The Battle of Thermopylae was a famous battle fought between the invading Persians and the defending Greek city-state alliance. This battle has been recorded by many historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus, and even continues to be recounted in modern times through the film "300." Because each perspective was written at different times, the content of what was written differed from person to person. In The Histories, Herodotus describes the main players of the battle and the events in detail, while Diodorus' account contains essentially the same information, but more summarized, and Beigel's article on the film "300" focuses more on women in Sparta. no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay There is a slight juxtaposition between the characteristics of Xerxes and Leonidas, and those of the Persian army and the Spartan army. Xerxes is described as a very powerful ruler, supported by a powerful army with a "total combatant of 2,641,610" Histories.VII.185 which caused the drying up of the "inexhaustible rivers" DoS.11.5. Leonidas, for his part, commanded a force of 1,300 men who did not retreat in the face of the approaching Persian army. Leonidas was also smarter than Xerxes. He told the ephors that the thousands of men he leads "are numerous...for the task to which they are now bound" DoS.11.4, knowing that they would have an advantage in defending the gates rather than pick up in their city. State. During the battle, Xerxes instructs his army to "fall upon the Greeks as one mighty mass...with great violence" DoS.11.8, while the Greeks fought with more skill, "acting as if they were would all fly away… would turn around. and confront their pursuers » Histories.VII.211. The coordination and strategy used by the small Greek army allows them to cause major damage to the Persian army while suffering relatively few casualties, which is also the Spartan military mystique. The Persian army would have continued to suffer heavy losses without Ephialtes, who betrayed the Greeks and showed Xerxes a path to flank the Greeks. The concept of glory through the struggle for freedom is discussed throughout the texts. After the Persians found a way to flank the Greeks, Leonidas ordered the Greeks to retreat, but he himself remained with the Spartans because "if he remained, glory awaited him and Sparta in this case would not lose its prosperity » Stories. VII.220. It would have been shameful and dishonorable to return home, only to be defeated by the Persians. This way, they can fight with the intention of dying, cause as much destruction as possible, and gain "immorality" through their bravery. Even if they could return home, they would lose their pride and respect, as in the case of Aristodemus and Eurytus. They had both suffered the same eye injuries, but Eurytus joined the battle and died, while Aristodemus returned to Laceaemon, where he faced disgrace and reproach from the other Spartans. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssaySpartan women were held in a higher light than women in other city-states during this era. A man and a woman are more or less equals, or partners in the case of husband and wife. In the movie "300", when Gorgo addresses the messenger personally, he feels shocked and insulted that a "woman can speak among men". This demonstrates that in Spartan society, women could speak with men on an equal footing..