus and Diodorus, along with several other sources. Although there were things in the film that were not found in the documents, it does not take away from the fact that it represents the realities of battle. The movie illustrates that the combatants were people too, not just pawns in a war. They had feelings, families, and fought for something that they believed in. Even though in the end the defenders at Thermopylae were defeated, it was their courage and belief in self-sacrifice rather than muscle and metal that saved all of Greece. This representation of the Battle of Thermopylae creates an action-packed film, but it also tells a story of true people stood against the annihilation of their way of life in order to show the true realities of
The Battle of Thermopylae was the first between the Greeks and Persians during the Persian invasion of 480 – 479BC. The Greek force was very small compared to the Persians but was determined to make a stand against the huge army of 300,000 Persians suggested by modern historians compared to Herodotus account of the army consisting of 1700 000 men. The Greeks chose to defend a narrow pass, or gap, between the mountains of central Greece and the sea, called Thermopylae.
"You Are There- A novel set in ancient Greece revisits a key battle between Sparta and Persia". The New York Times Book Review, Nov. 1, 1998 Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermpoylae. New York: Doubleday
“No man ever proves himself a good man in war unless he can endure to face the blood and the slaughter, go against the enemy and fight with his hands.” The preceding was quoted from “The Spartan creed” by the poet Tyrtaeus. There are two authors in this primary resource reading which include Tyrtaeus as well as Xenophon, whom authored “The laws and customs of the Spartans”. These two works give great detail to the Spartan society. As history has presented it, Sparta was a smaller polis and yet was one of the most, if not most, influential societies in history. What we know of this culture comes to us from excavation of its heritage as well as literary works such as these. But are these “eyes” into history factual and creditable enough to base our own interpretations of such a masterful race? These writings are great resources for Spartan’s war enhanced values and societal customs, but lack in evidence of governmental affairs and religion. This lacking may have been due to both writer’s motives for their work.
Good afternoon, I’ve been asked to speak with you about the historical accuracy of recent popular culture incarnations of both Spartan and Persian ideology and in particular I’ve chosen to evaluate Zack Snyder’s 2007, movie 300 in order to demonstrate to you it’s compatibility between ancient sourced depictions of both Spartan and Persian philosophy.
The battle I will be discussing is the battle of Tora Bora. The engagement took place in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan from December 12, 2001 to December 17, 2001. The units involved were from the CIA, numerous Special Forces groups, Pakistani soldiers and local anti-Taliban fighters. The mission given to the forces was to kill Osama bin Laden from the caves, leave the body with the Taliban and disrupt the Al Qaeda organization by removing their leader. The intent was to infiltrate the cave system, remove bin Laden and return home.
When the Persian fleet had arrived at Aphetae, Eurybides, the commander of the small amount of ships that Sparta had sent, wished to turn tail, and return home. Themistocles used bribe of thirty talents to keep him, and his ships at the front. (Herodotus, 1954) Themistocles, seeing the overwhelming navy of the Persians conducted a plan: When the fighting broke out, the highly-trained Greeks would allow themselves to become encircled. At the first blow of the signal horn, the triremes would form a ‘close circle – bows outward, sterns to the centre.’ From this position, they had no mobility; the only direction in which they could move was forward, and that is exactly what they did. On the second signal blast, these lighter and faster Greek triremes rammed the Persian ships, and with their bronze-sheathed battering rams on the bow of the ships, caused great damage to the enemy ships. (Herodotus, 1954) Another tactic that Themistocles used was his discussion to initiate the battle in the mid to late afternoon. One cannot fight at sea when dark, and he knew that; making sure that this was done minimised casualties for the Greeks and tired out the Persian men, who had been ready to begin fighting since the very early morning. Overall, this decision made sure the battle had a fast conclusion. When they got word of the massacre at Thermopylae, however, Themistocles called a retreat, as they were only holding the pass to prevent Xerxes using his navy to assist his men at Thermopylae, and at this moment in time, there were no men at Thermopylae that were worth protecting, anymore. (Last Stand of the 300,
The battle of Thermopylae was the Greek’s first stand against the massive army of King Xerxes, and was the most influential battle of the entire war. Up to this point, the Persian army was seen as too massive and powerful to be stopped. The once warring city-states of Greece knew they couldn’t stand against the Persians alone, and knew in order to defend their homeland they would have to unite. A unity of command was agreed upon; King Leonidas of Sparta was chosen to lead the Greek forces. He was chosen to lead because of the unsurpassed warring abilities the Spartans were so well known for made him perfect for the objective of stopping the Persians.
After his army's victory in Thermopylae, King Xerxes fervently wanted more information on the rare soldiers that confronted his limitless army, those reckless Spartans that faced insurmountable odds and refused to surrender even though their only alternative was gruesome death.
“A New Historicist article… teases out the many contributing causes that brought about disparate social elements in that way” (Mays, 2352). The movie shows the build-up to the battle of 300 Spartan soldiers against the armies of Persia, albeit in artistic and stylized manner. It covers the tensions and political drama that led to the clashing of men, as well as showing the historical context in which it took place. “..New Historicism doubts the accessibility of the past, insisting that all we have is discourse” (Mays, 2351). 300 doesn’t concern itself with trying to trying to access the past, but puts on an artistic representation of what happened that can be discussed in a modern
Dienekes was one of the three hundred sent so Xeones went with him. Xeones explains the battle and how the Spartans fought until the last man was killed. Xeones tells of how he was meant to be the only survivor so that he could tell the story of the Spartans bravery. Because of the S...
This war involves a human side, including the admission of fear and scenes of domestic life, not in a sentimentalized version. This more complete and responsible depiction shows that there's not one single center to the war, just as there's not one single god for the Greeks.
...the Battle of Thermopylae as an example of the power of a patriotic army defending native soil. The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.The fame of Thermopylae is thus principally derived, not from its effect on the outcome of the war, but for the inspirational example it set. Thermopylae is famous because of the heroism of the doomed rearguard, who, despite facing certain death, remained at the pass. Ever since, the events of Thermopylae have been the source of effusive praise from many sources; e.g. "...the fairest sister-victories which the Sun has ever seen, yet they would never dare to compare their combined glory with the glorious defeat of King Leonidas and his men.
While the army reached Thermopylae intact, the fleet suffered at the hand of two storms, with Herodotus attributing them to God attempting to equalize the opposing forces . The disparity between the size of the Persian and the size of the Greek forces was huge – thus, the Greeks’ strategy relied on geography . Holding the narrows at Thermopylae and the concurrent straits of Artemisium meant that Xerxes’ numerical superiority was reduced. It was here, on land and sea, that Greece showcased the superiority of it...
...ons as exacty as can be expected.” (Thuc) By this quote, Thucydides means that yes, some of the data we receive may be flawed, but by evaluating and analysing the data, the truth can be found. Thucydides himself received eye witness accounts from the conflict and was involved in it himself. He was able to get among the people and see the impact the war had on people, which was mostly negative, with the Athenians made to move to the city and leave their homes , to be confronted by the plague, or an even worse situation in Corcyra where friends and family turned on one another. But, it was also important to look at the impact that this war had on the future of Greece, for instance, economic burden and loss of empire and consider more than just the fighting that occurs during the war time and rather, look at the people and the impact it had on the lives of the masses.
...rated the superiority of the Greek long spear and armor over the weapons of the Persians, as well as the superior tactics of Miltiades and the military training of the Greek hoplites. The choice of weapons, training of warriors, selection of battle site, and timing had all worked together to help the Athenians prove that size doesn’t always matter.