The Real 300: The Battle of Thermopylae

Just Like This, Right?

FIGHTS IN LEATHER SPEEDO 2007 Film DISCOVERS BRONZE FIGHTS IN LEATHER SPEEDO

Outline Spartans and Persians Lead-up to the battle The battle Significance

The Spartans Fierce warriors known for legendary fighting ability Saw death in battle as a great honor Raised as warriors from a young age Members of one of many city-states in Greece

Persians .

Persians Continued Empire covered much of the current Middle East and was the largest at the time of the wars (400's BCE) Contrary to the film 300's depiction, the Emperor Darius actually freed slaves where they ruled Was said to have a 1,000,000 man army. -Logistically impossible to have an army that big

Persian Empire ruling much of the developed world Emperor Darius had actually freed slaves during his rule, but still conquered Unsuccessful Ionian revolts from 499-494 angered Darius Ambassadors were sent to collect earth and water from Greeks Executed in Athens and Sparta (actually thrown down a well) Darius dies before action. Xerxes takes over

Transportation will be hard. Or will it?

Xerxes builds the first pontoon bridge ever Macedonians are in shock and immediately surrender Persians are now within striking distance of city states

Preparing for Battle In 480 BCE a united Greek council meets to discuss the issues The Athenians will lead up a sea battle Spartans will lead a stand at the hot gates at Thermopylae, a bottle neck to slow the advance.

A Sad Prophecy As before all major events, the Spartans consult the Oracle at Delphi It is predicted that their loved ones will die, or the Spartans will mourn the loss of a king Leonidas takes up the mission

Spartan Weaponry Large bronze shields Bronze chest plates Helmets varied by rank Spear “dory” was the main weapon and was nine feet long Also used either a “kopis” or a “xiphos” short sword for stabbing

The Immortals Wicker shields were ineffective against Spartans Scale armor under robes did not protect from Spartan weapons Short daggers and spears were ineffective against hoplite tactics Hood could be pulled over the face to add mysterious element Bronze v Straw

Day 1 Easy work for the Spartans Xerxes sends first wave only to get slaughtered. 2 or 3 Greek casualties Later he sends the Immortals who fare no better

Day 2 Persians attack again thinking the Spartans are weak Once again, the Persians are slaughtered A Trachinian traitor named Ephialtes tells Xerxes he has an idea

Day 3 20,000 Persians march around the mountain pass Leonidas hears of the move and chooses to stay and fight The Spartans fight to their death and die valiantly

Significance Potentially 20,000 Persians killed by a small Greek force Significance is greatly debated Some argue that it was simply a Greek defeat Others say it was an important delay for eventual victory For certain, it was an act of courage at the very least.

Hanson, Victor Davis. The Western Way of War: Hanson, Victor Davis. The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989 Holland, Tom (2006). Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West. New York: Doubleday. The Last Stand of the 300. The History Channel, 2007. DVD.