Posted on 03/12/2007 2:54:43 PM PDT by freedom44
What Was the Battle at Thermopylae?:
Thermopylae was a pass that the Greeks tried unsuccessfully to defend in battle against the Persians led by Xerxes in 480 B.C.Although the Spartans who led the defense were all killed (and may have known in advance that they would be), their courage provided inspiration to the Greeks, many of whom otherwise might have willingly become part of the Persian Empire (the relevant verb is "medize" from the word Mede). The following year the Greeks did win battles agains the Persians.
Persians Attack the Greeks at Thermopylae:
Xerxes' fleet of Persian ships had sailed along the coastline from northern Greece into the Gulf of Malia on the eastern Aegean Sea towards the mountains at Thermopylae. The Greeks faced the Persian army at a narrow pass there that controlled the only road between Thessaly and Central Greece. The Spartan general and king Leonidas was in charge of the Greek forces that tried to restrain the vast Persian army and keep them from attacking the rear of the Greek navy (under Athenian control). Leonidas may have hoped to block them long enough that Xerxes would have to sail away for food and water. Ephialtes and Anopaia:
Unfortunately for Leonidas, after a couple of days, a medizing traitor named Ephialtes led the Persians around the pass behind the Greek army. The name of Ephialtes' path behind the pass at Thermopylae (which means "hot gates") is Anopaea (or Anopaia); its exact location is debated.
Leonidas sent away most of the amassed troops.
THIS IS 300 the 'movie'
Greeks Fight the Immortals:
On the third day, Leonidas led his 300 Spartan hoplites (elite troops selected because they had living sons back home) plus the allied Thespians and Thebans against Xerxes and his army of "10,000 Immortals." (Not ONE MILLION) The Spartan-led forces fought this unstoppable Persian force to their deaths in order to block the pass long enough to keep Xerxes and his army occupied while the rest of the Greek
Plus, the move was absolutely awesome if not 100% accurate in every detail.
Thank GOD you cleared that up.
Remember.......Comic book......
The Immortals were only a small part of the Persian army. They were the elite troops not used on ordinary tasks.
You guys are forgetting a critical fact. This battle gave the rallying cry to the anti-anti-gun folks.
When Xerxes told the Spartans to lay down their weapons, he was told "Molon Labe" (come and take them).
With the Dems in power in Congress, this is something to keep in mind.
What? The movie shows that the Greeks lost and all the Spartans were killed.
"On the third day, Leonidas led his 300 Spartan hoplites (elite troops selected because they had living sons back home) plus the allied Thespians and Thebans against Xerxes and his army of "10,000 Immortals." (Not ONE MILLION)"
This is a mistake. The Immortals were an elite force within the larger contingent variously estimated from some hundreds of thousands and as many as two million men. Xerxes drew troops from all over his empire, which, at the time stretched from Asia minor to India and to Egypt as well, so it is not beyond possibility for him to raise an enourmous force. The Immortals were essentially the palace gaurd, consisting of fanatically loyal and superbly trained soldiers. It was these that the 300 Spartans met with Leonidas and defeated. Only the betrayal of a Greek, giving away the secret of a pass that enabled Xerxes to encircle Leonidas, brought about the ultimate slaughter of the 300.
Not according to Historian Victor David Hanson who wrote about the famous battle & advised the makers of the movie for historical accuracy.
The 300 were able to defeat hugely superior numbers due to a combination of factors: they WERE superb soldiers and they had a fanatical tradition of fierceness and courage in the face of any foe. Finally, and perhaps most important, they defended a pass so narrow that it was impossible for the Persian forces to concentrate sufficient troops to overwhelm the 300. In the age of the sword and spear, your attack is only as good as the number of points you can present directly at enemy flesh. If the gap could be filled by a hundred men, the Persians could only face them with a hundred men at a time.
The 300 were able to defeat hugely superior numbers due to a combination of factors: they WERE superb soldiers and they had a fanatical tradition of fierceness and courage in the face of any foe. Finally, and perhaps most important, they defended a pass so narrow that it was impossible for the Persian forces to concentrate sufficient troops to overwhelm the 300. In the age of the sword and spear, your attack is only as good as the number of points you can present directly at enemy flesh. If the gap could be filled by a hundred men, the Persians could only face them with a hundred men at a time.
There were actually 1,300 defenders. 1,000 plus the 300 Spartans. I haven't seen the movie but historical accuracy isn't Hollywood's forte.
From the commercials I have seen of the movie trailer the Spartans look a bit like professional wrestlers and not the elite special forces that they were.
Was it the Battle of Salamis or Bolognas?
Yes, I know.
Hulk Hogan and Gorgeous George were there?
Very good. Murtha, Pelosi, Durbin, Kennedy, Obama...
Equal Opportunity Treachery nowadays.
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