So, how accurate was the movie 300?

Question

I know that obviously the spartans did not take out the Persians with just 300 men because at that time the Persian army was the powerhouse army of the world. My history professor told me that they had waayy more than 300 men, but they told the story that they only had 300 men to make themselves sound more glorious. But how accurate was King Leonidas (spelling) portrayed in the film. I just think it'd be fun to know how accurate it turned out. thnx.

Answer 1

Smart thinking. It was very inaccurate. Although it IS true that the Spartans numbered only 300, they also had as many as 7000 volunteers from other parts of Greece. The thing that aided them was the location: a very narrow mountain pass that made it so that the numerous Persian soldiers could only get a few close to them at a time. The number of the Persians was also exaggerated. It was much smaller than a million. That number is based on legend, and is highly unlikely. Most scholars estimate around 100,000 soldiers, but even this is pretty impressive for the Spartans' achievement.

The important thing to remember is that they still lost. They dragged out the battle longer than it could have lasted, and inflicted some pretty heavy casualties on the Persians under the circumstances, but then they were wiped out. Leonidas' head was stuck on a spike, and his body was crucified. The significance of the battle is that it may have slowed the Persians down enough for the Athenians and the rest of Greece to prepare for battle, a battle that they were able to win.

That said, you can still give the movie some kudos for legend. It was a movie, not a history textbook. So it really does not matter how accurate it was. You show me a truly accurate historically-based movie, and I'll show you some nice oceanfront property in Wyoming I'd like to sell you.

Answer 2

First it was not intended to be accurate. It was 300 Spartans and an Unidentified number of volunteers from other parts of Greece. The current discussion is between 700-7000. The Persian Army is still highly debated but anywhere from 30,000 to 2,000,000. Regardless of the numbers a smaller Greek force led by the Spartans used strategy and a far better grasp of warfare than most in the world, held the Persians longer and caused greater casualties than anyone could have anticipated. And that fact rallied all of Greece to eventually drive the Persian's out. (there were a few Greek city-states that allied with the Persians.) That being said the movie is a true representation of a graphic novel. It is told by a Spartan who is rallying his troops. It is a legend not history. Many have been critical(Primarily those of Persian Descent) of the way the Persians are represented. The fact is, Persian in the film refers to the empire not the people. That being said remeber it is a story told to rally troops. Which do you think is more effective in reaching that goal. They are a tyrannical civilization wanting to take our lands and our freedoms. Or. They are a warm fluffy civilization that wants to give us hugs and bring the further comforts of civilization. Although the latter would be hilarious the former is closer to what is needed to rally troops. You would think that would be obvious. But you know what they say, "Common sense is not all that common." As far as Leonidas is concerned can't say before but they do represent the Spartan warrior culture pretty well, so I don't think it would be too far off.

Answer 3

1. There were reinforcements from other Greek City states, the 300 were the ones who had stayed to fight were slaughtered
2. I didnt watch the movie but I do know that the Spartans were outnumbered greatly by thousands and thousands of Persians. (Hundreds of thousands)
3 The Spartans would have been killed earlier on if it wasn't for Athens's navy, which stopped the Persian navy from surrounding the Spartans.
4. The Spartans had the huge geographical advantage becuase they fought at a pass; only a few hundred could attack the Spartans at once.
5. Backing Statement 1, There were at least 7,000 Greek soldiers
6. Backing Statement 4, the Greeks and Persians fought at the pass of Thermopylae. Look it up!
7. Leonidas only stayed to fight because of his religgious belief in the Oracle of Delphi.
8.The Spartans lost.. They were fighting against several hundred thousand men at the end, surrounded on both sides. Even if Spartan armor and weapons were better than the Persian's stuff, the Persians eventually defeated the Spartans.
9. The army was betrayed.
10. I ran out of things.

Answer 4

First of all, this movie is not to be historically accurate. It is based shot-for-shot upon a graphic novel by Frank Miller. It is what it is. A masterpiece. Yes, they were 300 Spartans, with several more along with them, totalling an estimated 5,400 soldiers. The Spartans were the true heroes for they were the ones with the spirit and the passion to throw out the Persians. As for everything else, remember it is a graphic novel shot-for-shot.

Answer 5

right that's a short blurb from a internet site dedicated to precise portrayal of historic historic previous, alongside with the Persian Wars. The link under will take you to the entire description, that's very exciting and fills interior the gaps created by making use of the action picture: Greeks combat the Immortals: regrettably for Leonidas, after a pair of days, a medizing traitor named Ephialtes led the Persians around the pass working at the back of the Greek military. The call of Ephialtes' course is Anopaea (or Anopaia). Its right area is debated. Leonidas despatched away quite some the accumulated troops. on the 0.33 day, Leonidas led his 3 hundred Spartan hoplites (elite troops chosen because of the fact they had residing sons back domicile), plus their Boeotian allies from Thespiae and Thebes, against Xerxes and his military that secure "10,000 Immortals." The Spartan-led forces fought this unstoppable Persian rigidity to their deaths, blockading the pass long sufficient to maintain Xerxes and his military occupied at the same time as something of the Greek military escaped.

Answer 6

Have not seen the movie, but the Greeks had about 7000 total at Thermopylae, at the end there were only about 1300 including the Spartans. the Persians actually had about 250,000, not a million or 500,000. However, the Spartans did do quite a bit of the fighting though.

Answer 7

I watched a history channel special on this the other night.( havent seen the movie yet). It said, after many days of fighting there where 300 versus about 7000 if I remember right. And the 300 were pretty much slaugtered by them in an every man for himself type battle.

Answer 8

It is true to a comic book fantasy story with accurate scenes from the comic to the screen, but as far as getting your history from films ... no movie is ever true to life, and this would rank among the lowest level of truth imaginable. Fables for inspiration, that's all, and showcasing the amazing Frank Miller.

Answer 9

this movie was a depiction of a comic book. it was not created in a historical sense. now, was it an accurate depiction of millers comic book? i never read the book, so it's hard to say.

Answer 10

How Accurate Is The Movie 300