Mythology in Modern Pop Culture
Myth In Pop Culture
I watched the movie “300” directed by Zack Snyder, which was based off of the battle of Thermopylae, between the Greeks and the Persians in 480 B.C. In the movie, Persians threaten to enslave and change the ways of the Spartan people. The leader of Sparta is King Leonidas which has 300 Spartan soldiers behind him in the battle against the Persians which is lead by Xerxes who thought of himself as a god in the movie. The 300 Spartan soldiers had to defend a thin path called Thermopylae also called the hot gates which they slaughtered 10,000 + men (Gills, 1).
Spartans were expert fighters and fearless warriors. At birth the new borns are raised up only if they are healthy and perfectly formed to allow genetic upbreeding. At age 7, young boys are taken from their homes and brought up by the state. Only the strongest can be a Spartan and were in brutal combat training, they were also taught to swim, run, and to dance. The Greeks believed rhythmic movements were good training for the body and character. By the age of 20 the young men are now full out killing machines. At the age of 30 the men are allowed to marry and start a house hold (Flawlesslogic.com). When Spartans go into battle they are in the mind set of dying or preparing for death. They have no fear of confrontation with anyone nor how large the enemy army is.
The Spartans defended a strategic spot called the Pass of Thermopylae which was a narrow path about 50 feet wide with steep mountains surrounding it (flawlesslogic.com). This made it almost impossible for the Persian troops to penetrate.
In the battle, Leonidas has +/- 300 spartan men and 700 men from Thespeae and Thebes, fighting against Xerxes waves of soldiers that try to defeat the Spartans but could not succeed. Even after sending 10,000 immortals which were elite corps of 10,000 men, to the hot gates they were all killed off or fled from the area. The battle scenes are action packed with armored covered
I watched the movie “300” directed by Zack Snyder, which was based off of the battle of Thermopylae, between the Greeks and the Persians in 480 B.C. In the movie, Persians threaten to enslave and change the ways of the Spartan people. The leader of Sparta is King Leonidas which has 300 Spartan soldiers behind him in the battle against the Persians which is lead by Xerxes who thought of himself as a god in the movie. The 300 Spartan soldiers had to defend a thin path called Thermopylae also called the hot gates which they slaughtered 10,000 + men (Gills, 1).
Spartans were expert fighters and fearless warriors. At birth the new borns are raised up only if they are healthy and perfectly formed to allow genetic upbreeding. At age 7, young boys are taken from their homes and brought up by the state. Only the strongest can be a Spartan and were in brutal combat training, they were also taught to swim, run, and to dance. The Greeks believed rhythmic movements were good training for the body and character. By the age of 20 the young men are now full out killing machines. At the age of 30 the men are allowed to marry and start a house hold (Flawlesslogic.com). When Spartans go into battle they are in the mind set of dying or preparing for death. They have no fear of confrontation with anyone nor how large the enemy army is.
The Spartans defended a strategic spot called the Pass of Thermopylae which was a narrow path about 50 feet wide with steep mountains surrounding it (flawlesslogic.com). This made it almost impossible for the Persian troops to penetrate.
In the battle, Leonidas has +/- 300 spartan men and 700 men from Thespeae and Thebes, fighting against Xerxes waves of soldiers that try to defeat the Spartans but could not succeed. Even after sending 10,000 immortals which were elite corps of 10,000 men, to the hot gates they were all killed off or fled from the area. The battle scenes are action packed with armored covered
Bibliography: Gills, N.S. “Persian Wars Battle at Thermopylae-480 B.C.” About.com. Ancient/Classical History.n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. Kerasaridis, Fotis. “Battle” The Battle of Thermopylae. n.d. Web. 29 Oct 2011. “Leonidas the Spartan”. Library.flawlesslogic.com/leonidas.htm. Fourteen Word Press, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011.