Jonathan Hughes-300

The film 300 greatly entertained me, while at the same time taught me valuable lessons in history, military strategy, and greek mythology. Thermopylae, the focal point in the film was strategically the only place where King Leonidas, and his 300 Spartan volunteet soldiers could face the massive Persian army lead by King Xerxes. Frank Miller who created a graphic novel about the 300 Spartans and the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., included a great deal of historically factual innformation, which to me made the story all the better. The Greeks religion did play a vast role in the story of Leonidas and his men. Before a king could enter the state's military in a battle or war, he had to first consult an oracle, who was supposedly in direct contact with the gods. Only after the king has consulted with the oracle, and has been granted permission to procede with war, may the soldiers of Sparta be allowed to fight. In the film, Leonidas consults the oracle, who has been corrupted by her keepers and the drugs she has used to supposedly contact the gods. The oracle relays the gods message to not go and fight the Persians, but as we all know that did not stop Leonidas from protecting his family and the land he loves. Overall I greatly enjoyed the film, and I felt that it taught a very entertaining history lesson.