It’s hard to avoid the
Battle of Thermopylae when discussing ancient Greece and Persia. Interest in this battle between a Greek alliance
(led by the Spartans) and the Persians (led by their king, Xerxes I) has
risen in recent years because of the movie “300.” But was this movie
historically accurate? Want to explore the real history behind the
movie “300?” Here are several links to get you started!
- The Road to Thermopylae is a blow-by-blow account (complete with primary sources from Herodotus) of what led up to Thermopylae and what happened during and after the battle. There’s also an interactive game where you can decide what military strategies to take.
- You can also read this short article titled “300 — Fact or Fiction?”.
- Finally, for comparison’s sake, you can find some trailers for the movie “300” here.
What do you think? Are movies like “300” useful because they promote the further study of historical events? Or should they be seen purely as entertainment?
