To most of us who never really pay attention to history, 300 is just one of those many great epic movies based on historical events. 300 however is not entirely 100% accurate and the story is written from the Spartans point of view. Imagined watching 300 without the existence of the so-called Immortals, or if Xerxes appears in his pants and decent clothing? Then the battle would be a typical pre-historic war movie, and where is the fun or humor in watching Xerxes nipples got cut off? Oh wait a minute, that was Meet the Spartans Movie. What I am saying is without all the exaggeration and bluffs, it is as good as as watching a documentary, accurate, educational, but without the spice of entertainment. I must admit that I also enjoy the movie despite its inaccuracy. One thing that viewer keeps forgetting when watching a movie that it is a creative storytelling aimed to viewers with exaggeration. This has been practiced from the past and still practiced nowadays, the purpose: to make a story entertaining and it sells. Thus I believe Xerxes also deserve a spotlight, a movie from his point of view perhaps? Although I doubt there would be anyone interested to make that anytime soon.
Who is Xerxes? After the death of The Great King Darius I (522 – 486 BC), he took over power and have his coronation in Apadana, palace of Susa which in his reign become the capital of Achaemenid Empire. Although both follow the teachings of Zoroastrians, King Darius I never forced his belief to the people of his empire. Unlike Darius, Xerxes have strong religious beliefs that he felt it is his role to set things right especially to those who worship demons and thus set his war campaign to force his beliefs unto others which lead his campaign to Greece and eventually Sparta.
What about the Spartans? Their ideology and education; where the military and city-state itself become the center of their existence; produce the greatest military of the ancient Greek worlds. As they view themselves as the true inheritors of the Greek tradition, they did not live in luxury as it was often seen as bringing disorder, enervation, weakness, and a decline in moral values. I guess that explains why are they wearing almost nothing in the movie.
The throwing babies over the cliff? Well, according to some legend, the Spartans will leave their infants on a cliff and only the ones that survive is considered strong enough to be part of Sparta. Exposing weak or sickly children was a common practice in the Greek world. Glad I wasn’t born in that time and place. Unless, I was born as the great Leonidas himself, I’ll be undefeated until Xerxes men killed me, otherwise no thanks.
When a boy has reached seven years old, he was taken from his mother and given to the state where he have to go through rigorous discipline and mainly military type education, the so-called Agoge, that lasting for twelve years. Well, aren’t you glad that you only have to go and be in the National Service for 3 months? Imagine if you had to go back to nature, wear only banana leaf-woven garments that is almost not there and live like a prehistoric barbarian. Not to mention the mosquitoes and dengue fever!! Well, aren't you glad you are not born as Spartans?
Next I will discuss about the 300 people versus Xerxes's thousands army. How the battle started, why and how it ended?
Who is Xerxes? After the death of The Great King Darius I (522 – 486 BC), he took over power and have his coronation in Apadana, palace of Susa which in his reign become the capital of Achaemenid Empire. Although both follow the teachings of Zoroastrians, King Darius I never forced his belief to the people of his empire. Unlike Darius, Xerxes have strong religious beliefs that he felt it is his role to set things right especially to those who worship demons and thus set his war campaign to force his beliefs unto others which lead his campaign to Greece and eventually Sparta.
What about the Spartans? Their ideology and education; where the military and city-state itself become the center of their existence; produce the greatest military of the ancient Greek worlds. As they view themselves as the true inheritors of the Greek tradition, they did not live in luxury as it was often seen as bringing disorder, enervation, weakness, and a decline in moral values. I guess that explains why are they wearing almost nothing in the movie.
The throwing babies over the cliff? Well, according to some legend, the Spartans will leave their infants on a cliff and only the ones that survive is considered strong enough to be part of Sparta. Exposing weak or sickly children was a common practice in the Greek world. Glad I wasn’t born in that time and place. Unless, I was born as the great Leonidas himself, I’ll be undefeated until Xerxes men killed me, otherwise no thanks.
When a boy has reached seven years old, he was taken from his mother and given to the state where he have to go through rigorous discipline and mainly military type education, the so-called Agoge, that lasting for twelve years. Well, aren’t you glad that you only have to go and be in the National Service for 3 months? Imagine if you had to go back to nature, wear only banana leaf-woven garments that is almost not there and live like a prehistoric barbarian. Not to mention the mosquitoes and dengue fever!! Well, aren't you glad you are not born as Spartans?
Next I will discuss about the 300 people versus Xerxes's thousands army. How the battle started, why and how it ended?
5 comments:
aik ini cerita batul ka? atau dongeng-dongengan? Yaii ndak ku dapat bayangkan macam la diorang hidup masa tu.
Mmm.. ini ni mo cakap kesahihan dia boleh kata sama la macam kisah Hang Tuah. Macam tu lah.. ada, betul tapi mungkin kena exaggerate sikit oleh pencatat sejarah kuno, maklumlah dulu2 kan orang kalau menulis penuh bunga-bunga.
cuba dulu buat cerita pasal si motumpul ka...buli ba kan?
kwakwakwa.. ko bikin la bah..
You write very well.
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