Do you think the movie 300 is historically accurate?

Question

I'd like to hear your opinion.

Sorry about that, pishtafer. It works at my school. They've really been cracking down on stuff in schools, so there's probably no other way. I guess you'll just have to do your work. Or keep on answering questions here.

Answer 1

the movie is generally accurate, since Battle of Thermopylae did happen, and it involved just a relatively small number of Greek soldiers (with the majority being the Spartans lead by King Leonidas) that fought hard to delay the march of the Persian army (under King Xerxes) that was seeking to put the Greek nation under their rule. Ephialtes, the one who betrayed the Spartans was actually a sherperd who did exist, though he was definitely not a grossly deformed hunchback who's a Spartan-wannabe. Also, the Persian army actually numbered about a quarter of a million. The part where nearly all the Spartans were massacred was accurate too. Oh, and the throwing of Persian messengers/envoys into the well did happen too. So overall, the movie did follow the general plot of what happened nearly 2500 years ago, but the real details have of course been exaggerated, with plenty of fantasy elements added to make the movie a visual treat thats truly enjoyable! :)

Answer 2

Well, after some research, I can say that it could be relatively accurate. The main difference is the number of people.

The Spartans were orginally accompanied by a greater number of people, many of which fought in the pass. The 300 were supported by about a thousand soldiers following the retreat. And the battle of Thermopylae did end with a Spartan defeat but the last soldier to die apparantly was not Leonidas.

It seems that the sentence about fighting in the shade was also true, as is the quote "Come get them" about throwing down his weapons.

I'd say it was at least 50% accurate, but not much. It is, however, a great retelling of an historical event that may end up forgotten.

Answer 3

I went and saw this last night. You know we were talking about the whole accuracy. The answer I came to was that great men in history have always been idolized. Great mens tales have always been glorified . . . where the Spartans amazine lover and warriors. . . yes I believe so. Were they these creatures that could not be beat? Probably not. The movie, I do feel like some of the things were vere likely to be true. I do know what they used to bring large animals over for calvary, and the Persian King in history did feel as though he was a god. From what I remember from school The Hunchback in the movie did in fact exist and did betray the Spartans but I think he was was actually a Farmer or Sheepherder or something I'm not really sure. The Spartins did use some of the tactics they protrayed in the movie, as far as the tunneling the Persians in the hollow. The Persian army was huge, I believe it was almost a 1/2 million, and there were in fact 300 Spartans that were selected to go fight. History marks the soldiers all who were worthy and to have sons that bare their name (as stated in the movie). But again, Men in history are made to have more riches and glory than they really held. To be better lovers and greater worriers, that's how history in part is made.

Answer 4

I haven’t seen the movie, but without seeing it I can tell you there are some historical inaccuracies.

The battle lasted for several weeks, and originally had a great many more troops than the 1000 who were ultimately left behind.

The Spartans wore heavy armor, they were not bare chested.

There were no mythological creatures.

No one knows is Kind Leonidas was a real person or a mythological person.

700 Thespians also fought the last stand with the Spartans.

The Spartans and Thespians fought for three days before they were all killed. They were eventually killed by arrows, because Xerces couldn’t afford to lose any more men.

Answer 5

Is most aspects it is, but some of the creatures and characters were fictional. The movie itself was based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, and so the fantasy element has to be taken into consideration. I'm not sure if the number of the Persians was really one million strong, but everything else seemed accurate.

EDIT: I seem to have been wrong, here's something I just read:

The movie never claims to be historically correct. It is based somewhat loosely on Frank Miller's 1998 comic book mini-series. Changes from history were made by Miller and Snyder so as to appeal to a wider audience and create a more exciting and visually stunning action movie, rather than a typical historical epic.

Answer 6

No, and it doesn't really claim to be. Some of the events are portrayed correctly. The real number of Greeks at the battle was about 7,000 to begin with. When the Greeks discovered they would be flanked all but 1,000 left to join the larger Greek force that would oppose the invasion. Of the Few that stayed 300 were indeed Spartans.

Answer 7

No one has bothered to note that this is based on a GRAPHIC NOVEL, not a historical work. Never take your history from comic books or movies. That said, there are real events which are the background for this story, but everything from monsters, to personalities, to much of the costumes are pure fiction.

Answer 8

Movies rarely are.... historical accuracy is usually boring. One example I can think of is, in addition to the 300 Spartans, there were another 1000 or so Thesbians who stood with the Spartans to fight Xerxes, and give the rest of the Greek army a chance to retreat.

Answer 9

I doubt it. All movies from books do not follow the book all the way to the end.

Example would be John Grisham books were great but the movie did not follow the book.

The Firm, The Clint were all different ending than book did.

Answer 10

a million. The historic "information" were written frequently by ability of the victors. 2. examine out the link my source list. 3. there have been many inaccuracies: * no longer the least being the omission of the efforts of the Athenian military * the sheer brutality of Spartan way of existence replaced into performed down for decrease than X rankings. case in point, they likely might want to no longer practice an 8 year old boy operating the gauntlet the position they had to run up a lengthy temple stair coated by ability of Spartans beating them with whips, golf equipment, and switches. in the journey that they failed and fell, they were beaten to lack of life. * Spartan kit coated a spear, sword, guard, and cloak. except that, they fought bare. * gay habit replaced into thoroughly disregarded. * the actual undeniable actuality that the Spartans owned slaves that they kept in communities that could want to practice as practice armies... obviously, those armies may be killed to maximise sensible conflict situations and confirm the slaves may wrestle as fiercely as plausible (now to not practice what the Spartans may do to their women human beings and little ones - you note, they knew what the Persians may do from their personal journey of doing it to others). * The Oracle at Delphi and the Spartan monks were separate entities and agencies. * portion of the "pageant" likely coated ritual conflict with the slave communities, whose populations may have necessary to be thinned lest insurrection ensue at the same time as a Spartan military replaced into away. * The portion of freedom no longer being loose and paid in blood replaced into more beneficial likely in connection with a individual's own freedom in accordance to potential to kill others, no longer own sacrifice. for sure, the strains are more beneficial likely depending on the political agendas of the author and the director than any historic actuality. * If Efialtis replaced right into a Spartan in any respect, he may have in undemanding words had a difficulty at the same time with his shoulder, no longer his finished body. the point may then be as an instance how choosy Spartans were about who they could or would not throw off a cliff as a infant. A lamed guy did not stand a lot of a chance in Spartan society. because it were, the nature likely in undemanding words exists for Athenian tragic sentiment or a minimum of replaced right into a community guy that could want to have undemanding about the bypass because of non-public familiarity with the community panorama. also, 250,000 troops is likely more beneficial than adequate to have scouts to seek and locate a goat bypass without help.