I never saw the film, 300, but I saw a History channel special on Termopylae. It was very fascinating. The soldiers were only part of the battle. The clash between the two navies was just as important because the ships could have out-flanked the soldiers.
If some of the Photos I’ve seen of that pass re the Correct photos, there are some spots where only a Dozen good soldiers could fight at any one time..That sort of choke point allows the army with the high ground to use it as a Meat Grinder for the attacking army..The defenders need to keep switching off as their Arms get tired from chopping up the attackers..After a while, the pile of dead bodies becomes the new “High Ground” at which point the Attacking army begins to get just a tiny bit Discouraged..
Also—the Greeks, because they wanted short wars, developed the hopelite as the first heavy infantry, able to stand and fight in ways the Persian troops couldn’t. Later Persians relied on Greek Mercenaries—until Alexander took them over.
Interesting piece of trivia – the peasant the showed the persians the hidden pass that allowed them to move behind the Spartans was named efialtes (don’t know how it’s spelled so I did it phonetically). To this day the Greek word for traitor is his name.
Rod Gonzalez over 9 years ago
300 was never like this!
This . . . is . . . SPARTA!
(That should get the whole thing out of the way)
Plods with ...™ over 9 years ago
Ok…. I don’t remember the air force part when I read the history.
SkyFisher over 9 years ago
I never saw the film, 300, but I saw a History channel special on Termopylae. It was very fascinating. The soldiers were only part of the battle. The clash between the two navies was just as important because the ships could have out-flanked the soldiers.
Tarredandfeathered over 9 years ago
If some of the Photos I’ve seen of that pass re the Correct photos, there are some spots where only a Dozen good soldiers could fight at any one time..That sort of choke point allows the army with the high ground to use it as a Meat Grinder for the attacking army..The defenders need to keep switching off as their Arms get tired from chopping up the attackers..After a while, the pile of dead bodies becomes the new “High Ground” at which point the Attacking army begins to get just a tiny bit Discouraged..
bmonk over 9 years ago
Also—the Greeks, because they wanted short wars, developed the hopelite as the first heavy infantry, able to stand and fight in ways the Persian troops couldn’t. Later Persians relied on Greek Mercenaries—until Alexander took them over.
Sisyphos over 9 years ago
Hey! Dancing girls! Woo hoo!And a squadron of P-YOO “Flying Carpets”!
Those Spartans don’t stand a chance!
craigwestlake over 9 years ago
Interesting piece of trivia – the peasant the showed the persians the hidden pass that allowed them to move behind the Spartans was named efialtes (don’t know how it’s spelled so I did it phonetically). To this day the Greek word for traitor is his name.