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If you are a reader of comments here at American Thinker then you have probably noticed an increasing use of the term molon labe. For those of you unfamiliar with the term and too busy (or too lazy) to look it up, I've done it for you. It is a Greek expression first attributed to King Leonidas of Sparta when the Persian invader Xerxes I, prior to the Battle of Thermopylae, demanded that the Spartans lay down their arms and submit to him. Its essential meaning was, "Up yours, pal: come do your worst." In so many words, it is...

Messene's 9.5km-long circuit of stoutly constructed defensive walls enclosed an extensive array of uniquely designed public and private structures... Mt Ithome and its southwestern slopes are soaked in history, their occupation dating back to at least the Early Bronze Age. The city of Messene, within the larger region of the same name, was only founded in 369BC, at the behest of the Theban leader Epaminondas, two years after Boeotian forces had defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra and ended their domination over the Peloponnese. Messene and its northeastern neighbour Megalopolis, established in 371BC, were intended as a pair...

Archaeological research reveals an ancient temple in the mountains between Ilia and Messinia, opposite the well-known imposing temple of Epicurean Apollo. The area around the newly discovered temple was full of architectural tools that were used to build a small temple, while former head of the 38th Ephorate of Antiquities, archaeologist Dr. Xeni Arapogianni explains that when the small temple was demolished in order to build a new one, topmasts, triglyphs and other parts of the ancient temple were found. The excavation started back in 2010, revealing the temple as well as bronze items and a great number of...

It can no longer be denied that America has become a "seething cesspool of filth and corruption." America has become a haunt of demons and of every foul spirit. Today, even those who present themselves as "Catholic" have lost the sense of sin. Archbishop Fulton Sheen warned that, "Man is powerless to resist evil if he does not recognize it as such, and deceives himself when he becomes indifferent to evil; his whole personality immediately begins to dissolve, for the power of conscience is inseparably bound up with the denunciation of evil. And this is precisely what our world is...

U.S. Rep. Allen West is being heavily criticized by the usual suspects for an astute observation he made the other day when speaking before a group called Women Impacting Nation. BizPacReview.com featured that video on our home page and called it Allen West: This is Sparta! West used the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta as a metaphor

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"Because only Spartan women give birth to real men." The people who fight for civilization, and those who seek its destruction.By Christopher Cook For those of you have yet to see 300, do yourselves a favor and see it. (Warning: Spoiler Alert) This movie is not just about the past. It's about today. Right now. It's about each one of you who stands in the breach against the enemy. And it's about each one of you who stands against the enemy within, who would happily widen that breach. Today's enemy is Islamofascism, but it is little different from the hordes...

The movie "300" - based on a "graphic novel" (read comic book), itself loosely based on the battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) - has drawn the usual thoughtful and nuanced response from the turbaned thugs who run Iran. The last stand of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans denigrates the glorious Persian antecedents of present day Iran, charges Javad Shangari, art advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Art advisor" to a terrorist state - now there's a non sequitur. Does he critique artists who work in body parts? "Hollywood declares war on Iranians" blared the headline in a Tehran daily....

Zack Snyder?s 300: a spirited take on a clash of civilizationsOn Monday night in Hollywood I attended an advance screening of the entertaining new Zack Snyder movie 300, starring Gerard Butler as Leonidas, king of Sparta. This past October, I had seen an earlier version when screenwriter Kurt Johnstad asked me to take a look at an advance copy of the film. He drove down to my farm, I liked what I saw, and I then wrote an introduction to the book accompanying the film. So I am not a disinterested observer. In truth, I think that many critics will...

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When a messenger warned Leonidas, The Spartan King, that the Persian Army under Xerxes was invading Greece to destroy Democratic Greece, and that the Athenians were afraid and badly needed help, Leonidas replied, "What do you expect from a nation of philosophers and boy-lovers?" And, strapping on his war gear, took his men and marched into history. And yes, there is a direct parallel between the modern day Marines and their willingness to die to save Democracy and the clueless Liberal boy lovers it so tragically spawns...

I keep seeing threads about the movie 300, and comments about its portrayal of the fighting spirit, freedom isn't free, etc. I haven't seen this movie, even though peoples' comments are almost all in favor of it. I'll go see it soon enough. People here and in the media are making a connection between ancient Sparta and the modern United States. That bothers me. Sparta was not a symbol of freedom, nor was it much of anything else we admire. The term spartan means ". . . sternly disciplined and rigorously simple, frugal, or austere." dictionary.com Personally, I like stuff....

Let us focus on the people and issues that truly matter Nema Milaninia is right [See "The ridiculous truth"]. Iranians, especially those with "political" motivations and Zoroastrian ideals, ought to have far greater priorities than drafting petitions against 300. The fact that this movie has gathered their attention only indicates the lack of proper priorities and power these "groups" possess. If 300 was touted as an actual historical portrayal, the outrage indicated by this petition would be valid. However, it is based on a comic book. It is the creative fantasy of a comic book genius. The mere connection drawn...

HH: Joined now by one of our favorite guests, Victor Davis Hanson, professor of military history, noted author, and observer of the war. Victor, good to talk to you again. VDH: Thank you for having me, Hugh. HH: I want to start with a little bit of an off-the-wall question, Professor, because Sparta is the subject of the movie, “300.” It made $70 million dollars this weekend. You are an expert on the Greeks, and what is the appeal of the story in modern America? VDH: I think Americans always identify with an underdog, remember our own mythology of the...

I just watched a trailer of the new movie coming out - 300. It looks fairly decent. Anyone have anything to say about the movie? There are scenes where the talk about freedom and being free. I do not know the history of back then, but watching the trailer, I seemed to get a connection with what is going on in the world right now concerning the WOT and the storyline of the movie. They go against Persia - modern day Iran. 300 against one million - the United States against the world. Am I reading too much into this?...

I need some expertise on reading the greek language, or greek translated to latin. . . to english. I'm a bit lost.

The clash of east and west is truly ancient. The lastest trailer for "300" is must see! http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/300.html

Just wanted to give everyone who likes actions type movies the heads up about the new Frank Miller movie depicting the Battle of Thermopylae called 300. No doubt all Freepers knows the story. Either you like FM or you don't. Here is a link to a preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KvXZJ2S5FY Looks interesting, if you don't like movies try the book Gates of Fire, that should get ya to the movie. I hope the movie lays of the whole homo erotic themes.

Virgil's demi-god city 'found'Castor and Pollux fought Aeneas at Amyclae (ANSA) - Rome, April 6 - Italian archaeologists believe they have found an ancient city where the demi-gods Castor and Pollux fought Aeneas, the Trojan hero whose descendants founded Rome . Lorenzo and Stefania Quilici of Bologna and Naples universities claim the large, massive-walled settlement dating from the VI to III Century BCE was the city of Amyclae, believed by Renaissance scholars to be somewhere near Lake Fondi between Rome and Naples . "The road there is a perfectly preserved stretch of the ancient Via Appia," said Lorenzo Quilici ....

the Lacedaemonians posted their cavalry in front of their squares of infantry, and the Thebans imitated them. Only there was this difference---the Theban horse were in a high state of training and efficiency, thanks to their war with the Orchomenians, and also their war with Thespiae; the Lacedaemonian cavalry was at its very worst just now. The horses were reared and kept by the richest citizens; but whenever the levy was called out, a trooper appeared who took the horse with any sort of arms that might be presented to him, and set off on an expedition at a moment's...