My weekend began with my “better half” wanting to watch the movie “300”…..she knew better than watch it with me……for if the movie is of a historical theme then I will make comments all through it and spoil it for most people…..she is a lovely woman but she is a glutton for punishment…..I really think she just likes those 6 pack abs on the Spartans……(smiles)…..

That same night I was watching the History Channel and their program “Ancient Assassins” was about the Spartans….and the people talking during the program also kept saying the 300 with very little mention of any others that took part in the battle……and most of them were historians…..sad.

Common belief is that the Spartans somehow defended the pass at Thermopylae with only 300 warriors….against 2 million Persians (common belief but I do not believe the number is accurate)a more accurate number would be around 100,000……actually there were many warriors from many of the Greek city states…..the total was about 7000 thousands soldiers.

Yes I know still a minute force against a raging giant……

Leonidas was not this hunky dude in reality he was almost 60 years of age at the time of the battle…..and contrary to popular belief the Spartans did not stand alone in the end.

The Spartans decided that they would stay and cover the retreat of the main force….a heroic delaying tactic but as I have said they were NOT alone…..the force that remained were 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans and some say that a few others remained to assist.

My problem is that the world wants to deify the Spartans for their bravery but others were just as so and yet historians want to make it all about the Spartans….

Now about here is where my “better half” had had enough of my correcting the historical account and decided to go mop the loving room. I knew she was frustrated but she knew in advance of what I would do…..I apologized to her and she said that she knew I was a sick person especially with inconsistencies in the historic content…..I asked her if she would like to watch “Ancient Aliens”….she smiled sweetly and replied….”BITE ME”!

My point as always is….if you want to tackle history then do it accurately…….every body that took part in the covering force should be equally held up as the epitome of heroic action….not just a select few…..

This is why our children have such a wrapped sense of history…..they seldom get the “true” story of any event……I cannot wait to see how they mangle the Benghazi sage…..ought to be epic…..as well as untrue……

Period!

Class dismissed