Did the Spartans really beat 1 million Persian soldiers with 300 troops?

Question

The movie "300" claims that the Spartan Army defeated 1 million Persian soldiers with only 300 troops? Did that really happen? Did the Persians really have 1 million soldiers at the Battle of Thermopylae? If so, how did the Persians manage to supply a 1 million man army that was fighting so far from home?

Answer 1

The movie takes extreme liberties with what
has been proven.

Most of the stories depicting that era come from
Homer who also talked about giant hydra,
vendictive sea Gods, etc.

We do occasionally get real evidence, like digging
up a town, etc, but its sketchy at best.

For instance, its only within the last 20 years that
they had any idea where Troy was.

But it makes for a great story!

Answer 2

First, Trojans (it's questionable that the Trojans even existed) and Spartans are nothing alike. The terms are not interchangeable. They didn't defeat the Persian army. As I recall, the Spartans were outflanked and LOST the Battle of Thermopylae. In fact, the Greek Army at Thermopylae consisted of over 5,000. the Spartans did man the front line, and all pretty much died, because they were stubborn and refused to retreat once they realized that they were outflanked. What the Greeks did do was select an easy to defend position; they chose an area that: 1) Had to be passed through by the Persians to reach Athens. 2) Was immune to Persian archers. 3) Provided a narrow corridor where only a handful of men could fit shoulder to shoulder. In addition, they had superior weaponry and training. The Persians more or less blindly flung themselves at Spartan spear. Myths are often blown out of proportion, as it is with the Battle of Thermopylae. There were NOT only 300 Spartans, but a plethora of Greeks. The Spartans (as they usually did whenever they were fighting alongside Athens for a change), took the front line (which was, back then, an actual line). The Sampson of history may have well killed a good number of men, however, it seems that it may have been blown out of proportion. Our duty is, as moderns, to fight through the myth to find the truth.

Answer 3

No actually the movie does not claim 300 beat a million, in fact the Spartans get crushed.

That's not a spoiler by the way.

but their actions fire up the Greeks and the other Spartans and the end result was the Greeks defeated the Persians in a later battle.

the Battle was about sacrificing ones self for an idea, for freedom and to hold back oppression.

The old story claims a million, but modern historians place the number between 75,000 to 200,000 total including support personal.

but the story is more dramatic with a much larger Persian Army.

Answer 4

No, the Spartans lost, in the movie and in real life.

While there were 300 Spartans, there were also 8,000 other southern greeks at Thermopylae, not counting the slaves that each Greek had to serve him, straighten out his bronze swords and resharpen them, prepare food, etc.

No one knows for sure just how many Persians there were, best estimates are around 300,000, but it could have been alot higher.

Also not mentioned in the movie, were the naval battles going on at the same time.

The Persians were trying to land a force by sea that numbered in the 10's of thosands at the same time, the Athenian Navy defeated the Persian Navy.

The Persians bought supplies with them and also thousands of slaves, besides living off the land and being supplied by the northern Greeks.

You should read up about the battle of Thermopylae.

Answer 5

Persian Soldiers

Answer 6

Estimates vary on the strength of the Persian force, from 200,000 to 2,000,000. The 300 Spartans under Leonidas and 700 Thespians stayed behind and held a mountain pass against the Persians, giving the rest of the Greek forces time to withdraw and defend Athens. All 1,000 Greeks who stayed behind died, but killed MANY more Persians. The Persians finally killed all the last remaining Spartans with spears and arrows, because they were taking such huge losses fighting them in close combat.

Answer 7

It was actually more like half a million persians, and it wasn't only the Spartans. There were other Greek troops. About 2,000 in all. Oh, and they lost.

Answer 8

A couple of points - the Spartans lost at Thermopylae. However, their stand allowed time for the other Greek city-states to get ready for, and then defeat the invading Persians. So, it's a case of losing the battle but winning the war. And incidentally saving Western Civilization.

2nd, there weren't just 300 Spartans. There were also 700 Thespians and 6,000 other allied Greeks. However, when King Leonidas learned that he had been betrayed and the Persians now knew of a route behind his soldiers, leaving them outflanked and certain to be destroyed, the 6,000 others left. True to their honor and their oaths, the Spartans stayed - as did the 700 Thespians. The 300 Spartans were really the only ones who mattered for the same reason that the massive strength of the Persian Army didn't matter (More on that later).

All were killed.

Estimates of Persian battle strength (and these weren't just Persians, but their allies and slave-nations as well) run from 100,000 to 2,000,000 with most of the modern estimates I've seen tending towards 1,000,000 even. Supplying them - as it is even in modern times - was a huge challenge. Foraging, pillaging, and their own supply lines did the trick.

Persian casualty estimates run from 20,000 to 100,000, and I tend to think it's closer to 100,000. Keep in mind that these poor Persians had to watch their best troops (The Immortals) be exterminated early in the fight, then watch their allies and friends move up the line and be slaughtered. Then it was their turn, marching through their friends' bodies, guts, and blood, then literally climb over their frieds' bodies to face the merciless Spartans.

King Leonidas chose his battleground well - Thermopylae (which means The Hot Gates) was a very narrow pass with mountains on one side and a cliff falling off to the sea on the other. The Persians could not use their full weight against them. They had to attack on a narrow front, allowing the Spartans to use their strengths to full advantage. It also meant that the only soldiers who mattered were the Spartans - which would've been the case anyway. They were much better trained, stronger, and had superior tactics to the Persians.

However, the Persians found their goat-trail into the Spartan rear and surrounded them. With no options, the Spartans stood, fought, and died.

Some of my favorite quotes from this battle -
"Do you not understand, Spartan? Our arrows are so numerous that they blot out the sun!"
"Then we will fight in the shade."

And, when King Xerxes told King Leonidas that he was so impressed with the Spartans valor and skills that he would allow them to live and go home - even sparing Sparta from his conquest! - if only they would give him their weapons, he responded "Molon Labe." - Which translates as "Come and get them."

Finally, on the monument to the battle were the last words King Leonidas spoke to his allies as they left his Spartans and their Thespian allies:
"Go tell the Spartans, you who pass by.
That we, obedient to our oaths here lie."

(There are a number of translations to this - Another version uses "That we, obedient to their laws here lie.")

The battle is an incredible monument to human valor and honor.

Orion

PS: There is a similar quote from modern warfare. Gen. Tony McAuliffe was commanding the US 101st Airborne in Bastogne was surrounded by greatly superior German armor, infantry, and artillery. His light-infantry Airborne troopers didn't even have winter gear. The Germans sent in a surrender demand. Gen. McAuliffe's answer was..."NUTS". It took the Germans some time to figure out just what that meant - On the way back, Gen. McAuliffe's aide had to explain to the German emissary that the reply meant "No." LOL

This is one of those events in human history when a few, brave soldiers can make a tremendous difference in the foturnes of war. In Bastogne, the 101st Airborne held on until General Patton could miraculously turn his 3rd Army around and relieve them. Or, you can read about 'Taffy 3' - and learn how a Destroyer and a Destroyer Escort attacked a force of Japanese Battleships, Cruisers, Light Cruisers and Destroyers. They were both destroyed with great loss of life, but they inflicted such casualties and caused such chaos within the Japanese fleet that they withdrew, saving several 'Jeep' carriers and the entire US landing in the Philippines.

Heroic action, courage, and valor MATTER, no matter what people on one side of the political spectrum think.

Answer 9

okay for the actual facts not only 300 spartans were fighting against the persian empire with other races maybe people like greeks but the spartans alone would have not been able to defeat them themselves which just a couple of men against a million.

Answer 10

I'm not sure. I think I read about it somewhere. The Spartans were there to buy time for the Athenian fleet or something. They were there to hold off Persians for as long as possible. They were crushed yes, but they inflicted heavy casualties on the other side. Eventually, the Persians lost to the reinforcements. I think... Don't report abuse me please.