Let me get this straight…
Iranians are upset because an ancient leader of Zoroastrian Persia was portrayed as somewhat of a girlie boy. Ok point taken – you’re cry babies.
First lesson of democracy modern day Iranians: criticism and opinions, artistic expression and license come in all shapes and forms, welcome to Western civilization! That you are debating this topic is promising regardless of whether your arguments make sense or not. For example we have to live with the relentless deranged arguments of liberals here i.e. it’s part and parcel of living in a democracy you just don’t understand it fully yet because they hate the US as much as islamist do. Some days I can’t tell them apart. One day however when democracy arrives in Iran you will look back and say geeeee now I understand what treacherous stupidity patriots had to endure back then.
Moving on and in response to Farhad Peiravi (above), the Spartans were in no way analogous to jihadist today.
a) they fought for Greece as did their Thespian allies, not for Allah. Allah would be a foreign concept to them altogether. They had 12 Gods and countless demi-gods in their time and as such would be considered polytheist infidels by today’s islamists. They also were idolaters. They were also known to enjoy a good wine (alcohol) here and there and especially after victories – a big no-no in Islam. I have a feeling they enjoyed wild boar and pork also, actually just wafts of their infamous cuisine would have Mohammad passing out in a nanosecond.
b) Spartan Men of fighting age fought in wars only. Never did they send young children to war nor did they hide behind women the elderly and children in battle like jihadist do today. They’d face their enemies resolutely anything otherwise was unthinkable and shameful.
c) The women of Sparta were respected, well educated and had a strong voice and rights that would shame even some cultures that exist today, indeed they managed much of Sparta while their soldiers were away on duty. Their scanty dress would have them stoned or buried alive by radical Islamic standards today also, ie. if they could handle Spartan women in the first place.
d) The helots were somewhere between free and slaves. Actually some were allowed to sell a portion of their farmed produce back to Sparta. Their customers included some Spartan commanders themselves. Last time I looked up the term slave enterprising is never referenced. Yes they were under Sparta’s thumb and yes they did revolt against Sparta’s earliest citizens which is why Sparta decided eventually to keep them in check.
e) The Spartans would have Osama for breakfast given the chance. Someone who hides his whereabouts for years upon years is put simply a coward.
Everyone wants to take a cut of the Spartans but something tells me if this culture existed today one thing is for certain you wouldn’t want to get on their bad side, and being people of wit and military prowess they probably be enjoying the tremendous amount of controversy over them today.
I have to agree with other expressions made here on 300 that although fantastical in its stylization, it does stick to the substance of the story as told by Herodotus. Frank Miller is a genius for portraying images and telling the story in a way which in essence resembles methods used by ancient Greeks themselves be it on their exquisite amphora and vases or in their ancient storytelling. He gives us an ancient viewpoint and for that he and Zack Snyder are to be commended for their creativity. People who see this movie are in for an experience they will remember, which is fitting, as the true heroic last stand is still remembered 25 centuries later.
