The Battle of Thermopylae was a famous battle fought between the invading Persians and the alliance of Greek city-states. This battle has been remembered by many historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus, and it continues to be written about 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 protagonists of the battle and the events in detail, while Diodorus' account contains mostly the same information, but more summarized, and Beigel's article on the film "300" focuses more on the women in Sparta .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There is a slight juxtaposition between the characteristics of Xerxes and Leonidas, and the Persian army and the Spartan army. Xerxes is described as a very powerful ruler, supported by a powerful army with a “sum of fighting men of 2,641,610” Histories.VII.185 which caused the “drying up of the inexhaustible rivers” DoS.11.5. Leonidas, on the other hand, commanded a force of thirteen hundred who did not retreat in the face of the approaching Persian army. Leonidas was also smarter than Xerxes. He told the ephors that the thousand men he led "are many... for the task to which they are now engaged" DoS.11.4, knowing that they would be advantaged by defending the gates instead of retreating to their city-state. During the battle, Xerxes orders his army to "rush upon the Greeks as a mighty mass... with great violence" DoS.11.8, while the Greeks fought with greater skill, "acting as if they would all fly away... turn and face their pursuers” Stories.VII.211. The coordination and strategy used by the small Greek army is what allows it to cause serious damage to the Persian army while suffering relatively few casualties, which is also the Spartan military mystique Persian would have continued to suffer great losses had it not been for Ephialtes, who betrayed the Greeks and showed Xerxes a way to flank them. The concept of glory through the struggle for freedom is discussed throughout the texts After the Persians found a road to flank the Greeks, Leonidas orders the retreat of the Greeks, but he himself remained with the Spartans because "if he had remained, glory awaited him, and Sparta in that case would not have lost its prosperity" Histories. 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 intent to die, cause as much destruction as possible, and gain “immorality” from valor. Even if they could return home, they would lose their pride and respect, as in the case of Aristodemus and Eurytus. Both had suffered the same eye wounds, but Eurytus joined the battle and died, while Aristodemus returned to Laceaemon, and there faced disgrace and reproach from the other Spartans. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Spartan women are held in a higher light than women of other city-states at the time. A man and a woman are more or less equals, or partners in the case of a husband and wife. In the movie “300,” when Gorgo addresses the messenger on a personal level, he feels shocked and insulted that “a woman can talk to men.” This shows that in Spartan society women could speak to men as equals, whereas in other areas, such as Persia, they may not. In addition, Spartan women also help in making decisions with a man. In the scene where Leonidas kicks the messenger into the hole, Leonidas looks at his.