Was the 300 real?

Like the comic book, the “300” takes inspirations from the real Battle of Thermopylae and the events that took place in the year of 480 BC in ancient Greece. An epic movie for an epic historical event.

Did the 300 Spartans actually happen?

It is true there were only 300 Spartan soldiers at the battle of Thermopylae but they were not alone, as the Spartans had formed an alliance with other Greek states. It is thought that the number of ancient Greeks was closer to 7,000. The size of the Persian army is disputed.

How much of 300 is true?

The director of 300, Zack Snyder, stated in an MTV interview that "the events are 90 percent accurate. It's just in the visualization that it's crazy.... I've shown this movie to world-class historians who have said it's amazing. They can't believe it's as accurate as it is."

How many Persian soldiers were killed by the 300 Spartans?

The Persian assault began on August 17 and lasted for three days before the Persians finally killed the 298 Spartans who had defended the mountain pass with another small Greek contingent of roughly three to four thousand men. Before the Spartans and others died, however, they had slain twenty thousand Persians.

Was Xerxes real 300?

No. The real Persian King Xerxes had a beard and was much shorter. He never went to the front line at the Battle of Thermopylae as his character does in the movie 300. Actor Rodrigo Santoro portrays the 9-foot-tall Xerxes in the film.

The Real Story of the 300 - Battle of Thermopylae

What happened after the 300 Spartans died?

All of them died, and the Persians won the Battle of Thermopylae. However, Xerxes' army suffered terrible losses as well, and thanks to Leonidas' and the 300 Spartans' sacrifice, the majority of the Greek troops and ships were able to escape to the Isthmus of Corinth.

Did the Spartans ever beat Xerxes?

A Persian army led by Xerxes I defeated Greek forces led by the Spartan king Leonidas in the Battle of Thermopylae.

How long did the 300 Spartans last?

At Thermopylae in the late summer of 480 the Spartan king Leonidas held out for three days with a mere 300 hoplites against thousands upon thousands of the best of the Great King's troops. It has also been the site of several battles in antiquity besides this most famous one.

Did King Leonidas exist?

Leonidas was a real person. He was the King of Sparta from approximately 530-480 B.C.E. He died during the Battle of Thermopylae.

Which Spartan survived 300?

Othryades (Ancient Greek: Ὀθρυάδης) and Othryadas (Ancient Greek: Ὀθρυάδας) was the last surviving Spartan of the 300 Spartans selected to fight against 300 Argives in the Battle of the 300 Champions.

How did Sparta fall?

In fact, the Spartan state was eventually brought down by a number of factors, including internal strife, economic decline, and foreign invasion. Sparta's military dominance came to an end with its defeat at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC.

Who betrayed Sparta?

In the Battle of Thermopylae Leonidas and his brave 300 were the heroes — and Ephialtes of Trachis, the vile traitor who betrayed the Spartan army, served as the villain.

Where is Sparta now?

Sparta (Greek: Σπάρτη Spárti [ˈsparti]) is a city and municipality in Laconia, Greece. It lies at the site of ancient Sparta. The municipality was merged with six nearby municipalities in 2011, for a total population (as of 2011) of 35,259, of whom 17,408 lived in the city.

Where is Leonidas buried?

After the battle in Thermopylae a stone lion was built for everyone to remember the name of the king that died in this location. His body was sent to be buried in Sparta in 440BC.

How did Spartans treat their wives?

In preparation for marriage, Spartan women had their heads shaved; they kept their hair short after they wed. Married couples typically lived apart, as men under 30 were required to continue residing in communal barracks. In order to see their wives during this time, husbands had to sneak away at night.

Why were Spartans so strong?

A lifelong dedication to military discipline, service, and precision gave this kingdom a strong advantage over other Greek civilizations, allowing Sparta to dominate Greece in the fifth century B.C.

Why did Sparta only send 300?

The Spartans may have only sent 300, not because of the Olympics or Carneia, but because they didn't wish to defend so far north, although it does seem unusual they would have sent a King if so.

Why did the 300 Spartans lose?

As seen in the film, the Spartans deserved to lose because King Leonidas explicitly turned away Ephialtes. Why? Because the hunchback couldn't hold his shield high enough to be a part of the phalanx formation.

Were Spartans the strongest?

Spartan warriors known for their professionalism were the best and most feared soldiers of Greece in the fifth century B.C. Their formidable military strength and commitment to guard their land helped Sparta dominate Greece in the fifth century.

How tall is the average Spartan?

The estimations point to around 1,70 m to around 1,78 m. That converts to 5 7′ to 5 10′ if you are from a country that uses feet.

What was the largest Spartan army?

Greeks. According to Herodotus, the Spartans sent 45,000 men – 5,000 Spartiates (full citizen soldiers), 5,000 other Lacodaemonian hoplites (perioeci) and 35,000 helots (seven per Spartiate). This was probably the largest Spartan force ever assembled.

Why did Xerxes cut off Leonidas head?

Xerxes had Leonidas' head cut off and his body crucified in a mindless rage after the losses he suffered. After the Persians moved off, the Greeks returned to the battlefield and buried their dead. They erected a stone Lion to honor Leonidas and the Greeks who fell at Thermopylae.

Who finally defeated Sparta?

Battle of Leuctra, (6 July 371 bce). Fought in Boeotia, Greece, the Battle of Leuctra made Thebes the leading military power among the Greek city-states, ending the long dominance of Sparta.

Was Leonidas killed by Xerxes?

Xerxes himself went down to inspect the battlefield. He cut off the head of Leonidas and impaled it on a spear for his army to see. The Spartans were mortal and could be killed, but their last stand had given the Persians a taste of what would come. Greece was not a pushover.

Did Sparta get wiped out?

The Sparta earthquake of 464 BC destroyed much of Sparta. Historical sources suggest that the death toll may have been as high as 20,000, although modern scholars suggest that this figure is likely an exaggeration.