by Dave Franklin

Created on: May 24, 2008

Modern films tackling historical events can be a double edge sword. On the one hand a popular film can bring the past to the attention to those who wouldn't normally venture near a history book. On the other hand , the elements go into making a good film are not the same as those that give an accurate portrayal of the incident in question. Films should be seen as no more that a colourful advert for something that will require exploration through the dusty tomes of the library and what is to be found there is often far more interesting and complex than first meets the eye. The battle of Thermopylae and the recent film, 300, is a classic example of this. In taking the angle of focusing in on the actions of the 300 hundred Spartans present in the campaign, it in many ways diminishes what would have been and even more epic tale.

Although the film focuses very much on a polarised us and them, Greeks versus Persians, view of the situation, this is an extremely simplified view of things. When the Persian war machine hoved into view in 480 BC , it would have found a far from unified enemy. The whole of the Mediterranean world was a complex mix of Greek, Persian, Phoenician, Etruscan culture as well as a host of smaller tyrant domains. Greece itself was made up of many independent city states and unity and co-operation was never a strong point for them. Whilst the films rivals, Persia and Sparta, represent the extremes of the Oriental power and Hellenised culture, the reality is that most of the states and cities that lay in between were a mix of the two, constantly evolving and swinging one way or the other with the political climate.

In response to the advance of the Persian Army, those regions not prepared to "medize" (modern jargon for capitulate to the Persian culture) put up a response, though the numbers suggest that the campaign, that resulted in Thermopylae, was only ever a advanced force whose aims were no more than a holding action, the real fight envisaged once the Persians were deeper into the Isthmus rather that having to maintain long supply lines to fight far from home. Alongside the eponymous 300 Spartans were 2120 Arcadians and 400 Corinthians, with the numbers swelled to around 4000 with the addition of Helot slaves. Of the non Peloponnesians there were 1100 Boetians and 100 Phocians (guarding the infamous path that was used to gain Persian victory). Although the "Hot Gates" were the perfect defensive position the ultimate reason for the Persian victory

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