Battle of Thermopylae

WVUFAN · 02-16-2007, 10:20 PM

A co-worker and I were discussing the upcoming film 300, and the conversation turned to the battle the movie is based on. I've been a bit of research and I can't find where it states how many soldiers the Persian army lost in the battle. Can anyone direct me to that information?

sabotai · 02-16-2007, 10:26 PM

According to the book I have on The Battle of Salamis (there's a chapter about the battle of Thermopylae), the Persians lost 20,000 soldiers. The source is most likely Herodotus (Will see if I can find that in The Histories)

Jonathan Ezarik · 02-16-2007, 10:30 PM

Yep, 20,000 according to Herodotus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

WVUFAN · 02-16-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabotai

According to the book I have on The Battle of Salamis (there's a chapter about the battle of Thermopylae), the Persians lost 20,000 soldiers. The source is most likely Herodotus (Will see if I can find that in The Histories)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Ezarik

Yep, 20,000 according to Herodotus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

I read up on that before I posted, but I must have missed that. Thank you.

I have to say reading up on this battle is absolutely facinating.

JPhillips · 02-16-2007, 11:00 PM

Remember that you aren't going to find anything that will give you a very accurate number of casualties. It was an overwhelming victory to be sure, but the numbers of dead Persians are almost certainly exaggerated.

Raiders Army · 02-16-2007, 11:01 PM

Not sure if you read the comic book, but it's pretty good...and for the most part I don't like Frank Miller.

The movie got an excellent review on ign. I have been walking around the house kicking stuff yelling "THIS....IS......SPARTA!!!!!!!!!1!1!!!!!111one!"

sabotai · 02-16-2007, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Remember that you aren't going to find anything that will give you a very accurate number of casualties. It was an overwhelming victory to be sure, but the numbers of dead Persians are almost certainly exaggerated.

Most historians seem to accept 20,000 as a reasonably accurate estimate, and I can't find anything that suggests it would be lower.

Mustang · 02-17-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Ezarik

Yep, 20,000 according to Herodotus.

Oh ya??

Name em'

daedalus · 02-17-2007, 01:40 AM

I got interested in this battle from John Ring's reference to it. Interesting stuff.

We can always ask him.

Marathoner · 02-17-2007, 06:01 PM

The Achaemenid leadership really fell apart after the reign of Cyrus the great. Darius and Xerxes just couldn't beat the Greeks.

JPhillips · 02-17-2007, 07:24 PM

Herodotus also puts the size of the Persian army, including support troops, at over five million which seems way too high. From what I've read I gather that Herodotus is considered the most reliable of an unreliable lot.

Warhammer · 02-17-2007, 09:19 PM

Yeah, modern scholars believe the number is more along the lines of 5,000 or so dead Persians. The problem with ancient sources is that many times the figures given are not accurate to give an increased aura to the victor.

daedalus · 02-18-2007, 12:40 AM

Misinformation from war would, uhhhh, never, ever happen today.

Brillig · 02-18-2007, 01:34 AM

I wonder how many people have a clue about the other 300. The ones that kicked Sparta's ass.

gstelmack · 02-18-2007, 09:54 AM

You might check out the History Channel site: they had an excellent 2-hour special on this back a year or two ago, and it would be worth tracking down the DVD.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-18-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brillig

I wonder how many people have a clue about the other 300. The ones that kicked Sparta's ass.

Let me help you educate the people. . .

BishopMVP · 02-18-2007, 11:43 AM

As epic as the response to the Persian's challenge of "We shall fire so many arrows it will blot out the sun!" - "Then we shall fight in the shade" is (even uttered by Colin Farrell) my favorite (apocryphal) Spartan story is when the Macedonians decided to invade Sparta. The Macedonian king sent the following message:

"If I enter Lacedaemon, I shall raze it."

The Spartan reply consisted of one word - eiper - "If"

02-16-2007, 11:00 PM	#5
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	Remember that you aren't going to find anything that will give you a very accurate number of casualties. It was an overwhelming victory to be sure, but the numbers of dead Persians are almost certainly exaggerated. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

02-17-2007, 07:24 PM	#11
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	Herodotus also puts the size of the Persian army, including support troops, at over five million which seems way too high. From what I've read I gather that Herodotus is considered the most reliable of an unreliable lot. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

02-18-2007, 12:40 AM	#13
daedalus Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	Misinformation from war would, uhhhh, never, ever happen today. Last edited by daedalus : 02-18-2007 at 12:41 AM.

02-18-2007, 09:54 AM	#15
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	You might check out the History Channel site: they had an excellent 2-hour special on this back a year or two ago, and it would be worth tracking down the DVD. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities

02-18-2007, 11:43 AM	#17
BishopMVP Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Concord, MA/UMass	As epic as the response to the Persian's challenge of "We shall fire so many arrows it will blot out the sun!" - "Then we shall fight in the shade" is (even uttered by Colin Farrell) my favorite (apocryphal) Spartan story is when the Macedonians decided to invade Sparta. The Macedonian king sent the following message: "If I enter Lacedaemon, I shall raze it." The Spartan reply consisted of one word - eiper - "If" Last edited by BishopMVP : 02-18-2007 at 11:44 AM.

02-16-2007, 10:26 PM	#2
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	According to the book I have on The Battle of Salamis (there's a chapter about the battle of Thermopylae), the Persians lost 20,000 soldiers. The source is most likely Herodotus (Will see if I can find that in The Histories)

02-16-2007, 10:30 PM	#3
Jonathan Ezarik College Benchwarmer Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bossier City, LA	Yep, 20,000 according to Herodotus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

02-16-2007, 11:01 PM	#6
Raiders Army Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Black Hole	Not sure if you read the comic book, but it's pretty good...and for the most part I don't like Frank Miller. The movie got an excellent review on ign. I have been walking around the house kicking stuff yelling "THIS....IS......SPARTA!!!!!!!!!1!1!!!!!111one!"

02-17-2007, 01:40 AM	#9
daedalus Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000	I got interested in this battle from John Ring's reference to it. Interesting stuff. We can always ask him.

02-17-2007, 06:01 PM	#10
Marathoner High School JV Join Date: Nov 2005	The Achaemenid leadership really fell apart after the reign of Cyrus the great. Darius and Xerxes just couldn't beat the Greeks.

02-17-2007, 09:19 PM	#12
Warhammer Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dayton, OH	Yeah, modern scholars believe the number is more along the lines of 5,000 or so dead Persians. The problem with ancient sources is that many times the figures given are not accurate to give an increased aura to the victor.

02-18-2007, 01:34 AM	#14
Brillig College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Mountain View, California	I wonder how many people have a clue about the other 300. The ones that kicked Sparta's ass.

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