How did the historical battle of thermopylae differ from. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. A tale that still captures the imagination of people thousands of years after the events took place. Dominic west based on the graphic novel 300 by frank miller and lynn varley. Based on frank millers graphic novel, 300 is very loosely based the 480 b. Although its fiction, a reader said he thought it should appear here. The battle of thermopylae parallels the main characters situation, in which they are outnumbered and realize that victory is unattainable but choose to fight for a purpose beyond the battle itself. 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. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae mass market paperback september 1, 1999. 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. 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. Thermopylae in the classroom environment the 300 spartans. This book is about the battle of thermopylae in ancient greece, where 300 spartans.
This documentary, like the feature, explores the legendary events that transpired in the year 480 b. If you saw or read frank millers 300 then you need to read this book. Based on all of these reason i would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys. An epic novel of the battle of thermopylae by steven. The first point should come as little surprise for a movie about the grecopersian wars, specifically the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc. A coalition based not on politics or political cooperation but of an alliance for. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. Battle of thermopylae, where the king of sparta led his army against the advancing persians. I was just trying to get franks book made into a movie. 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. Herodotusthucydides, written by robert maynard hutchins and. 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. The name of it is gates of fire written by steven pressfield.
The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. His accounts were instrumental in this book and for the history of the spartan 300. In 480 bc, a huge persian army, led by the inimitable king xerxes, entered the mountain pass of thermopylae as it marched on greece, intending to conquer the land with little difficulty. The engrossing history channel documentary last stand of the 300. But the greeksled by king leonidas and a small army of spartanstook the battle to the persians at thermopylae, and halted their advancealmost.
It gives many important details that have been left out of other tellings. The battle of thermopylaes political origins can be traced back to xerxes predecessor, darius i the great, who sent heralds to greek cities in 491 bce in the hopes of persuading them to accept persian authority. Soon after the battle, the greeks built a stone lion in honour of those who had died and specifically for the fallen king leonidas. In 1955 a statue of leonidas was erected by king paul of greece in commemoration of his and his troops bravery. Even with understanding 300 was based on the comic, i cannot watch the movie. According to history, king xerxes yep, the same guy who. Oct 20, 1998 gates of fire by steven pressfield this is a novel set around the events of the battle of thermopylae in ancient greece, the same battle that inspired the wellknown 300 graphic novel and film. The battle is revisited in countless adages and works of popular culture, such as in films e. Get a concise look at the history of the battle of thermopylae in just 60 minutes. Most people are aware that the leader of the greeks during the battle was leonidas of sparta. Nic fields has reduced the thermopylae battle to the shortest, most wellwritten and concise version that exists today. For the nonhistorians, check out pressfields gates of fire.
It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. It is the story of thermopylae, where king leonidas and the spartan 300 stood against. Oct 22, 2019 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. Battle of thermopylae in popular culture wikipedia. While it has been highly improbable in establishing the exact chronology of the battle of thermopylae since it occurred approximately 2,500 years ago, several authors have promulgated certain theories as to the date of the battle in 480 b. Mar 09, 2007 the first point should come as little surprise for a movie about the grecopersian wars, specifically the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc. The battle of thermopylae has been an integral part of the curriculum of many high schools, colleges and universities around the world. In the annals of heroism, the battle of thermopylae is an archetype, a classic.
Nov 11, 2012 first battle scene from the movie 300 2006. 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. The battle of thermopylae, sparta and her ancient greek allies against xerxes and the persian empire. Strangely enough, its a book of historical fiction. Both are fictionalized retellings of the battle of thermopylae within the persian wars. It is based on material from the wikipedia article battle of.
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. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae. This limited graphic series is considered as one of the most acclaimed works of frank miller. It was filmed mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique, to help replicate the. The battle of thermopylae between greeks led by leonidas and persians led by xerxes. A coalition based not on politics or political cooperation but of an. Descriptive texts and many photos of the battlefield and the modern monuments. However, the film has more fantasy than history in it. Find out what really happened at the battle of thermopylae in 480 b. In 480 the ephors sent leonidas with the 300 men of an allsire unit soldiers. Set in 480 bc, frank millers 300 retells the battle of thermopylae. The legendary battle at thermopylae offers an unofficial counterpoint to the hollywood blockbuster 300, starring gerard butler and lena headey. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae.
After the 2007 movie, which introduced thermopylae to the us and uk public, i say introduced, as most people i spoke to, who saw the movie, were so uninformed that they were unaware it was based on a real event. The movie, 300, released in 2006 is based on the graphic novel written by frank miller, 300. 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. 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. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. Leonidas, the king of sparta, motivates his warriors to defend the hot gates, thus blocking the invading persian forces of xerxes into the narrow. This essay is based in part on a synopsis of ernle bradfords work, thermopylae. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia.
A coalition based not on politics or political cooperation but of an alliance for mutual. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. Gates of fire by steven pressfield this is a novel set around the events of the battle of thermopylae in ancient greece, the same battle that inspired the wellknown 300 graphic novel and film. 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. Analysis of the movie 300 the battle of thermopylae 1560 words 7 pages.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It is true there were only 300 spartan soldiers at thermopylae but they were not alone. This was a great telling of the battle of thermopylae. The film was directed by zack snyder, while miller served as executive producer and consultant. Students may be familiar with this famous battle from its depiction in zack snyders movie 300, based on frank millers graphic novel. I know this book is fiction, but it is on the usmc commandants reading list, is taught to the corps of cadets at west point, annapo. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an analysis of the less than treachery of. The persians didnt bring any charging elephants or rhinos to the battle of thermopylae. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the naval forces, which were under the athenian. The epic graphic novel by frank miller sin city assaults the screen with the blood, thunder and awe of its ferocious visual style faithfully recreated in an intense blend of liveaction and cgi animation. If the story of thermopylae doesnt inspire you, theres a chance youre already dead.
In addition, the battle has been taught in military academies as an example of how a small welltrained group of resolute warriors can defend their position against a numerically superior force. The greek loyalists battle for six days in a prelude to their ultimate victory. The work was adapted in 2006 to a film of the same name. King leonidas of sparta and the epic battle of the 300 at. The battle of thermopylae 300 spartans, what actually. They focus on king leonidas, the young foot soldier stelios, and the storyteller dilios to highlight the spartans aweinspiring toughness and valor. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an outnumbered greek force probably of seven thousand including the famous 300 spartans, 500 warriors from tegea, 500 from mantinea, 120 from arcadian orchomenos, from the rest of arcadia, 200 from phlius, 80 from mycenae, 400 corinthians, 400 thebans, phocians and the opuntian locrians held off. Based on frank miller s graphic novel, 300 is very loosely based the 480 b. The comic is a fictional retelling of the battle of thermopylae and the events leading up to it from the perspective of leonidas of sparta. 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. Excluding the huge problems with the equipment for example spartans fighting with no armour or t. This was a liberty taken by 300 author frank miller and the filmmakers, in order to add to the movies elements of fantasy.
Retelling the ancient battle of thermopylae, it depicts the titanic clash in which king leonidas gerard butler and 300 spartans fought to the death against xerxes rodrigo santoro and. 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 battle that changed the world cartledge, paul on. The battle of thermopylae was fought in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae in 480 bce during the persian wars. This book would just be an amazingly entertaining read except for the fact it is based in truth. Mark 322010 analyzes the battle of thermopylae the battle that the film 300 is based on. 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. Were there really only 300 spartans at the battle of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae and the heroic stand of the 300 spartans is one of the most wellknown battles of ancient times, mainly due to the 2006 film 300 and its 2014 sequel 300. Writerartist frank miller and colorist lynn varley retell the battle of thermopylae in the exciting and moving graphic novel 300.
Analysis of the movie 300 the battle of thermopylae. It is based upon the number of spartan solders allowed to the spartan king as a personal bodyguard, exisiting well prior to leonidas and often holding a position in the middle of the spartan phalanx. Based on their hypotheses, the following authors have concluded that the battle commenced on the following day. The battle of thermopylae also served as the inspiration for the film 300 2006. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source. The persians did use horses in battle, as their army was twenty percent cavalry.
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