Battle of Thermopylae phalanx - Copyrighted image courtesy of Nikos Panos
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
The Battle of Thermopylae has been an integral part of the curriculum of many high schools, colleges and universities around the world.In
addition, the battle has been taught in military academies as an
example of how a small well trained group of resolute warriors can
defend their position against a numerically superior force. Therefore, when Warner Bros.' '300'premiered in 2007, it raised awareness of the heroic story of King Leonidas and the 300 Spartansto unprecedented heights.However, the movie which was adapted from the eponymously named Frank Miller comic book series, was criticized by scholars and many in the academic community due to its revisionism. Even
more disconcerting was that its R-rated content became much more
readily accessible to the under-17 audience due to its release on DVD
and its recent airing on cable TV. This has undoubtedly had an impact
on impressionable young students who can't ascertain the difference
between '300's factual and fictional elements, of which there were many.
Consequently, the main purpose of this website will be to provide a more realistic summation of the events as they happened at Thermopylae ('Hot Gates') in August 480 BC. The links below will direct you to different facets of the battle, including but not limited to maps of the battlefield and the surrounding areas, the number of combatants which comprised the Greek and Persian armies, armor worn by the warriors, weapons, battle formations, etc.
In addition, images from the ancient city ofPersepolis, digital reconstructions, museum displays, etc. will be compared with the movies '300'and its precursor, 1962's'The 300 Spartans', thereby, providing a much more visually accurate portrayal than that depicted by Hollywood.
While Warner Bros.' '300' has focused much attention on the Battle of Thermopylae, its use of artistic license has raised concerns according to faculty members. While this is not meant to be a condemnation of the movie, it is important to address many of these
inaccuracies from different sources. The site will be constantly evolving, with the inclusion of new materials used to refute much of what has been depicted in the movies.
Materials forthcoming on the Battles of Marathon, Artemisium, Salamis and Plataea
To read an account of the Battle of Thermopylae written in Spanish, please visit the followingpage.
Panoramic image of the monument dedicated to King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans - Courtesy of Bruce Hartzler
Panoramic image of the plaque which is inscribed with Simonides' epitaph - Courtesy of Bruce Hartzler
For individuals who haven't had the opportunity to visit the battlefield of Thermopylae, theMetis siteprovides an excellent visual document presented in a very unique way as can be seen from the images above. Bruce Hartzler has recorded a stunning array of images that allows you to not only view the monuments dedicated to King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans and the surrounding areas, it shows you where they are in relation to each other. Very nice work!
An appearance by 'The Hellenic Warriors' aka 'The Warriors of Thermopylae' Living History Group at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Greek Independence Day Parade & Commemoration Ceremony (c) Baltimore Sun featured picture - March 30th - Photo: Elizabeth Malby
