Are there any real historical events that relate to the movie 300?

Question

If so, could u add a link with your answer directing me to the historical evidence

Answer 1

Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300” (on which the current film is based) recounts the historical (and historic) battle of Thermopylae (480BC) during the Persian Wars (that is, the wars between the Persian Empire and the various independent Greek states, under the leadership of Sparta and Athens, which joined to defeat Persia). The first real battle of these wars is the even more famous battle at Marathon (490BC, from which, you may guess, the name of our foot-race comes). The history of these battles comes to us by way of the Greeks, who are considered the intellectual forefathers, so to speak, of the Western World. This is why we call them the “Persian” Wars, because we (in the West) fought against Persia (from the East). I understand that Miller has taken a good deal of poetic license in his version of the story, so you are wise to seek a more accurate account to help you evaluate the film. Why not get it right from the horse’s mouth? Here’s a link that will bring you to the actual words (in translation, of course) of the ancient historian of the Persian Wars, Herodotus ("the father of history"), describing Thermopylae:

http://people.westminstercollege.edu/faculty/mmarkowski/212/3/demaratos.html

Answer 2

In 480BC, the Persian King Xerxes led an army to mainland Greece. An alliance led by King Leonidas of Sparta and certain Greek kingdoms joined to fight off the invading invaders. The actual amount of Greek defenders were more but 300 represented 300 of Greece's best- The Spartans. Defending at Thermopylae, a mountain pass, the Greeks managed to withold their far more numerous enemies until a Greek traitor showed the Persians another route. The Greek defenders were eventually crushed but at a high price. Emperor Xerxes was so angry that he ordered King Leonidas to be crucified and beheaded, an act that Persians seldom do as they had great respect for enemies who fought to their doom. But he eventually led the Spatans had their king's corpse back. Anyway, King Leonidas did not planned to go back anyway after a message from an oracle said that a king from Spata must die so it was practically a suicide mission.

Answer 3

The Battle of Thermopylae.
300 Spartans and some allies against hundreds of thousands of Persians. Some say over a million Persians.
Read on and you be the judge.
http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Herother.html
http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110Tech/Thermopylae.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

Answer 4

I weep for the lack of knowledge these days!

I thought the Battle of Thermopalye was common knowledge

Answer 5

Of course!