History around 300

[King Leonidas I]

For Chat about Greek, Persian, and the histories directly surrounding that epic movie, 300.

Ill start off.

The movie was historically accurate in many aspects like the discarding of babies unfit to serve, Krypteia (Period when boys are forced to steal but not get caught ect.), and the battle was pretty accurate with the location, Phoenician wall and general strategy of the battle.

Don't get me wrong I loved every minute of that movie I just want to talk about the history.

Though there were some flaws as well.

1. it is true the Greeks wore little clothing but they were famed for their Bronze breastplates making them heavy infantry that were unstoppable.

2. Sparta had two kings, not one.

3. The man sent to give the message back to Sparta hung himself after the battle and never actually fought.

4. Obviously they never had those monstrous people (Which if you read around the Arab countries namely Iran where Persia was located is furious and seeks to ban yet another movie.)

[Stelios]

Yeah 2 heriatary kings, and i actually thought it was cool they wore little armour, it seemed to me it made them more agile and such, instead of having armour to restrict some of the movement because if you look at the film all the jumps and stuff would be quite a feat if they had armour on.

And Dilios, they made him from 2 characters, from the story, both had eye infections, only one went back and the other delivered the message and hung himself after the battle of pleatue i think thats the name

[King Leonidas I]

actually the messenger hung himself right after the battle because he was shunned back at Sparta. The other man who surived did fight in the battle of Platea and died there at the front lines in order to regain his honor.

I know the armor made them more agile but Greeks were not agile. They were basically an inpregnable bronze wall with spears pointing out that acted like a lawn mower over enemies. It was their armor and Phalanx formation that made Persian arrows useless against them.

Many Persians drowned running away from the Spartans and to keep Xerxes men moving he had to use whips (Which they did have in the movie).

[Stelios]

I know they prob did have armour, i was only pointing out in the film it would prob be a bit hard for em to do all that running and jumping , and i think they wanted to show the spartan physice.

And weird, i must of got some confused etc, cause i thought one went on a rampage sorta at the battle of p, and the other hunt himself oh... ( yeah i was doing a bit of research earlier )

[King Leonidas I]

Yes, one of the suriviors hung himself because he did not get to fight, the other died in battle at the front lines fighting the Persians.

I bet they wanted to show off those chests for all the ladies as eye candy.

[Stelios]

Yeah, and showing us men what were supposed to look like, guess its time to start going to the gym lol.

[King Leonidas I]

yeah,

Also it was weird how they portrayed Xerxes, I mean it was cool but not how I would have imagined him in the past.

[Stelios]

I thought the way he looked suited the description he portrays as god like, exspecially his height ... but then again 300 is supposed to be a comic and over the top, thats why i love it

[King Leonidas I]

Yeah indefinately.

Also did you notice that all the persians were mishapen and ugly (except their women mind you). The Iranians don't appreciate that.

Though I view it more as symbolic rather than an insult. That the Persians were this monsterous foe that the Greeks had to overcome.

[Stelios]

You have got to be kidding, i thought the women were really messed up..... and i thought it was rather cool they had the persians messed up, rather exaggerated (sp) etc .

[King Leonidas I]

Okay, the women werent good looking but they were normal. More human like than their male counter parts.

Also it is funny how they portray the Greek who betrays the Spartans. I believe he was acutally like a local farmer.

[Stelios]

I loved the meeting of the arcadians and spartans, "I wrong to exspect spartas commitment to at least match our own"

"Dosn't it?" king questions the arcadians, then answers" SPARTANS, what is your profession!" , then they answer and he replies lol "See old friend, i brought more soldiers then you did."

And i thought the women were disfigured, im sure their was a woman with no arms

[Demetra]

I agree, while this move did have historical flaws, please remember it was all based on the comic book Last Stand of the 300 (I think that was the name of it) so most of it was based on that, in which Xerses had all the piercings and the Spartan men were mostly naked. I'm rather glad they went with the lack of body armor for the movie, and the nude scenes because Gerard Butler definately has a kick-ass body.

[Iolanthe]

demetra said:

I'm rather glad they went with the lack of body armor for the movie, and the nude scenes because Gerard Butler definately has a kick-ass body.

*guiltily* Hear hear for that XD They were -all- in incredible shape. Gerard takes the cake though

[setaiishogun]

demetra said:

I agree, while this move did have historical flaws, please remember it was all based on the comic book Last Stand of the 300 (I think that was the name of it) so most of it was based on that, in which Xerses had all the piercings and the Spartan men were mostly naked. I'm rather glad they went with the lack of body armor for the movie, and the nude scenes because Gerard Butler definately has a kick-ass body.

The comic was just called 300, and was written by Frank Miller.

I should have it in my hands by tomorrow afternoon, unless the USP man hates me. Which, in all likely hood...