Last Stand of the 300

The success of the feature film 300 will certainly boost interest in this History Channel documentary detailing the historic battle between the Greeks and Persians at the narrow pass of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., where a small Spartan detachment led by King Leonidas struggled to halt or at least delay King Xerxes' huge invading force. Last Stand of the 300 serves up solid popular history that combines dramatic reenactments, computer graphics, maps, scholarly commentary, and narration to not only recreate the battle itself, but also explore the contextual background—notably, the first Persian assault against the Greeks 10 years earlier, and the fragmentation among the Hellenic city-states that had to be overcome in order to mount a concerted defense. Although the documentary oddly omits some of the colorful details from Herodotus' famed account (especially regarding Xerxes' hubris at the Hellespont), it is far more accurate than 300 in its description of Spartan society, while also redressing the movie's total dismissal of the Athenian contribution to the campaign: here, Themistocles is given proper recognition, as are the sea battles of Artemisium and Salamis—the latter being the truly decisive encounter of the war. An excellent overview of the second Persian invasion of Greece (including the battle of Thermopylae), this will also serve as a good antidote to the inaccuracies, omissions, and exaggerations of the Hollywood version. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)