History on TV - Sometimes Fact is More Entertaining Than Fiction
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"300" opened to the public in Greece to standing ovations and condemnation in Iran. Iranian President Ahmadinejad denounced the film, outraged over the portrayal of the historical identity of Iran. Adding fuel to the controversy, "300" director Zack Snyder, in an MTV interview called the film 90% historically accurate.
In the film the Persians are depicted as a monstrous, semi-human horde of demonic, magical and weak willed beings. The movie even goes so far as to suggest that Persians were prone to pedophilia and portrays their leader Xerxes, played by Rodrigo Santoro, as an androgynous "God King."
As for "300" being historically accurate - an examination of history reveals the movie to be grossly lacking.
The film centers around Spartan King Leonidas' journey from boyhood to King of Sparta and his education into the Spartan way, but historically very little is known about King Leonidas prior to his reign over Sparta.
The movie is a recount narration by Spartan soldier Dilios played by David Wenham. The character Dilios was actually a Spartan warrior named Aristodemus, the only Spartan survivor from the Battle of Thermopylae.
Dilios is revealed as the narrator in the movie at the end when he is rallying 10,000 Spartans, commanding 30,000 Greeks, as they prepare to avenge Leonidas and the 300. In the movie Dilios is sent home by Leonidas after a battle in which Dilios suffers an eye injury. Leonidas asks Dilios to take a message to the Queen. History tells us that Aristodemus (Dilios) was stricken with an eye infection, along with Eurytus, (not mentioned in the film) and ordered home by Leonidas as they were not fit for battle. Eurytus however turned back and died in battle. Aristodemus was regarded in Spartan history as a coward for not having done the same.
In the film, King Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler, is credited with having provoked the Persian King Xerxes into war by killing his messengers, sent to negotiate terms. When Leonidas cannot get the Spartan council to agree to battle, he formulates a plan to take 300 Spartan soldiers to defend the Hot Gates (Thermopylae), in the hope that their sacrifice spurs the council to send the Spartan army to war with the Persians.
Leonidas, though a true heroic figure in history had very little to do with the decision to hold Thermopylae and absolutely nothing to do with starting a conflict with the Persians. Athenian General Themistocles is due the credit for the battle plan having proposed that the Allied Greek forces block the advance of the Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae while simultaneously engaging the Persian fleet in a naval battle at Artemisium. Furthermore, the Persian aggression was not caused by Leonidas' actions with Xerxes messengers, but rather was in response to the Persian defeat at the hands of the Athenians in the Battle of Marathon.
The Battle of Thermopylae lasted just seven days, three of these days spent in battle. After the second day, a local resident of the area named Ephialtes betrays the Greek forces by revealing to the Persians a path that leads behind the Greek lines. Leonidas at that time was holding the Persians at bay with a force of nearly 7000 soldiers, which he amassed from various Greek states during his march to Thermopylae, not the mere 300 the movie would have us believe.
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Author Resource:-
In conclusion, enjoy the movie on HBO, learn the facts on the History Channel and see them both in crystal clear high-definition on Dish Network.
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By :
sanjai singania
Submitted
2009-11-01 09:32:55 |
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