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GRECO-PERSIAN WARS REENACTMENT

BY JOHN TRIKERIOTIS

 Posted December 30, 2008

Direct link to the article


Historical reenactment can be described essentially as a well researched attempt to recreate aspects of an historical event or time period for educational purposes. While it can be construed as an avocation, reenacting is a passion which entails not only a financial commitment, but countless hours of research as well.  The end result is the refining and perfecting of the warrior's 'uniform' from a bygone era.  In the context of the Greco-Persian Wars era, it is limited to several practitioners worldwide, whose highest visibility has been attained through their appearance in television programs relative to the battles of Marathon & Thermopylae.

On a local level, the presence at parades, festivals, etc. by these reenactment groups garner much attention, as adulation is rained upon them by the thousands of spectators, many of whom take photos as a memento of the occasion attended. It is very impressive and awe-inspiring to observe a formation of these 'interpreters' wearing their different variations of multicolored and monochromatic horsehair maned helmets, while displaying their ornate and uniquely designed shields.  In addition to their colorful cloaks which can be seen gently billowing in the wind, and their weapons which have been polished to such a high degree that they gleam in the sun, viewing the accoutrements of the ancient Greek reenactors and their Persian counterparts is something quite extraordinary and unforgettable.

Greek warrior reenactors
While the representation of Greek & Persian armor can encompass several different manifestations, the efforts by the handful of international reenactors nonetheless are much more accurate than those depicted in the highly controversial Warner Bros.' movie '300'.  For comparative purposes, several of the images included in this article illustrate the differences between the highly inaccurate portrayal of the Persian warrior from '300' vs. an historically authentic recreation worn by a reenactor. 

Persian warrior 'The Immortals' (c) Warner Bros. '300'
Persian warrior reenactor - Courtesy of www.4hoplites.com
These reenactment groups in a variety of settings pay homage to the combatants of the Greco-Persian Wars, however, it is in an educational environment where they make their greatest impact. Their demonstrations in classrooms/auditoriums incorporate tangible elements which complement the lessons taught by the students' instructors. For example,  a student wearing a helmet will notice that the sensation of sound has diminished and vision has become partially obscured.  In addition, holding the reenactor's shield until fatigue starts to set in will provide the scholar the opportunity to gain a different and appreciable perspective. 

It is this interaction which affects the students' sensibilities, the same ones that affected the warriors 2,500 years ago, thereby, providing a glimpse of the past which can not be gauged from history books alone.  Since the younger generation at the elementary and high school levels are the most impressionable, the speaking engagements and demonstrations by these 'living historians' are invaluable, as they dispel many of the inaccuracies that have perpetuated by Hollywood. 

Authors notes:  
Greek warrior reenactors - Courtesy of www.300spartanwarriors.com 
Movie image (c) Warner Bros. '300'
Persian warrior reenactor - Courtesy of www.4hoplites.com 


   
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Trikeriotis is a financial consultant in the USA and maintains the website 300 Spartan Warriors. As a member of the Leonidas Expeditions which is comprised of academics, authors and scholars, he will be traveling to the battlefield of Thermopylae to locate several areas pivotal to the battle.


This article was contributed by JOHN TRIKERIOTIS, Special Contributor for PersianMirror.

   
 
 
 
 
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