The Truth Behind '300' [Persian view]

Spenta Productions ^ | 3/18/07 | Cyrus Kar

[Sherman Logan]

Western Thrace is part of Greece.

You seriously think 21st century political boundaries tell us anything at all about 100 to 500 BC ethnic affinities?

Spartacus was a Thracian. Does that name sound Greek?

We have exactly zero information on Spartacus' background. One theory is that Spartacus was a Thracian-style gladiator, not an ethnic Thracian, possibly even a deserter or criminal expelled from the legions, and therefore a Roman or at least an Italian.

At the time, there were only two "types" of gladiators, the Thracian and the Gaul. Thus when the ancient records referred to Spartacus as a Thracian, we don't know whether they are referring to the style in which he fought or his ethnicity. Certainly his effectiveness as a leader of the insurrection points in the direction of his having previous military experience, again possibly in the Roman legions, many of whose criminals or deserters wound up gladiators.

BTW, gladiators of the time were quite different from what they became later under the Empire. Deaths happened, but were not the primary focus of the exhibition, which was rather on the skill of the combatants, most of whom survived to retirement and promptly went to work for the faction leaders in Rome.

[shield]

bfl

[Sherman Logan]

Correction. Most of the ancient authorities refer to Spartacus as an ethnic Thracian who had served as an auxiliary in the Roman armies.

Whether this is correct or not cannot be determined. All the ancient sources are extremely hostile to Spartacus. How dare a slave rebel?!

The modern idea of Spartacus as more or less a hero and good guy would be utterly beyond the comprehension of the men who wrote their accounts in the 1st century BC.

[joebuck]

Totally revisionist. Herodotus was by no means the only ancient historian to reference the battle. Thucydides comes immediately to mind. There are many others. This was clearly an event which was widely admired and the story was told and retold through the ancient world.

[Radix]

Deaths happened, but were not the primary focus of the exhibition, which was rather on the skill of the combatants, most of whom survived to retirement and promptly went to work for the faction leaders in Rome.

 

And Claudius Galen who attended the "combatants" and their wounds set back medicine for probably a millenium and  half.

[Radix]

 "...Xerxes, the Grandson of Cyrus The Great and loving husband of Esther, is shown as an oversized drag queen. ..."

 

I do not know that I agree with all of the rest in the column, but certainly after having finally viewed the film, it appears that you (the author) have (has) a great point here.

 

In my opinion, the Book of Esther is just about the most profound and rich book in the entire Bible. It gave me a bit of personal edification when I first read it with what I considered to be some comprehension.

 

My immediate reaction is that there are interests here in undermining the message of the Book of  Esther, and to be honest, I'll have to reread it in order to back up with words  just what it is that I think that I discern.

[pierstroll]

Wasn’t there some rumbling back to 1898?

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·