Differences Between 300 and Herodotus
Introduction
Additions
Many areas of the film have been completely altered, For example in Herodotus The histories there is no mention at all of Leonidas’ wife queen Gorgo. In the times of aqncient Greece women were not involved in political debates within the film Queen Gorgo argues her husband’s case to send more Spartan troops to Thermopylae while he is fighting the Persians. This would not have occurred in ancient Greece as women were not considered citizens or equals to men.(Although Spartan women were regarded more highly then other ancient Greek woman) Gorgo is the only main character who is female in the film 300 and probably has such a large role in the film to either draw a female audience to the film (as a female character they can relate to, or a drama aspect of the film they can enjoy and for men there is the appeal of sex) to make it more appealing through the use of a female main character.
Another example of alterations to the film is Ephialtes. In the film 300 Ephialtes is a hunch back Greek who managed to not be discarded at birth. As Leonidas and the 300 are heading to battle Ephialtes requests to join their ranks as a Spartan warrior but is declined. In anger Ephialtes leads the Persians to a mountainside path that leads to the back of the Greek army where they are slaughtered from both sides. His role in both the film and Histories are the same in terms of leading the Persians to a goat track, however in the ' Histories' Ephialtes simply reveals the path to Xerxes in hope of a rich reward from the tyrannical Persians. The film '300' would have had Ephialtes become a traitor to create bitter and scheming character, further connecting to audience to the Spartans, and again emphasising their role as the 'Good Guys' in the film
Conclusion
The film 300 is a text book example of a dramatized Hollywood film. Many aspects of the film have been altered to appeal to an action hungry audience which is exactly what happened. The film in some
Additions
Many areas of the film have been completely altered, For example in Herodotus The histories there is no mention at all of Leonidas’ wife queen Gorgo. In the times of aqncient Greece women were not involved in political debates within the film Queen Gorgo argues her husband’s case to send more Spartan troops to Thermopylae while he is fighting the Persians. This would not have occurred in ancient Greece as women were not considered citizens or equals to men.(Although Spartan women were regarded more highly then other ancient Greek woman) Gorgo is the only main character who is female in the film 300 and probably has such a large role in the film to either draw a female audience to the film (as a female character they can relate to, or a drama aspect of the film they can enjoy and for men there is the appeal of sex) to make it more appealing through the use of a female main character.
Another example of alterations to the film is Ephialtes. In the film 300 Ephialtes is a hunch back Greek who managed to not be discarded at birth. As Leonidas and the 300 are heading to battle Ephialtes requests to join their ranks as a Spartan warrior but is declined. In anger Ephialtes leads the Persians to a mountainside path that leads to the back of the Greek army where they are slaughtered from both sides. His role in both the film and Histories are the same in terms of leading the Persians to a goat track, however in the ' Histories' Ephialtes simply reveals the path to Xerxes in hope of a rich reward from the tyrannical Persians. The film '300' would have had Ephialtes become a traitor to create bitter and scheming character, further connecting to audience to the Spartans, and again emphasising their role as the 'Good Guys' in the film
Conclusion
The film 300 is a text book example of a dramatized Hollywood film. Many aspects of the film have been altered to appeal to an action hungry audience which is exactly what happened. The film in some