300was one ofZack Snyder’s best movies, and one that rocketed him into fame.
Though the Greek forces were heavily outnumbered, they benefited from the terrain of Thermopylae.
Thermopylae is a mountain pass along the Eastern shore of Greece, near the Malian Gulf.
The first Persian invasion ended at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, where Darius I was killed.
Thus,the Battle of Thermopylae and300both took place in 480 BCE.
Leonidas and the Spartans, however, decided otherwise (via Encyclopedia Britannica).
Custom image by Sean Morrison
Interestingly, there were far more than 300 troops who remained at the Hot Gates.
line would have taken place 10 years prior, when Darius I’s messengers were killed.
Even with those glaring historical inaccuracies, though,300serves as a fairly faithful retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Loosely based on Frank Miller’s comic series of the same name, Zack Snyder’s 300 tells the legend of the historical battle of Thermopylae. It follows King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) as he leads a small force of 300 Spartans against the amassed Persian army of 300,000. Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.
One of the most notable alterations in300is the portrayal of the Persian army.
Zack Snyders movie depicts Persian soldiers as monstrous beings, including creatures with disfigured appearances and imposing physiques.
Its not only changes to Xerxes army that make300better, either.
By omitting Spartas allies,300overlooks the unity and collaboration that were crucial to the Greek defense.
Meanwhile, his wife Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) remains in Sparta to negotiate reinforcements against political resistance.
