There's one critical detail overlooked by this amazing documentary. Historically, the Spartans numbered more than 300. While 300 were the hoplites, for each warrior, there were slaves or servants who aided with transportation, logistics, food, and caring for the wounded. These individuals fought not as the main part of the phalanx, but around it, using bows, slings, javelins, and whatever they had as light infantry. In reality, the true number of Leonidas' Spartan army at Thermopylae was between 450 to 700 individuals, possibly even more. Additionally, we must consider that alongside the Spartans were other Greek states: 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans, possibly up to 900 helots, and 1,000 Phocians, bringing the total number of Greeks fighting to nearly 7,000, excluding the servants and additional individuals. Nonetheless, this does not diminish the fact of their remarkable episode of resistance against the enemy. 💀
300 is what stayed for the final stand. The other Spartans, Arcadians, and some others numbered over a few thousand, but were sent back to spread the word to band together.
It must be pointed out that Leonidas did not pick the best 300, because they were the best, though formidable they were chosen over others because they all had at least one son to carry on their line.
I remember seeing a documentary about Ancient Greece years ago in the late '90s. And one scene had a father being dressed by his entire family with his armor because he was called for battle. I thought that was really amazing scene to look at.
"..the 2 elite forces clash. Neither willing to give way.." Oh the Spartans were willing to give way.. but just enough room to cover the ground in more bodies.
My favorite Spartan test was essentially the hunger games spliced with capture the flag. The younger students would have to raid the food cache, usually cheese or similar, while the older ones earning their place into the ranks had to play defense.
Why are they carrying their shields upside down? It's a Lambda, not a V. It was a symbol of Lacedaemonia/Laconia, which was the name of their homeland.
all the foreigners know about the ''Lamda'' [L] on the shields is what they saw in the movie... that's based on the comic... that's why the wrong shields, swords, helmets, armors, storytelling, EVERYTHING!... but don't blame their enthusiasm... I bet they know less about their own history...
@@user-McGiver Granted that many do know less about their own history and only know ancient history based on movies and books, but there are some of us that study ancient histories too. Please don't over generalize a group based on a few observations for some of us might start spewing Minoan and Hellanic stories of old.
@@adamarchuleta6163 what an absolutely hilariously ridiculous comment. Imagine someone who dismisses information based on whether someone was there or not. You seriously believe it was 300? Ever read accounts of people who were there?
@@DTk5584 I'm aware that it it was probably more.. regardless though, they were still massively outnumbered by a huge invading force. Even as their numbers dwindled they still chose to fight to the end. For that reason they deserve to be immortalized by history.
The whole Spartan myth smells to high heaven!! The word lacksdaisical comes from Lacedemonia their home…..if it wasn’t war it was laying about while the slaves did all the work!! They were a society of sociopaths and it was a very short history!!
Sphacteria then blew the Myth apart! 😢Without taking anything away from them because for around two hundred years they were practically unbeatable in an open land Hoplite battle!
Shame they don't even mention the other expeditionary Greek city state forces. They also sacrificed all in the battlefield without the demand that they stay and die.
Only the Spartan nobility went through this routine growing up. Those who looked after the estates, the Helots were the equilivent of serfs & actually formed most of the rank ‘n file in Spartan armies during the Peloponnesian War, with the full citizens acting as officers. This was the same in the Spartan unit amongst Xenophane’s 10 000 in Persia, where they operated a mercenaries for the Spartan state (who got the payments). This was because over time full Spartans were too small in number by themselves
I've always imagined there's more to it than that , I think the men that made up the "300" were more in it together "chosen" over a shared attitude and understanding of what was at hand. I feel so much of the back story to this moment in history was brought about by internal corruption within Greece, especially Sparta at the time. I feel they probably misrepresent the attitude of Leonidas, it wasn't a nobel sacrifice bound out of duty to some code or state , I think it's a group of intelligent men who realized they were just as much slaves in their society as anyone, that they're sacrifices to lead free lives had been in service to a corrupt lie of a power system set to brainwash everyone and funnel it all upwards towards them, this reached a breaking point when the higher ups in Sparta not only failed to react to the foreign threat but also do everything they could to sabotage any kind of efforts made by anyone else who differed in opioion . I think the 300 marched up there pissed off as hell and carried that attitude into the ground, that was the entire point , just to make a spectactal so large so heroic and impossible to say boo at , the type of story even the average mindless drooling citizen adores, something that sways popular opinion so strongly if the higher ups don't get on board with they'll be hanging on the ends of ropes. It was a final F U by men who probably just wished that one day people might actually have a chance to be free , follow their unique desires and live peaceful existences . The level of disgust inside must of been so intense, think about having you're life both physically and mentally taken from you, the horrific things they forced you're hand at and the horrific things that you've been forced to see inflicted on you're brothers around you. A life chosen for you where You as an individual person are always born to lose and cease to exist as anything more than an expendable. After a lifetime of dirty deeds in the name of an evil cause, it's almost an act of redemption in a karmic sense, to bring one of the tall tales told on the top of Mount Olympus to life that gave the oppressed people hope in the forum of this new mindset where it was a possibility to defy you're oppressors and call them out on their evil little false realities they try to trap 🪤 us in so we can turn one of their cogs for them ⚙️ . If we somehow won that battle, we were going to steal an Athenian ship 🚢 and sail to the Isle of Lesbos to retire in style and finally get a slice 🍰 of the good life...
The Persians stayed in Athens for about a month after Salamis. The army only had to retreat because the main mass of troops were farmers who needed to get back to harvest the crops.
It was a 2 part campaign, Athens rocked the Seas, while Sparta cut off the land marches, which allowed time for the city states to stop their squabbles and band together.
Don't forget folks, Odyssey is infotainment. Lax on accuracy, heavy on asthetic. Don't take these vids as documentary, they are closer to fiction than to fact.
They are lax though I would not go as far as to say that they are closer to fiction rather then fact. despite their potrayals leaving a lot to be desired.
and here you are recognising what you see and denying it... I haven't watched it yet but the footage is authentic from Greek formations and how we keep our tradition alive... not some down paid ill-informed extras from a movie with no idea of what was what...
@user-McGiver That's a lot of commentary on a video you admit to having not watched. Odd you make the accusation of willful denial, then proclaim authenticity without seeing it.
These guys aren’t real Spartans. They’re not 3/4 naked bodybuilders, which is how Spartans looked according to the epic, historically accurate biopic 300. 😊
Indeed, the most exceptional fighters of all time! When compared to modern special forces, the courage and expertise of the Spartan 300 were second to none. Their resoluteness and the fact that they are part of a clandestine killing squad assigned the risky task of assassinating the Persian monarch are what set them distinct. This film does an excellent job of summing up their renown achievements and the strategic genius of bygone battles. A fascinating look into the most fearsome fighters of all time!
Leonidas was at the head of about 7000 Greek troops. I don't know why this doesn't mention them. The 300 stayed behind so the 7000 could flee and warn the rest of Greece. E tan e epi tas
@@LarsonPetty more than 1500 stayed behind... at that point, they all knew that was a ''last stand'' we honored their sacrifice... but we paid more attention to the Spartans for many reasons... one is that they chose 300 men with already a boy, to keep the bloodline, so they expected to die all, second the Spartans were very distant to the rest of the Greeks... brutal, kinda what the ruZZians were [before they turn to orcs] after the fall for the rest of the world... weird, strange but very [too much] forgiven for being like that... we never really understudy them... and most of what we know was/is pure propaganda [killing disabled k8ds, never surrender, etc...we have proof now... ] I promise you... if that French monk hadn't destroyed everything left of Sparta during the Ottoman occupation, Sparta wouldn't be surrounded by that veil of myth... it would be like any other major city-state... it's the ''loss'' that builds the myth... [Spartan here, living overseas...]
The narrator in these documentaries really needs to learn how to use the past tense in the English language..quite basic and taught in infant school I’d imagine
the Persians wanted to conquer Europe... and Greece was just a first step... just as Ukraine is now for ruZZia... I can't even imagine what ''Europe would be now if they had their way... that's why the Western world honors the ''300''...
Truly clownish take. It's NATO expanding Eastward that aggrivated Russia to push back. You talk about "conquering Europe" while Europe is practically our suzerain filled with US military bases. Get a grip man this is not the 1980's.
Sparta also died out early due to their ridiculous policies, reliance on slavery, and inability to breed enough Spartans. Very little worth emulating there.
@@apollow_g1025 This nonsense again. "Muh Ancient Greeks were gay" is modern nonsense. There were people who engaged with homosexuality but its not common and was frowned upon.
Spartans are not emulated for their 'civilization' or government. People emulate Spartans for their individual discipline. To paraphrase HDF Kitto. "Athenians developed and contribute the world with their literature and the arts while the Spartans contribution was development of men, the law of virtue of the individual and the citizen".
Sparta died out because when a man died his widow inherited his land. You could only be a Spartan if you owned land. If the widow remarried and then this husband died you had two farms joined to make one. Slowly the Spartans shrank in numbers as the farms became bigger. To counter this the Spartan warrior class was diluted with none Spartans. It may even be that they had Helots fight.
If you aren't going to tell this history accurately why bother? First, there were many more than 300 ...this is only the number for Spartans. Then, you show them with/ without footware...make up your mind. Here, let me help..the Spartans NEVER wore shoes...I can't watch such crap. I'm outa here.
"Seal Team" 6 does not exist. It is a movie/media prop for stupidity... why join? We just call them , or a TEAM. Makes your "show" BS half way all day soldier-
There's one critical detail overlooked by this amazing documentary. Historically, the Spartans numbered more than 300. While 300 were the hoplites, for each warrior, there were slaves or servants who aided with transportation, logistics, food, and caring for the wounded. These individuals fought not as the main part of the phalanx, but around it, using bows, slings, javelins, and whatever they had as light infantry. In reality, the true number of Leonidas' Spartan army at Thermopylae was between 450 to 700 individuals, possibly even more. Additionally, we must consider that alongside the Spartans were other Greek states: 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans, possibly up to 900 helots, and 1,000 Phocians, bringing the total number of Greeks fighting to nearly 7,000, excluding the servants and additional individuals. Nonetheless, this does not diminish the fact of their remarkable episode of resistance against the enemy. 💀
300 is what stayed for the final stand. The other Spartans, Arcadians, and some others numbered over a few thousand, but were sent back to spread the word to band together.
@@mb9326 That's actually not true I was there.
But they did mention other greeks though
ALL Spartans stayed (and allmost 1000 other Greek Hoplites),apart from one who was sent back to Sparta.
It must be pointed out that Leonidas did not pick the best 300, because they were the best, though formidable they were chosen over others because they all had at least one son to carry on their line.
Yes! You are 100% correct. Very good bit of info to point out.
This is amatuer history telling at best....you are exactly correct. They need to visit a library.
I remember seeing a documentary about Ancient Greece years ago in the late '90s. And one scene had a father being dressed by his entire family with his armor because he was called for battle. I thought that was really amazing scene to look at.
"..the 2 elite forces clash. Neither willing to give way.."
Oh the Spartans were willing to give way.. but just enough room to cover the ground in more bodies.
My favorite Spartan test was essentially the hunger games spliced with capture the flag. The younger students would have to raid the food cache, usually cheese or similar, while the older ones earning their place into the ranks had to play defense.
Now I have a new activity to play with my nephew lol
Why are they carrying their shields upside down? It's a Lambda, not a V. It was a symbol of Lacedaemonia/Laconia, which was the name of their homeland.
all the foreigners know about the ''Lamda'' [L] on the shields is what they saw in the movie... that's based on the comic... that's why the wrong shields, swords, helmets, armors, storytelling, EVERYTHING!... but don't blame their enthusiasm... I bet they know less about their own history...
@@user-McGiver Granted that many do know less about their own history and only know ancient history based on movies and books, but there are some of us that study ancient histories too. Please don't over generalize a group based on a few observations for some of us might start spewing Minoan and Hellanic stories of old.
The courage and sacrifice of the Spartan 300 is nothing short of super human.
It was more like 5000 but 300 is close enough….
Yeah because you were there.@@DTk5584
@@adamarchuleta6163 what an absolutely hilariously ridiculous comment. Imagine someone who dismisses information based on whether someone was there or not.
You seriously believe it was 300? Ever read accounts of people who were there?
@@DTk5584 I'm aware that it it was probably more.. regardless though, they were still massively outnumbered by a huge invading force. Even as their numbers dwindled they still chose to fight to the end. For that reason they deserve to be immortalized by history.
The whole Spartan myth smells to high heaven!! The word lacksdaisical comes from Lacedemonia their home…..if it wasn’t war it was laying about while the slaves did all the work!! They were a society of sociopaths and it was a very short history!!
Great doc w/one small annoyance. Music is too loud compared to the narration.
Sphacteria then blew the Myth apart! 😢Without taking anything away from them because for around two hundred years they were practically unbeatable in an open land Hoplite battle!
Shame they don't even mention the other expeditionary Greek city state forces. They also sacrificed all in the battlefield without the demand that they stay and die.
But that demand and commitment makes all the difference
This would make a cool movie!
Who do think would be a good Leonidas? I'd watch it if it had some good actors .
@jasonpercy184 DJ Qualls...
@tobaobokoomi1693 You would have to be an alpha male like DJ to play Leonidas. Good choice
Only the Spartan nobility went through this routine growing up. Those who looked after the estates, the Helots were the equilivent of serfs & actually formed most of the rank ‘n file in Spartan armies during the Peloponnesian War, with the full citizens acting as officers. This was the same in the Spartan unit amongst Xenophane’s 10 000 in Persia, where they operated a mercenaries for the Spartan state (who got the payments). This was because over time full Spartans were too small in number by themselves
Nobody ever mentions the Spartan attempt at assassinating Xerxes.
Failures are ignored by those who write about the battles.
Most noticeable mistake is the guy with the dad bod leasing the 300 …
8:09 the boys have to be self sufficient catching there own food……ok pal where did you catch that loaf of bread your eating 😂😂😊
I only learned a few years ago that another 700 to 1000 other Greeks died with the Spartans
I've always imagined there's more to it than that , I think the men that made up the "300" were more in it together "chosen" over a shared attitude and understanding of what was at hand. I feel so much of the back story to this moment in history was brought about by internal corruption within Greece, especially Sparta at the time. I feel they probably misrepresent the attitude of Leonidas, it wasn't a nobel sacrifice bound out of duty to some code or state , I think it's a group of intelligent men who realized they were just as much slaves in their society as anyone, that they're sacrifices to lead free lives had been in service to a corrupt lie of a power system set to brainwash everyone and funnel it all upwards towards them, this reached a breaking point when the higher ups in Sparta not only failed to react to the foreign threat but also do everything they could to sabotage any kind of efforts made by anyone else who differed in opioion . I think the 300 marched up there pissed off as hell and carried that attitude into the ground, that was the entire point , just to make a spectactal so large so heroic and impossible to say boo at , the type of story even the average mindless drooling citizen adores, something that sways popular opinion so strongly if the higher ups don't get on board with they'll be hanging on the ends of ropes. It was a final F U by men who probably just wished that one day people might actually have a chance to be free , follow their unique desires and live peaceful existences . The level of disgust inside must of been so intense, think about having you're life both physically and mentally taken from you, the horrific things they forced you're hand at and the horrific things that you've been forced to see inflicted on you're brothers around you. A life chosen for you where You as an individual person are always born to lose and cease to exist as anything more than an expendable. After a lifetime of dirty deeds in the name of an evil cause, it's almost an act of redemption in a karmic sense, to bring one of the tall tales told on the top of Mount Olympus to life that gave the oppressed people hope in the forum of this new mindset where it was a possibility to defy you're oppressors and call them out on their evil little false realities they try to trap 🪤 us in so we can turn one of their cogs for them ⚙️ . If we somehow won that battle, we were going to steal an Athenian ship 🚢 and sail to the Isle of Lesbos to retire in style and finally get a slice 🍰 of the good life...
What really defeated the Persians was the naval battle at Salamis which cut off their supplies.
The Persians stayed in Athens for about a month after Salamis. The army only had to retreat because the main mass of troops were farmers who needed to get back to harvest the crops.
It was a 2 part campaign, Athens rocked the Seas, while Sparta cut off the land marches, which allowed time for the city states to stop their squabbles and band together.
They had to retreat because they were beaten in the battle of Plataea. @@geoffreymarshall639
The Persians foresaw the future and knew in their hearts that if they won, an epic movie would be made after them.
Always amazing to know when human spirits becomes cohesive…. The accomplishments that can be achieved.
Don't forget folks, Odyssey is infotainment. Lax on accuracy, heavy on asthetic. Don't take these vids as documentary, they are closer to fiction than to fact.
They are lax though I would not go as far as to say that they are closer to fiction rather then fact. despite their potrayals leaving a lot to be desired.
and here you are recognising what you see and denying it... I haven't watched it yet but the footage is authentic from Greek formations and how we keep our tradition alive... not some down paid ill-informed extras from a movie with no idea of what was what...
@user-McGiver That's a lot of commentary on a video you admit to having not watched. Odd you make the accusation of willful denial, then proclaim authenticity without seeing it.
You have no clue what ur on about. I’m from Greece and we keep our traditions alive doing what’s shown in this video and he is correct on everything
@@Calle2433 Be more honest Carlos Santana
Mistake: 3'51
Xerxes was not an emperor
It was mechanical slaughter rather than war? Is there supposed to be a difference?
Yea he means it was more like a factory farm production line of killing. Rather than a back and forth of attack and counter attack
Nice but not too accurate with regards to numbers, criteria on which the 300 were chosen to go to war, warriors uniforms etc, etc
EIRENE
THE GODDESS OF PEACE
These guys aren’t real Spartans. They’re not 3/4 naked bodybuilders, which is how Spartans looked according to the epic, historically accurate biopic 300. 😊
There's an interesting video about the Spartan drill by Schwerpunkt that I strongly recommend
@@scottmcfarland2149 ruclips.net/video/sSQf-kNCVlM/видео.htmlfeature=shared
stop spamming
xerxes looks like zach galifianakis lol
"I'd lovve to do battle but i just washed my hair"
Lycurgus did not allow Spartans to have mustaches.
They compared Spartans with sas 😂 ffs that's hilarious
They should remember the Spartans when allowing woke whimps to be combat soldiers.
The boy is a teen from Roman age Egypt. He has nothing to do with Sparta. Lazy....
Indeed, the most exceptional fighters of all time! When compared to modern special forces, the courage and expertise of the Spartan 300 were second to none. Their resoluteness and the fact that they are part of a clandestine killing squad assigned the risky task of assassinating the Persian monarch are what set them distinct. This film does an excellent job of summing up their renown achievements and the strategic genius of bygone battles. A fascinating look into the most fearsome fighters of all time!
They were the best at the Phalanx. They would do foot work and dance exercises so they could shift the ranks faster if they were being flanked.
@@mb9326 thanks for your information
Leonidas was at the head of about 7000 Greek troops. I don't know why this doesn't mention them. The 300 stayed behind so the 7000 could flee and warn the rest of Greece. E tan e epi tas
Never let facts get in the way of a good story.
@@LarsonPetty more than 1500 stayed behind... at that point, they all knew that was a ''last stand'' we honored their sacrifice... but we paid more attention to the Spartans for many reasons... one is that they chose 300 men with already a boy, to keep the bloodline, so they expected to die all, second the Spartans were very distant to the rest of the Greeks... brutal, kinda what the ruZZians were [before they turn to orcs] after the fall for the rest of the world... weird, strange but very [too much] forgiven for being like that... we never really understudy them... and most of what we know was/is pure propaganda [killing disabled k8ds, never surrender, etc...we have proof now... ] I promise you... if that French monk hadn't destroyed everything left of Sparta during the Ottoman occupation, Sparta wouldn't be surrounded by that veil of myth... it would be like any other major city-state... it's the ''loss'' that builds the myth...
[Spartan here, living overseas...]
Historians know this. They focus on the 300 because it was basically a suicide mission while showing Persia what real soldiers can do.
Those guys are wearing plastic helmets, with cardboard shields & a broomstick handle
Leonidas not lendios similar but different.
…they walked right into their traps
they lost most batlles they fought calling them elite is totaly wrong but today anyone can write history
Naw you're won't they win more battles than they lost I counted them
Naw you're wrong they actually won more battles than they lost
PAWANKHIND BAJIPRABHU DESHPANDE movie similar
Ultimately the baby's killers were the down fall of Spartans society.
they turn into a toothpick machine
The narrator in these documentaries really needs to learn how to use the past tense in the English language..quite basic and taught in infant school I’d imagine
You can't RE PRODIGY ME HAHA
The most romanticised a** whooping of all time 😂😂😂
team six was disbnded in 1987
"Spartans lived a spartan lifestyle."
-Dad joke alarm goes off.
See me im just as foul as ya but you aint got no style in ya
Μολών Λαβέ!
''COME AND GET IT!''
for the English speakers...
ΑΟΥ! ΑΟΥ! ΑΟΥ! [μεταξυ μας]
Funny how we still belive in myths and fairy tales same way as if they were real😅
the Persians wanted to conquer Europe... and Greece was just a first step... just as Ukraine is now for ruZZia... I can't even imagine what ''Europe would be now if they had their way... that's why the Western world honors the ''300''...
Truly clownish take. It's NATO expanding Eastward that aggrivated Russia to push back. You talk about "conquering Europe" while Europe is practically our suzerain filled with US military bases. Get a grip man this is not the 1980's.
Welll it was a wrong plan that got them Persians whooped…
DELTA Best of the best
I am the Eromanes to my Spartan warrior.
Yay! Got the first comment for once, lol
Yay! Got the first reply
🍪
@unengashqiperia 🍪
Whatever it is they did whoop a lots behinds
Do people even realise how stupidly staged and absolutly absurd story!
British SAS are the best in the world ,seal team 6 is 2
#1 in the world are the one's we don't know of.
Persians got whooped
This a history document on the Spartans or a propaganda piece for the SAS and Seal Team 6?
🤍🤍🤍💪🏻👍🏻
Special forces like the ones that withdrew from Afghanistan😂 or paid mercaneries that are coming home in bodybags from Ukraine.
Sell Swords
Biggest LARP event ever.
Lol what happened to this video? Compared to all your other videos you couldn't find lower budget costumes and actors? 😂😂😂😂
Whatever it is Greek is center of Western culture and politics… Rome came from them in the way… believe or not
Sparta also died out early due to their ridiculous policies, reliance on slavery, and inability to breed enough Spartans. Very little worth emulating there.
Yea they were super gay too
@@apollow_g1025 YOU WISH THEY WERE TO FIND A REASON FOR YOUR PURE EXISTENCE PUNK!...
@@apollow_g1025 This nonsense again. "Muh Ancient Greeks were gay" is modern nonsense. There were people who engaged with homosexuality but its not common and was frowned upon.
Spartans are not emulated for their 'civilization' or government. People emulate Spartans for their individual discipline. To paraphrase HDF Kitto. "Athenians developed and contribute the world with their literature and the arts while the Spartans contribution was development of men, the law of virtue of the individual and the citizen".
Sparta died out because when a man died his widow inherited his land. You could only be a Spartan if you owned land. If the widow remarried and then this husband died you had two farms joined to make one. Slowly the Spartans shrank in numbers as the farms became bigger. To counter this the Spartan warrior class was diluted with none Spartans. It may even be that they had Helots fight.
If you aren't going to tell this history accurately why bother? First, there were many more than 300 ...this is only the number for Spartans. Then, you show them with/ without footware...make up your mind. Here, let me help..the Spartans NEVER wore shoes...I can't watch such crap. I'm outa here.
So much of this is just patently false and has no basis other than pure conjecture.
They where gay. Or some gay army beat em
Good documentary when it's about the Spartans but the music and videogame like treatment of modern soldiers is kind of cheesy
"Seal Team" 6 does not exist. It is a movie/media prop for stupidity... why join? We just call them , or a TEAM. Makes your "show" BS half way all day soldier-