Last Stand of The 300 (Sat. March 17 08:00 PM Sun. March 18 12:00 AM on Hist. Chan.)

The History Channel website ^ | 3-17-07 | (uncredited)

[VOA]

(from The History Channel)

Last Stand of The 300

Saturday, March 17 08:00 PM
Sunday, March 18 12:00 AM
Friday, March 30 08:00 AM
Friday, March 30 02:00 PM

After Custer, Thermopylae is the most famous last stand in
history. In a narrow pass in Northern Greece, seven thousand Greek
soldiers await an onslaught of epic proportions. They will
soon face the largest fighting force ever assembled--the war
machine of the mighty Persian Empire, estimated at over a
million men. The Greeks are led by three hundred of the most
ferocious warriors of the ancient world--the Spartans.
Their leader is the fearless King Leonidas, who after this
battle would be catapulted into legend. When it is over, every
Spartan in the pass will have sacrificed his life for freedom.
Creating a fresh visual style and using new technologies we
will dramatically recreate the significant events that lead
to Thermopylae and the clash of arms.

[VOA]

This is simply a television "heads-up" to the forum for those that
haven't seen this History Channel documentary-recreation of
the Battle of Thermoplyae, as well as the preceding events and
the accompanying sea-battle won by the fleet commanded by
the Athenian admiral Themistocles.

[Rummyfan]

Marking.

[VOA]

additional links of interest (yes, it's Wikipedia, so use a "verify
before you trust" approach!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themistocles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Artemisium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Salamis

[Publius6961]

After Custer, Thermopylae is the most famous last stand in history. In a narrow pass in Northern Greece, seven thousand Greek soldiers await ...

I seriously question that.
I can think of one other, off the top of my head...
At Rorke's Drift 139 British soldiers successfully defended their garrison against an intense assault by four to five thousand Zulu warriors.

RORKE'S DRIFT

[VOA]

I should note that (AFAIK), the broadcast times are EASTERN time.

[MCCRon58]

!!INSENSATIVITY ALERT - INSENSITIVITY ALERT!!

After all, we all really know this so-called Battle of Thermoplyae is really just an anti-islamic propaganda device to make evil American infidels feel good about bashing Muslims.

(whats that, this occurred 1000+ years before the prophet arrived? Don't try to confuse the issue with the facts.)

[VOA]

"I seriously question that."

I wouldn't be suprised if "Roarke's Drift" isn't mentioned in the
History Channel verbiage due to some "political correctness" issues.

It appears that The History Channel is interpreting "last stand" as
an action in which (virtually) all of the defending unit is killed or
put out of action.

Just speaking for myself alone...
after "Last Stand of The Tin-Can Sailors", I take "last stand" as
any action in which a smaller unit sacrifices itself (sometimes to
the last man) to hold back or delay a superior force.

[VOA]

(whats that, this occurred 1000+ years before the prophet arrived?
Don't try to confuse the issue with the facts.)

After seeing the "Jaywalking Allstars" last night tell Jay Leno that
Jesus was born from (IIRC) 250 million years ago OR as recently as
the time Columbus sailed to the USA...
It's no great shock that a lot of people don't have a grip on the
relative time frames of Xerxes and the prophet Mohammed!

[dominic flandry]

The most famous last stand is "the Alamo." 180 or so Texians fight to the last man.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Reads (sounds) interesting.

The History Channel might set some things straight about the Spartans and Persians that the movie set askew.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

And there was the last stand of the people of Oahu in the last battle for the unification of the Hawaiian Islands (they jumped off a cliff when they lost).

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

A new pinglist, so if you're interested....

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[Publius6961]

I stand corrected.

The "to the last man" thing slipped my mind.

[PAR35]

Rorke's Drift

Doesn't qualify. There were survivors.

The Alamo is more debatable. There were a number of non-combatant survivors, but it should qualify as a 'last stand'. Iwo Jima should be on the list. There were a negligible number of survivors.

[ansel12]

"The most famous last stand is "the Alamo." 180 or so Texians fight to the last man."




As a Texan the Alamo ranks number one with me, but for almost a quarter century I have celebrated April 30th because of the Battle of Camerone in honor of the French Foreign Legion.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

So true and a great movie.

[NucSubs]

Have you seen it? Was it worth it? I find most of the History channel is populist dreck.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***It appears that The History Channel is interpreting "last stand" as
an action in which (virtually) all of the defending unit is killed or
put out of action. ***

Deffending unit is the correct interpretation. The Alamo was a last stand. Islandawana was not even though they got wiped out, they were the invaders.

As for Custer, let's not forget this one.

The Fetterman fight at Fort Phil Kearney (1866) is hard to pin down. They were invaders of Sioux land, defenders of their fort, defenders of the Wagon Box fight, yet violated their orders, "...Support the wood train...Do not engage or pursue Indians at it's expense....Under no circumstances pursue over the (Lodge Trail) Ridge.
They were wiped out.

[karnage]

Masada.

[VOA]

Have you seen it?
Yes, I have "Last Stand of The 300".
I have not seen the theatrical release "300".

Was it worth it?
Well, I didn't major in history or classics, but I thought it
was a pretty good survey of the "pre-story" up to about 70 years before
the Spartans (and allies) ended up in battle with the Persians at
Thermoplyae.

It also did a decent job of giving a wider scope in covering the
naval actions done by Themistocles against the Persians.

Additionally, the training/indoctrination of a Spartan male was covered.

The show is done in the stage setting style that looks somewhat like
"300", but isn't as over-the-top (well, at least of what I see
in the "300" commercials).

I find most of the History channel is populist dreck.
Yes, History Channel does have enough of that.
But I think this show was fairly high caliber...definitely
no hint of those Nostradamus specials!!!