The Battle of Thermopylae Revealed

A previous post here was about how actor Gerard Butler got his steel abdominals to play Spartan King Leonidas for the movie "300," inspired by the epic Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. But what really did happen in that war?

Thermopylae was a pass which the ancient Persians tried to use to conquer Greece. This pass was defended by Spartan warriors up to the last man. Though they lost, their courage served to inspire the Greeks to continue defying the encroachment of the Persians. In the succeeding year, the Greeks finally won battles against the enemy.

Pictured at left is a statue of King Leonidas. See how Butler's character (above; in the center) in "300" mirrors it with the robe and muscularity of the body. For the story on the Spartan workout that allowed Butler to get into the role, go to Hots Up.

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