In short, the war started when xerxes i of persia modern day iran invaded greece with a force that modern scholars number anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 men. The last stand of the 300 spartans top documentary films. Battle of thermopylae in popular culture wikipedia. There may be some people who have never heard about it before, but it was the kind of battle that people made movies out of.
Students may be familiar with this famous battle from its depiction in zack snyders movie 300, based on frank millers graphic novel. Did any of the 300 spartans survive the battle of thermopylae. King leonidas of sparta and a force of 300 men fight the persians at thermopylae in 480 b. Leonidas spent two weeks at thermopylae repairing the phocan wall and fought most of the time behind this defense, fighting in relays in order for tired troops to dress wounds and eat. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. The movie 300 captures this heroic story of valor and sacrifice in a way comparable to the great movies such as gladiator, the patriot, and the last of the mohicans. Last stand of the 300 provides a good condensed view of the battle at thermopylae, events prior and some consequences in the aftermath. How did the historical battle of thermopylae differ from its.
In this lesson students learn about the historical background to the battle and are asked to ponder some of its legacy, including how history is reported and interpreted from different perspectives. Soon after the battle, the greeks built a stone lion in honour of those who had died and specifically for the fallen king leonidas. Rise of an empire 2014 while king leonidas and his 300 spartans have their date with destiny at thermopylae, another battle against the persians is brewing, this time at sea. Thermopylae kolonos hill and the 300 spartans 1 by stephen maybury.
The battle of thermopylae also served as the inspiration for the film 300. In zack snyders 300, the battle of thermopylae, the life of the spartans and the glory of war comes to life on the big screen for all audiences worldwide. Ten years after the defeat at marathon, the persian invasion of greece was resumed by king xerxes in 480 bce. 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. 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. The legendary battle of thermopylae the 300 spartans by dices.
The real history behind the hollywood fiction of spartas participation at battle of thermopylae and its 300 spartans sacrifice. From a combined force of 7,000 allied greek forces holding the pass of thermopylae, to the athenian sea battle fending off the persian fleet from flanking the spartans and the allied greek ground troops holding thermopylae, to the persians destruction of athens. The history channel documentary take a look at how leonidas and the spartans battled and maintained position during their fight with the persians. A historic battle between good and evil, an alamo of our time. Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. Mar 12, 2019 the battle of thermopylae, fought between the greeks and the persians in 480 bce, has gone down in history as one of the most significant last stands of all time, despite the fact the hero, the greeks, walked away from this battle defeated and on the brink of complete destruction.
This against all odds story is passed to us from the writings of the greek herodotus, who was not present at the battle himself. 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. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. Battle of thermopylae scene from the movie 300 youtube. Both are fictionalized retellings of the battle of thermopylae within the persian wars. Analysis of the movie 300 the battle of thermopylae 1560 words 7 pages. Yes, it was a true story, although the movie wasnt historically correct on some points, it was a more of a glorification of the actual event.
The movie 300 and the real battle of thermopylae the battle of thermopylae. Themistocles of athens calls an emergency meeting of all the greek rulers and king leonidas of sparta suggests that his legions check the persians at the narrow pass of thermopylae, thereby giving the other grecian states time to. Were there really only 300 spartans at the battle of thermopylae. 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 thermopylae against the mighty persians.
Emperor xerxes of persia plans a massive invasion of greece. In 1955 a statue of leonidas was erected by king paul of greece in commemoration of his and his troops bravery. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. Of course it tells the story of one of the most famous battles of the ancient world thermopylae where king leonidas of sparta, and his personal guard of 300 men, held offat least for a timethe countless hordes of xerxes of persia, who was determined to atone. The movie 300 was made in 2006 and is a retelling of this famous battle. After the movie 300 came out in 2006, the story of the battle of thermopylae in 480 bce became globally recognized. With gerard butler, lena headey, david wenham, dominic west. Rise of an empire butchers greekpersian history time. The movie 300 is based on an actual battle, the battle.
The legend is fabulous, the real story is astonishing. After three days resisting the much larger persian army of xerxes i, greek forces were betrayed by ephialtes and sent into retreat by their leader, leonidas, who died during a final stand. Oct 22, 2019 a compromise was needed between sending a full army and keeping their divine favor. The battle of thermopylae is literally a textbook case, required reading even to this day at military colleges and officer training around the world. Battle of thermopylae, battle in northern greece 480 bc in the persian wars. At the battle of thermopylae, gerard butlers leonidas, king of. The 300 movie it was a great success when it premiered in 2006 under the direction of zack snyder. A war between several thousand greek spartans lead by their king leonidas against three hundred thousand to a million persians lead by xerxes. The 300 spartans is a 1962 historical drama directed by rudolph mat. Xerxes army numbered no more than 250,000 not the 5 million that herodotus states. At the battle of thermopylae, leonidas gerard butler, king of the greek city state of sparta, leads his badly outnumbered warriors against the. These have appeared in a range of media from plain text to historical fantasy. There is a little too much repetition of similar computer animations, though the graphics do help explain stages of the battle and campaign. World premiere, london greek film festival, may, 2016, winner.
The original against all odds battle 300 spartans at the. Aug 07, 2019 the 2006 film 300 told the fantastical story of the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, when a handful of spartans fought the entirety of persias armies for three days. Its story is based on the famous battle of thermopylae, quote the battle of thermopylae r. There were several instances where the director should have stuck to the real historical accounts. Made with the cooperation of the greek government, it was shot in the v. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. As a result, almost everyone knows about the 300 spartans who died trying to hold back the persian empires 300,000strong army on its way to conquer greece.
Here, the mighty persian war machine, which has conquered most of the known world, will attempt an expansion into europe. Nov 16, 2019 zack snyders 2007 fantasy historical film, 300, has probably made the battle of thermopylae one of the most famous battles of the ancient world. Directed by zack snyder, whose first feature film was the 2004 makeover of the horror classic dawn of the dead, 300 digitally recreates the battle of thermopylae in 480 b. Nevertheless, he did stick to the gist of what actually happened pretty much. A detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc greece between leonidas and his 300 spartans versus xerxes 250, 000 persian invaders. Sep 18, 2009 in 480 bc a small force of spartans, thespians, and thebans led by king leonidas approximately 300 were full spartiates, 700 were thespians, and 400 were thebans. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. The movie 300 was made in 2006 and is a retelling of this famous battle during the persian wars in 479 bc.
With alex copeland, patrick frost, peter godfrey, josif jovanovski. The film was directed by zack snyder, while miller served as executive producer and consultant. Instead of taking the hippeis his 300 strong bodyguard of the best young men, leonidas departed with 300 veterans. Zac snyders movie, 300, came under fire for its fanciful retelling of the battle of thermopylae. Excluding the huge problems with the equipment for example spartans fighting with no armour or t. King leodinas richard egan rallies the locals to stop the attack of thousands of plundering persian. King leonidas, who leads 300 spartans into battle against the persian. Back then, persia was the superpower, while greece was a collection of citystates. The greeks spartans and allies knew they were outnumbered and hadnt a prayer, so it was no surprise that the persians won the battle of thermopylae. King leonidas of sparta and the epic battle of the 300 at. How did the historical battle of thermopylae differ from.
The movie 300 is based on an actual battle, the battle of thermopylae the battle of thermopylae, in 480 bc which took place during the second persian invasion of greece. The movie, 300, released in 2006 is based on the graphic novel written by frank miller, 300. Its long been a fascinating subject, but it hit popular culture in a big way with the 2007 feature film 300, based on the graphic novel by frank miller. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. The real battle of thermopylae battle of 300 spartans. Analysis of the movie 300 the battle of thermopylae. On the last day of the battle, leonidas was surrounded and sent most of his troops away covering their retreat with a valiant last stand. Based on the epic graphic novel by frank miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the battle of thermopylae. A colorful action film about the battle of thermopylae in 480 b. Facing insurmountable odds, their valour and sacrifice inspire all of greece. It is based on the true story of the ancient battle of thermopylae. Baker, orion barnes, erin bennett, kristopher blount.
He relates the story of 300 spartans and 700 thespians defending the pass of thermopylae against almost 2 million. The battle of thermopylae of 480 bce has long been a subject of cultural fascination, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. Persia had invaded greece in 492 bc, but was kicked out two years later at. Based on the comic of the screenwriter and filmmaker frank miller who bore the same title, 300, he recounts the events that took place at the battle of thermopylae that confronted the persians, whose head included xerxes, and a group of greek cops, among they sparta commanded by leonidas. 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. However, the film has more fantasy than history in it. The 300 spartans is a 1962 cinemascope epic film depicting the battle of thermopylae. S hortly after the 2007 release of 300 zack snyders computerized gorefest about the ancient battle of thermopylae the iranians issued an. Last stand of the 300 is an interesting 90minute documentary from the history channel explaining the details of the ancient spartans showdown with the persian army at the battle of thermopylae. Leonidas and his 300 spartans and the battle of thermopylae. Putting aside the myths and legends surrounding the 300 spartans, this documentary takes a detailed look at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, leading to the last stand of the 300 spartans, other greeks and the great spartan king, leonidas. Battle of thermopylae, in which the spartan king leonidis, played by richard egan, led a remarkably small number of men to victory over an invading persian army led by evil king xerxes that was about 20 times as large. Most people are aware that the leader of the greeks during the battle was leonidas of sparta. Other than the points already made in the other answers, the battle in the film also did a very poor job in capturing how both sides actually fought.
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