I was fortunate enough to pass through there on the way back to athens in 2006 after a 4day. At thermopylae a king and three hundred of his soldiers set the standard for. Battle of thermopylae 480 bc myths vs reality total. Therefore, it is important to advocate the capstone press title 300 heroes. He betrays the spartans to the persians out of greed for riches, and, it is implied, unrequited love for a spartan girl named ellas. No doubt many people would be interested to visit the modern site of the battle of thermopylae after watching the movie 300 in 2007. Greeces strategy was to stop the persians at thermopylae a narrow pass, in which persia couldn t use cavalry what were the battle tactics and strategies for persia. In gates of fire one of the helot leaders is rooster, the illegitimate son of a deceased spartan hero. On the battle of thermopylae itself, two principal sources, herodotus and simonides accounts, survive. Aug 30, 2008 the battle of thermopylae and heroec resistance of our king leonidas and his men, the 300 spartans and the 700 thespians under the leadership of demophilos against the hords of xerxes emperor of.
The battle of thermopylae bloodiest battles terri sievert on. Battle of thermopylae the rise of the achaemenid empire in the 6th century bc is shrouded in mist of antiquity. 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. Til king leonidas of sparta was 60 years old at the battle.
Battle of thermopylae simple english wikipedia, the free. See more ideas about 300 movie, spartan warrior and greek warrior. Battle of thermopylae 480 bc myths vs reality total war. Both are fictionalized retellings of the battle of thermopylae within the persian wars. It sprang in the region encompassing present day southern iran and iraq. Battle in northern greece 480 bc in the persian wars. The battle was fought for over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. The battle was the climax of the second persian invasion of greece. The battle of thermopylae is the war between the greek citystates and the persian empire in about 400 bc. Soon after the battle, the greeks built a stone lion in honour of those who had died and specifically for the fallen king leonidas.
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. Battle of thermopylae facts, myths, legends, map, pictures and statistics. Sources battle of thermopylae 480 bc stories preschool. In 480 the ephors sent leonidas with the 300 men of an allsire unit soldiers who had sons to carry on their bloodline and 6700 allies to hold the pass of thermopylae against the hundreds of thousands of persian soldiers who had. This makes its way onto the blog for men for obvious reasons. The battle of thermopylae was fought between 300 spartans and the. While it has been established that king leonidas of sparta died at the battle of thermopylae in august, 480 bc, very little is known about the year of his birth. The movie was generally accepted as a pretty good action flick. 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. Dilios narrates how the sacrifice of leonidas and the 300 spartans at the battle of thermopylae inspired all greeks to unite against the persians, resulting in the defeat of them at the battle of.
The only thing stopping the persians was an army led by king leonidas i and his 300 spartans, considered by many to be the greatest soldiers the. 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. Historic battles battle of thermopylae 480 bc the battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas of sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i over the course of three days, during the second persian invasion of greece. It is from a history channel film about the battle of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae was fought in 191 bc between a roman army led by consul manius acilius glabrio and a seleucid force led by king antiochus iii the great. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. The dirt of battle is probably still upon leonidas, and there is a dark purple. To defend greece against an invasion of the persian empire during the summer of 480 b. I am in the process of doing a rather large diorama of the battle of thermopylae. The sheer cliff faces right up against the pass are nearly 300 feet. The battle of thermopylae also served as the inspiration for the film 300 2006. The 300 spartans diorama the battle at thermopylae. After three days of holding their own against the persian king xerxes i and his vast southwardadvancing army, the greeks were betrayed. Vastly outnumbered, the greeks delayed the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history.
C, during the grecopersian wars the persian empire led by xerxes i of persia fought the greek citystates forces at the pass of thermopylae in central greece. His name was raised to a heroic and legendary status as a result of the events in the battle of thermopylae. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. Lena headey in 300 2006 gerard butler and lena headey at an event for 300 2006 lena. The battle of thermopylae is literally a textbook case, required reading even to this day at military colleges and officer training around the world. And it is turning out to be a really interesting project. Leonidas the hero stripped of its helmet, leonidas head is framed by his long hair. King leonidas of sparta and a force of 300 men fight the persians at thermopylae in 480 b.
All of this meant that xerxes and his army, although it didnt mobilize until. 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. In 1955 a statue of leonidas was erected by king paul of greece in commemoration of his and his troops bravery. You are either defending greece or trying to take over greece. Battle of thermopylae ancient history encyclopedia. Moont kallidromon on the left, an the wide coastal plain formed bi accretion o fluvial deposits ower the centuries. The battle of thermopylae is a battle in september 480 bc during the greekpersian war 480 479 bc. Another common misconception is that there weren t just 300 spartans at the battle of thermopylae. As is evident by its title, capstone press 300 heroes concentrates on the spartan warriors who in one of greeces defining moments fought to the death during the battle of thermopylae in 480 b.
And i mean, ok, so we arent all adults, but ya know what. The lean skin of the warriors face, its color gone, stands out all the more against a short and pointed beard. The greeks spartans and allies knew they were outnumbered and hadn t a prayer, so it was no surprise that the persians won the battle of thermopylae. In 490 the persian emperor darius had sent an invasion force across the aegean to punish eretria and athens for their support of the ionian revolt.
Sparta and other greek allies who was the leader of this citystate. It took place over three days, at the same time as the naval battle of artemisium. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae. The greeks spartans and allies knew they were outnumbered and hadn t a prayer, so it was no surprise that the persians won the battle of. Battle of thermopylae date, location, and facts britannica. Though vastly outnumbered, the greeks held back the persian advance until a defector informed the persians of an alternate route, leading to the defeat of the greek army and the sacking of athens. Battlebox the battle of thermopylae of 480 bc set an alliance of greek citystates against an invading persian army. So the battle of thermopylae included a land and sea component. 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. At thermopylae a king and three hundred of his soldiers set the standard for battle. This battle was to become known as the battle of thermopylae. Gates of fire details the battle of thermopylae in which 300 spartans.
Who was the 2nd spartan soldier that survived the battle but turned back when heared about the attack and died. If youve seen the movie 300 youll know what im talking about. Battle of thermopylae, august 480 bc military history. In the movie 300, they added this scene of leonidas kicking the messenger, and i thought that would be a great addition to the story. 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 battle of thermopylae was fought in 279 bc between invading gallic armies and a combined army of greek aetolians, boeotians, athenians, and phocians at thermopylae. Why didnt sparta send its full army north to support king leonidas. The 300 spartans led by the spartan king leonidas met the persians by thermopylae, while the.
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. After the two days of the battle, xerxes ordered the hill surrounded and the persians rained down arrows until the last greek was dead mods. It was the first major battle of the romanseleucid war. This would give us 1500 300 x 5 helots at thermopylae, but ive seen estimations which say about 900 helots at thermopylae. Battle of thermopylae, 480 bce, battle in central greece at the mountain pass of thermopylae during the persian wars. The film was directed by zack snyder, while miller served as executive producer and consultant. Corporations correspondents dinner corruption cory booker. Thermopylae battle 480 bc herodotus history greece private. Battle of thermopylae is a symbol of courage and patriotism. The battle of thermopylae and heroec resistance of our king leonidas and his men, the 300 spartans and the 700 thespians under the leadership of demophilos against the hords of xerxes emperor of. The battle of thermopylae august 480 bc is one of the most famous military defeats in history, and is best known for the fate of the 300 spartans, killed alongside 700 thespians on the final day of the battle grecopersian wars. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote.
Nov 11, 2012 first battle scene from the movie 300 2006. The gauls under brennus were victorious, and advanced further into the greek peninsula where they attempted to sack delphi but were completely defeated. Now, the history channel offers a definitive perspective on the epic conflict. The battle of thermopylae, written by terri dougherty. I dont mean that last necessarily in any sort of erotic sense.
Which citystate fought the persians in the battle of thermopylae. Profusely illustrated with maps and images, this book offers an accurate portrayal of the greek warriors commanded by king leonidas of sparta. He betrayed his homeland, in hope of receiving some kind of reward from the persians, by showing the persian forces a path around the allied greek position at the pass of thermopylae, which. Terri dougherty describes events before, during, and after the battle of thermopylae, including key players, weapons, and battle tacticsprovided by publisher. In the 1962 film the 300 spartans, ephialtes was portrayed by kieron moore and is depicted as a loner who worked on a goat farm near thermopylae. 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. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. Its story is based on the famous battle of thermopylae, quote the battle of thermopylae r. Greek casualties in the battle of thermopylae during 3 days could be up to 4000 dead soldiers or perhaps even more. The battle of thermopylae cinematic total war attila youtube. The greek forces, mostly spartan, were led by leonidas.
Leonidas of sparta battle of thermopylae 300 spartans greek history, ancient history, art. Thermopylae battle 480 bc herodotus history greece. Persians under xerxes had both a land and a sea force with which they attempted to defeat those greeks who wouldn t willingly accept persian domination, as many greek citystates had already done. It was filmed mostly with a superimposition chroma key technique, to help. Leonidas, the king of sparta, motivates his warriors to defend the hot gates, thus blocking the invading persian forces of xerxes into the narrow.
A disparate group of tribes of indoeuropean origin serving as vassals to the medes controlled the region east of tigris from their capital ecbatana near hamadan. King leonidas and 300 spartans against million persian army. Sin city author frank millers sweeping take on the historic battle of thermopylae comes to the. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. Nov 30, 2017 so the battle of thermopylae included a land and sea component.
The last stand of the 300 spartans top documentary films. They were joined by other cities, totaling their forces to approximately 7,000. Booker taliaferro washington april 5, 1856 november 14, 191. The battle of thermopylae, 480 bc, was a battle in the second persian invasion of greece. In the battle of plataea there were 5000 spartan hoplites and they had 35,000 helots 5 per each spartiate. 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. This shot gives me a really great look at how i am going to design the overall diorama. It often reminded me of something present day scottish folk hero john. To the south furthest away is mount callidromus and it is about 5,000 feet in height. It is all based around the battle of thermopylae, at which 300 spartans took on a huge number of persian soldiers. In the battle of thermopylae in 480 bc, an alliance of south greek citystates fought the invading persian army in the pass of thermopylae. Now, the history channel offers a definitive perspective on the epic conflict with this instructive and thrilling featurelength presentation. In order to get it looking the way i want it to look i have done quite a bit of research on the.
Lena headey in 300 2006 gerard butler and lena headey at an event for 300. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. In the battle of thermopylae of 480 bc an alliance of greek citystates fought the. The battle of thermopylae august 480 bc is one of the most famous military defeats in history, and is best known for the fate of the 300 spartans, killed alongside 700 thespians on the final day of the battle. Thermopylae is primarily known for the battle that took place there in 480 bc, in which an overmatched combined greek force of approximately 4,000 held off advancing persians under xerxes, and the term since has been used to reference heroic resistance against a more powerful enemy. The battle of thermopylae has been an integral part of the curriculum of many high schools, colleges and universities around the world. It wasnt until weeks later that they were able to get it, and when they returned it to sparta, leonidas was enshrined as a hero.
789 510 95 1371 726 875 427 566 1558 1444 794 569 946 930 764 998 337 1281 540 1214 137 833 657 681 248 952 454 680 1381 1302 415 877 854 470 819 242 403 792 1407 462 1480 1299