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The Daily OrangeExpert points out errors in film portrayal of Spartans
By Paul Squire
Posted: 9/24/08, 12:30 AM EST Section: News
Both "300" and "The 300 Spartans" used the Spartans' last stand as an analogy to the struggles for freedom in the current world, such as the Cold War or the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Cartledge criticized "300" for its inaccurate use of over-the-top weapons, such as armored rhinoceros and elephants and for its biased good-and-evil portrayal of the Spartans and the Persians, which he found to be the film's largest problem.
"(In the movie) all Greeks are good, and all Persians are bad," he said.
Cartledge condemned the "flamboyant" depiction of the Persian king Xerses I as a narcissistic God-King obsessed with body piercings.
Contrarily, he praised "300" for its more accurate portrayal of Gorgo, the Spartan king's wife, as a powerful, driven woman.
"Spartan women, unlike Greek women, were allowed a public role," Cartledge said.
Cartledge also said that films like "300" were a good way of getting the public interested in history and that more people would be interested enough to learn about the actual history than take the film as historical fact.
James Adams, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, echoed that sentiment. Adams called Cartledge's lecture "extremely interesting" and said he was inspired to go to the event because of "300."
"I wanted to see how accurate the movie really was," he said.
Films like "300" and "The 300 Spartans" are valuable because they preserve the legend of ancient Sparta, Cartledge said, especially in today's armed forces. He recounted stories from soldiers he had spoken to who see the ancient warriors as inspiration.
"The tradition of Sparta is still very much alive and kicking," he said. "What they are kicking, I think you can guess."
pjsquire@syr.edu
Cartledge criticized "300" for its inaccurate use of over-the-top weapons, such as armored rhinoceros and elephants and for its biased good-and-evil portrayal of the Spartans and the Persians, which he found to be the film's largest problem.
"(In the movie) all Greeks are good, and all Persians are bad," he said.
Cartledge condemned the "flamboyant" depiction of the Persian king Xerses I as a narcissistic God-King obsessed with body piercings.
Contrarily, he praised "300" for its more accurate portrayal of Gorgo, the Spartan king's wife, as a powerful, driven woman.
"Spartan women, unlike Greek women, were allowed a public role," Cartledge said.
Cartledge also said that films like "300" were a good way of getting the public interested in history and that more people would be interested enough to learn about the actual history than take the film as historical fact.
James Adams, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, echoed that sentiment. Adams called Cartledge's lecture "extremely interesting" and said he was inspired to go to the event because of "300."
"I wanted to see how accurate the movie really was," he said.
Films like "300" and "The 300 Spartans" are valuable because they preserve the legend of ancient Sparta, Cartledge said, especially in today's armed forces. He recounted stories from soldiers he had spoken to who see the ancient warriors as inspiration.
"The tradition of Sparta is still very much alive and kicking," he said. "What they are kicking, I think you can guess."
pjsquire@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jimm Cutter
posted 9/24/08 @ 12:02 PM EST
Was anyone, including
James Adams, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, seriously confused about the historical accuracy of 300? What about the fact that time seemed to slow down and speed up at will in the movie? Was this from the frame of reference of the real life Spartans or was this "movie magic?" And did that gigantic monster guy with the chainsaw like hands really exist?
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