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300 Spartans Rise of an Empire, Real Story + Gallery
Part 1: 23 Historical Inaccuracies

 

300: Rise of an Empire, the Real Story and Photo Gallery
Part 1: 23 Historical Inaccuracies
3 Parts Movie Review and Critics on “300: Rise of an Empire” (2014)
Ahreeman X
April 9, 2014


300: Rise of an Empire Movie Poster 2014

300: Rise of an Empire Parts Index
_____________________________
Part 1: 23 Historical Inaccuracies
Part 2: Greco-Persian Wars Results
Part 3: Scenes from the Movie

Introduction

300: Rise of an Empire movie has so many historical errors that it is best to dump it in whole in to the dumpster of history and forget about it!

Hollywood Liberals are at it again, yet this time they went out of their way to twist the real history and replace it with the comic book and special effect Hollywood History! Hollywood spends all of the time and money to produce these semi-animated, blue screen fabricated, comic book spoofs but wouldn’t it be much better, more substantial and sells more if Hollywood would have spent all this effort to produce actual historical movies based on the real history?!


Artemisia the Persian Grand Admiral shoots an arrow, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

In fact in old times, Hollywood big budget historical movies were more accurate than today’s Hollywood Spoofs! Today’s so-called Hollywood historical spoofs are more like Fantasy Sci-Fi Spoofs than Historical Movies!

The funny thing is that Hollywood has managed to release and screen this latest spoof on March 7th! March is the Sacred Persian Month. Nowruz Persian New Year (Beginning of Spring), two important Persian Festivals (Chahar Shanbe Suri and Sizdah Be Dar), Birthday of Zarathustra Spitmata (Persian Philosopher Prophet), Birthday of Iran’s Father of Nation (Reza Shah the Great), Iranian Oil Nationalization Day, and a few other events are all celebrated on the month of March. In fact the month of March is basically the “Persian Cultural Month”. Isn’t it amazing that Hollywood manages to release this Anti Iran and Anti Persian Culture Fantasy Spoof, completely twisting the actual history and trashing the Persian culture and history, exactly on the month of March? Is it really coincident, another Spring Break Block Buster or is it a vicious intentional attack on Persia (Iran), Persian Culture and the Persian History? You be the judge!


Xerxes the Persian Emperor determined to get revenge, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

To learn more about the Persian Cultural Month (Month of March) read:

Persian Cultural Month

In the past, Hollywood Liberals have released much garbage in the name of the history, but these so-called historical movies were more like Fantasy Spoofs, fabricated by the Hollywood Liberals to bash and trash the 8000 Year Old Persian History (Mother of the Global Civilization). These spoofs were more like “Anti Iran Rhetoric” than “Real Historical Films”! These Blue Screen Spoofs are more like B Movies and they are truly comical!


Queen Gorgo of Sparta seeks vengeance for Leonidas’ death, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

To review some of these Hollywood Fantasy Spoofs read:

300 Spartans, the Real Story

Alexander, falsification of history by Oliver Stone!

But the true history could not be further than the Hollywood Truth! Educate yourselves to the historical truth:

Civilization: Persia versus Greece and Rome


Themistocles the Athenian Admiral General rallies the Greeks, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster


More Realistic looking Themistocles
Themistocles was an older and more mature Athenian Admiral General
Sir Ralph Richardson as Themistocles in 300 Spartans 1962

To expose these fabricated Hollywood Spoofs and to educate the public about the true historical events, we have to tell the real history and that is exactly what we are intend to do. Historians and History Buffs are perfectly aware of the true history but the average public has no clue about the true historical events behind these Hollywood Spoofs. The good news is that we are here to inform the public and expose Hollywood wide open. Please enjoy and educate yourselves to the true history behind the Hollywood Spoof, 300: Rise of an Empire.


Calisto the Greek Warrior, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

Hollywood Versions of 300 Spartans History

In this 3 part review, we will discuss these movies and these characters:

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
Director: Noam Murro
Writer: Zack Snyder (directed and wrote 300 on 2006)
Based on a Frank Miller Graphic Novel (Comic Book)
Persians
Xerxes: Rodrigo Santoro
Artemisia: Eva Green
Darius the Great: Igal Naor
General Artaphernes: Ben Turner
General Bandari: Ashraf Barhom
General Kashani: Christopher Sciueref
Greeks
Queen Gorgo: Lena Headey
General Themistocles: Sullivan Stapleton
Aesyklos: Hans Matheson (Themistocles right hand)
Scyllias: Callan Mulvey
Calisto: Jack O'Connell (Scyllias' son)

300 (2006)
Writer: Zack Snyder
Based on a Frank Miller Graphic Novel (Comic Book)
Persians
Xerxes: Rodrigo Santoro
Greeks
King Leonidas: Gerard Butler
Queen Gorgo: Lena Headey

One Night with the King (2006)
Director: Michael O. Sajbel
Writer: Stephan Blinn
Persians
Xerxes: Luke Goss

300 Spartans (1962)
Director: Rudolph Maté
Writer: Gian Paolo Callegari
Persians
Xerxes: David Farrar
Artemisia: Anne Wakefield
Hydarnes: Donald Houston
Greeks
Themistocles: Sir Ralph Richardson


L - R: Donald Houston as Hydarnes the Commander of Immortals and David Farrar as Xerxes the Great Persian Emperor in 300 Spartans 1962

Historical Timelines

Please review these historical timelines because we will talk about them.

First Persian Invasion of Greece (492 BC – 490 BC)
Shahanshah of Iran (Persian Emperor): Darius the Great

Second Persian Invasion of Greece (480 BC – 479 BC)
Shahanshah of Iran (Persian Emperor): Xerxes the Great

Second invasion of Greece battles mentioned in the film:

Battle of Thermopylae 480 BC
Persian Commanders
Xerxes the Great
Mardonius
Hydarnes
Greek Commanders
King Leonidas I of Sparta
Demophilus

Battle of Artemisium 480 BC
Persian Commanders
Artemisia I the Admiral
Achaemenes
Greek Commanders
Eurybiades
Themistocles
Adeimantus

Battle of Salamis 480 BC
Persian Commanders
Xerxes the Great
Artemisia I the Admiral
Ariabignes
Achaemenes
Greek Commanders
Eurybiades
Themistocles


Persian General Hydarnes (Donald Houston) at Thermopylae, Greece in 300 Spartans 1962

Persian Military Terminology

Some basic Ancient Persian terminology discussed in this review:

Arteshbod = Commander in Chief of Warriors
Spahbod = Field Marshal
Baivarapatis = General (Baivarabam leader)
Navpatis = Naval Leader
Navban = Naval Officer

For more Ancient Persian Military Terminology and Military Uniforms, review:

Pictorial History of Iranian Military Uniforms (Book in 23 Chapters)


Persian Empire Strikes Back in the 300 Rise of an Empire Movie
Xerxes the Great Persian Emperor (Rodrigo Santoro), 300 Rise of an Empire


More Realistic looking Xerxes
Xerxes battles Lion at the Persian Empire
Xerxes was legendary for his braveries. One of Xerxes’ favorite pastimes was to fight wild lions. Xerxes would once a while singlehandedly fight a lion in the arena. No one was allowed to neither help nor come in to the arena stage. The only living creatures allowed to be inside the arena floor were Xerxes and the Lion. Two would fight and one would get out alive. A fight to the end with the king of the jungle was one of Xerxes’ favorite sports. Xerxes also hunted lions. Xerxes used bow and arrow, spear and sword in his hunts and fights with the lions. The audience was amazed by Xerxes’ fearless nature! Just imagine how powerful, fearless and skillful must have Xerxes been to do this task!

300: Rise of an Empire – The Movie Plot

Basically the complete movie is based on lies. The complete “300 Spartans” movie series are based on a Graphic Novel (Comic Book) by Frank Miller. These are not historical films but they are Hollywood Spoofs based on Comic Books!

In the past, we have done an in-depth analysis of the Hollywood’s “300 Spartans” series:

300 Spartans, the Real Story

Now we will concentrate on the “300: Rise of an Empire”, the latest Hollywood Spoof about the 300 Spartans.


More Realistic Xerxes
Luke Goss as Xerxes in One night with the King 2006

In the 300: Rise of an Empire, the Spartan Queen Gorgo tells a story to the Greeks about the Battle of Marathon, where the Persian Emperor, Darius I was killed by the Athenian Admiral General Themistocles. Xerxes (Darius’ son), was by Darius’ side when the Greeks slaughtered him. Advisors told Xerxes not to continue the Greco-Persian wars, thus "only Gods could defeat the Greeks". Artemisia (Darius’ Sea Admiral) begs differ and claims that Darius' final words were in fact for Xerxes to continue the war and challenges Xerxes to do so. Artemisia eventually sends Xerxes on a sacred journey through the desert and in to a cave where he bathes in an out of this world special liquid, and comes out as a "God King" (in Gold)! Next, Xerxes returns to Persia and declares war on Greece. Xerxes then approaches Athens and eventually engages in the battle at Thermopylae.


Queen Gorgo’s speech to the Greek Hoplites, 300 Rise of an Empire
Gorgo (Lena Headey) gathers and tells the Greeks how it all started (Greco-Persian Wars) at the Battle of Marathon and then the conflict dragged on ……

Themistocles of Greece conducts a meeting with the Greek council and convinces them to provide him with a naval fleet to engage the Persian fleets at the sea. Next, Themistocles travels to Sparta to ask King Leonidas for help, but he is informed that the Spartan King Leonidas is consulting the Oracle, and Queen Gorgo is reluctant to side with Athens in the war against the Persians.

Themistocles then unites with his old comrade Scyllias, who had successfully infiltrated the Persian troops and had learned that Artemisia is originally Greek, yet later defected to Persia. The story went that Artemisia’s family were raped and murdered by the Greek Hoplites and she was taken as a sex slave to the Greeks, who left her for dead in the streets. Artemisia was rescued and adopted by the Persians. Her lust for vengeance gained the attention of the Persian Emperor, Darius. Artemisia conducts many battles and slaughters many enemies of Persia, so Darius made her a naval commander.


L - R: Callan Mulvey as Scyllias (Themistocles’ comrade) father to Jack O’Connell as Calisto lead Greeks to battle the Persians

Next, Themistocles leads his troops including Aesyklos (Themistocles' right-hand), Scyllias, Calisto (Scyllias' son) and others to the Aegean Sea. The Greeks charge and ram their ships into the Persian ships, slaughtering a number of Persians before retreating. They do a hit and run campaign. Next day, the Greeks force one of the Persian ships into a crevice. The Persian Trireme ship becomes struck, and then the Greeks charge the other Persian Triremes, slaughtering more Persians.

Artemisia becomes impressed with Themistocles and asks her men to bring him over to her Trireme. Artemisia engages in sex with Themistocles and then tries to convince him to join axis with the Persians as her second in naval command. Themistocles refuses to join Artemisia; therefore, Artemisia pushes him away and swears to get revenge. In a meanwhile Persians spill tar into the sea and send special “suicide bombers” to swim and board the Greek Triremes with flame bombs!


Artemisia: Let the Greek Trireme Battleships Burn!
L - R: Ben Turner as the Persian General Artaphernes and Eva Green as the Persian Grand Admiral Artemisia, 300 Rise of an Empire

Artemisia, her bowmen and Immortals fire flamed arrows and torches to ignite the tar. Themistocles puts up a fight and kills one of the Persians who falls into the tar with the torch, causing Triremes from both Greeks and Persians to explode. Themistocles was thrown into the sea by the explosion and almost drowns. Calisto and Greeks save him. Scyllias attends to his injuries and eventually Themistocles recovers.

Artemisia assumes that Themistocles is dead, so she orders the Persian fleet to withdraw. Later, the Greeks take the news to Themistocles that the Spartan King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans have been killed by Xerxes and the Persians. Themistocles returns to Athens and confronts Ephialtes the deformed Spartan traitor, who reveals that Xerxes plans to attack Athens. Ephialtes is regretful and shows remorse.


Themistocles: Avenge his (Leonidas) death …..
L - R: Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) of Athens convincing Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) of Sparta to join him in war against the Persians

Themistocles spares Ephialtes’ life and allows him to now work for the Greeks to deceive the Persians.
Themistocles visits the Spartan Queen Gorgo and in Sparta he tries to convince Gorgo and Sparta to join him and the Athens in fight against the Persians. Gorgo is devastated with grief due to Leonidas’ death.
Themistocles returns Leonidas' sword, which he took from the deformed Ephialtes (whom earlier stole it from Leonidas). Themistocles urges Queen Gorgo to join him to avenge Leonidas.

Ephialtes (Ex Persian Spy and present Greek Spy) arrives to Athens and brings news to the Persians. Artemisia learns that Themistocles is alive. Against Xerxes’ advice, Artemisia goes to battle with the Greeks at Salamis. Artemisia and Themistocles battle but the Greeks this time (unlike Artemisium) overpower the Persians.


Artemisia battles Themistocles, 300 Rise of an Empire Poster
Themistocles to Greeks: Rise …
Artemisia to Persians: Conquer …
In reality, this hand to hand combat never occurred!

Queen Gorgo decides to join the Athenians and leads the Spartan Fleet to join battle alongside Athenians and the other allied Greeks. Gorgo saves the day and makes a huge difference in the sea battle by making the Greeks to outnumber the Persians.

Then the film becomes dramatic. Themistocles begs Artemisia to surrender, yet Artemisia fights him and tries to kill him but she gets stabbed through the stomach. Artemisia near death witnesses Xerxes abandoning her and retreating.


Lena Headey as Queen Gorgo and Sullivan Stapleton as General Themistocles lead the Greek charge and battle the Persians in 300 Rise of an Empire

Then the film becomes epical (Hollywood style) while Queen Gorgo and Admiral Themistocles take a special intimate moment of silence, admiring each others’ alliance and friendship.  Then they charge the invading Persian army (with the Spartans and Athenians fighting alongside each other behind them). Persians charge and Greeks fight back to defeat the invading Persians and to begin the “Rise of the Greek Empire”!

Now let us discuss the great number of historical errors told in this movie.

300 Movie Series Historical Errors

The 300: Rise of an Empire and the 300 Spartans Movie series are loaded with historical errors. Any historian or history buff would laugh at these movies as historical events. Why? Because they are not really Factual History but they are Comic Book based History, fabricated in Hollywood!

300: Rise of an Empire Movie Historical Flaws

300: Rise of an Empire Movie has so many historical flaws. Almost the complete movie is historically inaccurate. Below I have stated 23 major historical errors in this movie and I can keep on going on and on but time does not allow me to do so!


Xerxes the Great Persian Emperor, 300 Rise of an Empire 2014

23 Historical Inaccuracies in 300: Rise of an Empire Movie

Let us elaborate on these historical inaccuracies:

I. What was the Real Cause of the Greco-Persian Wars?

In this film, Persians were portrayed as the invading oppressors of the Greeks. The reality was that Persia was a great Empire. Amongst many citizens of the empire were the Greek citizens of the Persian Empire. Greeks were a minority in the Persian Empire who were basically living in Anatolia (today’s Turkey). Let us call them the “Internal Greeks”. Then there were the “External Greeks” who were a great number of scattered and disunited independent city states in the Grecian Peninsula (Southern Balkans) such as Athens and Sparta which were fighting amongst each other.

These “External Greeks” started to agitate and enflame the “Internal Greeks” (Greek Persians) to revolt, riot and cause unrests, so they could start separatist movements and eventually become independent city states (like the External Greek City States). What “External Greeks” done then, is similar to what “External Azeris”, “External Kurds”, “External Baluchis”, “External Turkmens” or “External Arabs” do today to agitate, cause unrests and eventually prepare the path for the ethnic minorities of Iran to separate from the motherland.


Greco-Persian Wars European Campaigns Iran Map 1
Greek Mainland Campaigns

In other words, the Greeks started to interfere in the internal affairs of the Persian Empire. Greeks were not the victims but they were the agitators. Athens and Sparta were not fighting to save democracy and the West, but they were agitators butting in to Persians’ internal affairs, trying to separate the Greek States of the Persian Empire from the Mother Persia. Once the Persians fought back, invaded the mainland Greece in Europe and crushed the agitators, then the Greeks cried wolf and cried Persian oppression!

Eventually the Persians crushed the separatists in Anatolia and the agitators in the mainland Greece. Persians had no choice but to teach the Greeks a lesson. Were Persians extreme and merciless to Athens and Sparta? Yes indeed, but Sparta deserved heavy Persian retaliation and Athens deserved to be captured and burned. Persians did not start this war but Persians finished it!


Greco-Persian Wars Asian Campaigns Iran Map 2
Anatolia (Present Turkey) Campaigns

Observe the historical maps of the era:

Greco-Persian Wars Maps (Atlas of Iran Maps: Chapter 3)

Ionian Revolts caused by the Greek agitation of the Internal Greek States of Persia (in the present Turkey) forced Darius and then Xerxes to crush the revolts and then to invade the mainland Greece in 2 occasions:

a) First Invasion of Greece (492 BC – 490 BC)

b) Second Invasion of Greece (480 BC – 479 BC)

What choice did Darius and Xerxes have? When someone invades our home, agitates riots and tries to separate a part of our heart from our home, then what should we do? Of course we fight back, take the fight to their home and teach them a lesson not to ever even think of doing it again! Greeks got what they deserved!


Darius the Great Persian Emperor Statue from IPC Nowruz Persian New Year Haft Sin Table

For more information about root causes of the Greco-Persian Wars, read:

Civilization: Persia versus Greece and Rome

II. Persia was a Federal Empire.

In this film Persian Empire was portrayed as a ruthless super power dictatorship which was invading and enslaving the Greeks and other races. In this movie, Persian Empire was portrayed as a brutal dictatorship with a ruthless central power concentrated in Persia!

In reality, Persian Empire was a Federal Empire. All Khashtara (States) had internal governing system and they were only dependant to Persia for Imperial foreign policy. Same as today’s USA, the State Governments were responsible for their own internal affairs; furthermore, for their own military campaigns and their contributions to the Imperial military campaigns.


Persian Soldiers of Imperial Achaemenian Persian Empire

All citizens of Persian Empire despite their race, ethnicity and religion had rights. How else do you think a Greek woman such as Artemisia could rise to power and become the Grand Admiral and the Commander in Chief of the Persian Imperial Navy?

Persians wrote the first human rights document in the world:

The Cyrus Cylinder

Federalism is not something created by America and the west, but Persians invented Federalism. Persian Empire had a Federal system, not an advanced Federal system but an elementary form of federal system. Federalism was invented in Iran. Do not look at IRI (Islamic Republic of Iran) today. IRI has been in power for 30 + years. Look at 8000 years of the Iranian history as a whole.


Ancient Persian Warrior Women Unit up close, Achaemenian Persian Empire
Female Persian Cavalry Commander (front) and her Female Unit (back) on patrol

Pre Islamic Iran was a Federal System. Centralism entered Iran with Islam. Centralism is an Arabo-Islamic production. Before Islam, the Persian Empire had an elementary system of Federalism with respect for the human rights of all citizens of the Empire.

For more information about Federalism in Iran, read:

History of Federalism in Iran

III. Artemisia did not die in Salamis!

Artemisia did not die in Salamis; neither Themistocles, nor any other Greek had killed her in Salamis or elsewhere! After Salamis, Artemisia lived a long life and her actual fame occurred after the Salamis.

For more information on Artemisia, read:

Grand Admiral Artemisia of the Persian Imperial Navy (The Lioness)

Pictorial History of Iranian Military Uniforms: Chapter 5 – Achaemenian Uniforms:

Artemisia and Xerxes Uniforms

IV. Where was Eurybiades in the 300 movie?

Eurybiades was the Spartan commander in charge of the Greek navy during the second Persian Invasion of Greece (480 BC - 479 BC). Eurybiades was a major Spartan commander and a major Greek player in both Battle of Artemisium (480 BC) and Battle of Salamis (480 BC). This whole movie was about Artemisium and Salamis, then where was Eurybiades? Has anyone seen Eurybiades in the 300: Rise of an Empire movie? What kind of a historical movie is this, when a major historical Greek character and player in both events of the movie was absent?!

V. Where was Achaemenes in the 300 Movie?

Achaemenes was a famous Persian Satrap AKA Khashtara Ban (State Governor) and Commander who participated and was a major player in both battles of Artemisium and Salamis. Achaemenes  was son of the Persian Emperor Darius I (Darius the Great) and Atusa. Achaemenes was brother of Xerxes I (Xerxes the Great). How can Hollywood create a movie about Artemisium and Salamis, yet not have a major player in both battles such as Achaemenes?

They did not even mention the name of Achaemenes, set aside let an actor play the role!

VI. Queen Gorgo was not a Warrior!

Queen Gorgo was not a warrior nor had she ever fought in any battles, then why was it that in this film, she was rallying the Greeks around, leading charges and fighting alongside the Themistocles?

What kind of falsification of history is that? Hollywood lies are far more grand than Greek Historian lies (Herodotus legendary lies)!

VII. Persian Forces did not have Suicide Bombers!

This film is mistaking the ancient Persians with the today’s Arabo-Muslim Terrorists! Ancient Persians were neither Arabs nor Muslims! Islam did not enter Iran nor become the state religion until 659 AD. The events of this film occur on 480 BC!

In this movie, in both battles of Artemisium and Salamis, Persians used naval Suicide Bombers! In reality, Persians did use tactics such as using Tar for burning Triremes but not with suicide bombers! What kind of cockamamie historical confusion is that?!

VIII. Darius the Great did not fight nor Died in the Battle of Marathon!

Darius never fought in Marathon set aside died in Marathon by the hand of Themistocles! Darius did not lead the Persians in Marathon. Persian commanders in Marathon were Datis and Artaphernes.

During the First Invasion of Greece (492 BC – 490 BC), Datis and Artaphernes had fought in Marathon and surely not Darius!

The 300 movie gets started with a historically non-existent and a fantastic arrow which was fired by the Athenian hero, Admiral General Themistocles on the battlefield of Marathon near Athens in 490 BC. This amazing arrow kills the Persian Shahanshah Darius the Great whom was historically, also non-existent in the Marathon!

Xerxes who was standing next to father (Darius), holding him up standing and mourning his death was also non-existent in Marathon!

Darius the Great started the Persian Expedition and the First Invasion of Greece (492 BC – 490 BC) which led to Marathon but Darius was never present in Marathon nor he had fought in Marathon! Xerxes was also not present in Marathon!

IX. Xerxes never Abandoned Artemisia!

In the 300 Movie, Xerxes abandons Artemisia and leaves her to die at Salamis while he retreats from the battleground! This event is pure fantasy because:

a) Xerxes did not fight in Salamis but he watched over the battle from far.

b) Artemisia did not die in Salamis.

c) Artemisia and Xerxes both left Salamis in one piece and lived a long life afterwards and had a strong friendship afterwards.


Artemisia with two swords at the battle, 300 Rise of an Empire 2014
Artemisia, Artaphernes and Immortals at the battle


Artemisia in Battle Action
Persian Grand Admiral Artemisia and her Greek Guards

X. Xerxes never participated in hand to hand combat in Greco-Persian Wars!

Even though Xerxes’ braveries were legendary and Xerxes used to battle lions in the arena, yet Xerxes never participated in the hand to hand battles at Thermopylae or Salamis but he watched over them and led the campaigns, set aside chop off Leonidas’ head in Thermopylae! Xerxes was not even present in Artemisium.


Xerxes chops off the head of Leonidas with axe in 300 Rise of an Empire


Xerxes chops off Leonidas’ Head in 300 Rise of an Empire Movie.
In reality this never occurred. What this movie portrays is pure fiction.

XI. Darius was not bald

Darius the Great was famous for his great thick and long set of hair and he was surely not bald! In this movie Igal Naor playing the role of Darius is bald! On the bright side, both Darius and Igal have long beards! Darius had long beard, so at least the 300 Movie got something right!


Xerxes and Darius the Great Persian Emperor in 300 Rise of an Empire 2014
Xerxes attends to his dying father, Darius.
Historical Flaws:
Darius and Xerxes were not present in the Battle of Marathon.
Darius did not die in Marathon.
Darius was not bald.


Darius the Great Persian Emperor
The real Darius the Great was famous for his thick and long set of hair and he surely was not bald!

XII. Xerxes was not bald, pierced and Gold Skinned!

In this movie, Xerxes played by Rodrigo Santoro goes in and out of the Unworldly Waters (never happened in real history) and becomes a God King or a King God or whatever! Once he becomes a God, then suddenly his normal face and stature transforms to a tall bald man, pierced with pins and chains all over his face and nipples, dipped in gold and shinning with golden skin!

Wow, I am a historian and I have never come across such amazing tale! I am sorry but honestly, sometimes I wonder, where has this fantastic tale come from? Did it come out of Zack Snyder’s rectum (movie screenwriter and director) or did it come out of Frank Miller’s rectum (Graphic Novel and Comic Book creator)?! I mean such wondrous grand story did not happen in real history, so it must have formed and developed somewhere deep! Only somewhere really “Deep” can give birth to such “Grand” tale and anecdote!


Xerxes becomes God King in Gold, 300 Rise of an Empire 2014
People are bowing to Xerxes after bathing in the Unworldly Waters of the mysterious cave, transforming to a Gold Skinned God King with gold piercings and chains all over his face and nipples!
Historical Flaws:
Xerxes never turned to gold!
Xerxes did not look like this!
Xerxes never claimed to be a God!
Xerxes was never worshiped by the people (as a God); however, many Persians worshiped him as a great Persian Hero and Shahanshah.


Xerxes the Great Persian Shahanshah – The Real Xerxes
This is how Xerxes really looked.

XIII. Artaphernes did not fight in Salamis by Artemisia’s side!

In this movie Artaphernes is always present on Artemisia’s side! I have no clue from where did the creators of this movie got that idea! In reality Artaphernes was never in Salamis but it was Commander Ariabignes who fought in Salamis.

Artaphernes was the nephew of Darius the Great, and an Achaemenian Satrap (Governor) and Baivarapatis (General). Artaphernes was present in the first Persian Invasion of Greece not the second one! Artaphernes along with Datis was ordered by Darius the Great to go on the Greek Expedition to punish and crush the Athens and Eretria for supporting the “Ionian Revolts” and interfering with the internal affairs of the Persian Empire.


Artemisia and Artaphernes prepare for Naval Battle, 300 Rise of an Empire

Artaphernes and Datis besieged and destroyed Eretria, but were defeated by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC). This had nothing to do with Artaphernes being present at Salamis (480 BC) which is pure fantasy! I believe the creators of this Hollywood Spoof have heard the name Artaphernes and thought with themselves that wow, that sounds like a cool and powerful Persian name, so why not make him Artemisia’s right hand man on her Trireme?!

In reality, a decade later Artaphernes became the Satrap of Lydia but he was never present at Salamis!

XIV. Ariabignes fought in Salamis by Artemisia’s side.

300: Rise of an Empire spoof is historically flawed. It was not Artaphernes but it was Ariabignes who fought in Salamis by Artemisia’s side.

As Hydarnes the Commander of 10,000 immortals at Thermopylae in 480 BC, worked closely with Xerxes; Ariabignes the Admiral of the Marine Immortals at Salamis in 480 BC, worked closely with Artemisia.
Yes, Artaphernes was not Artemisia’s right hand man. On the other hand, Ariabignes who fought in Salamis, was one of the Darius the Great’s sons. Ariabignes participated in the Second Persian Invasion of Greece. He was one of the major admirals of the Persian fleet at the battle of Salamis and was killed in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.

Ariabignes was one of Iran’s greatest and bravest Admirals. Ariabignes was hit with the Greek spears while he and his Immortals tried to jump the Greek Triremes and occupy them. Ariabignes was very dear to Artemisia and Artemisia was much despaired when she witnessed Ariabignes’ dead body floating amongst the shipwrecks in the battlefield. Artemisia ordered her Immortals to save Ariabignes’ body from disintegration, bring it to the board and take him back to Xerxes. Once Xerxes laid eyes on his brother’s dead body, he fell in despair and become more determined for revenge.

XV. Persian Generals Kashani and Bandari did not exist!

Who the hell were the Persian Generals Kashani and Bandari? Did Zack Snyder (movie screenwriter and director) and Frank Miller (Comic Book Creator) once again created these characters out of their rectums?


Eva Green as Artemisia and Christopher Sciueref as General Kashani, 300 Rise of an Empire

Kashan is a city in central Iran which did not even exist by that name during the 480 BC!

Bandar means Port in Persian. But Bandar is not Ancient Persian, yet it is a modern Persian term.

Then how on Earth can a couple of Generals named Kashani (from Kashan) and Bandari (from Bandar) have been present at the battle of Salamis or Artemisium?

Most likely the creators of this Hollywood Spoof, illiterate to the real history, were looking for some Persian names to give the Persian Generals, and they searched Google or cruised around Tehran-Geles (Los Angeles) and came up with Kashani and Bandari!

Kashani and Bandari my Red Rosie Butt!

We have a Persian Expression (idiom) which states:

“Che qadr Kos O She’r?” which translates in to “How much Bull Shiite?”, obviously never enough Bull Shiite has been told in this movie! This movie is loaded with Bull Shiite!

XVI. Artemisia was not a Grand Admiral at Salamis.

At Salamis, Artemisia was not the Grand Admiral and the commander in chief of the Imperial Persian Navy but she was an admiral.

This movie mistakenly portrays Artemisia as the grand commander of the Persian Navy at 480 BC. The creators of the 300: Rise of an Empire movie have more likely read material on Internet and most likely read my historical articles, series and books in IPC. They read about the title “Grand Admiral” for Artemisia but they did not read in depth nor did they comprehend that at 480 BC (Salamis), Artemisia was not the Grand Admiral but she was only an Admiral.


Imperial Persian Navy versus Greek Navy
Persian Trireme (Front) attacks the Greek Trireme (Back) Side by Side

Artemisia was primarily a Naval commander with a number of Navpatis (Naval Leaders) and a number of Navban (Naval Officers) under her command. By the time of the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), Artemisia was a local Queen, a local Satrap, an advisor to Xerxes and an Admiral. The Persian fleet was about 1200 and Artemisia was not in command of the complete fleet but she was in command of her own fleet (Greek allies of Persia).


Greek Trireme Replica from Battle of Artemisium

After her braveries in Artemisium, Salamis and a number of other sea campaigns, later on, Artemisia become the Grand Admiral and an important insider in the close circle of the Xerxes’ courthouse.
Much later, Artemisia gained much power and become the Commander in Chief of the Imperial Persian Navy and the close Military Consultant to Xerxes.


Persian Trireme Battleship Replica from Greco-Persian Naval Wars

For more information on Artemisia read:

Grand Admiral Artemisia of the Persian Imperial Navy (The Lioness)

XVII. Artemisia never had Sex with Themistocles!

In the movie 300: Rise of an Empire,  Artemisia and Themistocles participate in a passionate sex game in between the battle of Artemisium (where Persians won) and the battle of Salamis (where Persians retreated). This sex game was purely for diplomacy. Artemisia wanted to turn Themistocles against the Greeks and align him with the Persians.

 In real history, these two never had sex. They never even fought a hand to hand combat with each other, set aside having sex!

Artemisia was a way too patriotic Greek Persian Naval Commander on the rise to become a Persian legend and Themistocles was already a Greek Legend! Even though these two admired each other’s military ingenuity and mastery, yet Artemisia looked at Themistocles as an inferior Greek Agitator and Themistocles looked at Artemisia as a traitor who sold out his heritage and a collaborator with the Persian Barbarians! These two would have never consorted with each other, set aside having sex!

Read Pictorial History of Iranian Military Uniforms: Chapter 5 – Achaemenian Uniforms:

Artemisia and Xerxes Uniforms

XVIII. Queen Gorgo was never a Game Changer in Salamis!

In the movie 300: Rise of an Empire, the Spartan Queen Gorgo with her massive fleet joins the battle, fights alongside Themistocles and saves the day for the Greeks. Gorgo becomes a “Game Changer” for the Greeks.

So Themistocles and his Athenian Fleet needed the help of the massive Spartan navy which happened to turns up just in the nick of time, commanded by the Spartan Queen Gorgo (Slaughtered King Leonidas’ wife) to save the day!

In real history, Sparta only contributed a mere 16 Trireme battleships to the total number of the Greek fleet of about 400 Trireme battleships at Salamis. The Spartan Fleet was such a minor factor that they made barely any difference to the outcome of the battle. The credit goes all to the Admiral Themistocles and his Athenian Fleet. Even other Greek States contributed more fleets than Spartans to the total number of the Greek Fleet.

Queen Gorgo was neither a warrior, nor she led the Spartan Fleet, and she surely did not charge on the Persians at the Salamis or elsewhere! Creators of this movie have made a false mythical and epical version of Queen Gorgo as a Great Greek Amazon and Heroine! Queen Gorgo was a local Greek Queen, nothing more and nothing less.

XIX. Greece was never an Empire!

Greece was never a unified nation, set aside an Empire!

The name of the movie is “300: Rise of an Empire”, what empire is rising? The time is 480 BC during the battles of Artemisium and Salamis. Persia is already an empire, the sole super power on earth. The movie clearly means that this is the starting point of the rise of the Athenian Greek Empire. Only one problem with that! Greeks never had an empire! Greeks were a bunch of scattered city states which have never unified to create a united nation, set aside an empire!

Much later, Greeks were finally united by force of a non Greek, Alexander who was a Macedonian!

Philip II the Macedonian who reigned during 359 BC - 336 BC (Alexander’s Father), by 336 BC (his death) only started the unification of Greece.

Alexander (336 BC – 323 BC) had unified Greece, made an empire and he was not even Greek but Macedonian! This was over a century later than Salamis! Alexander created the Greco-Macedonian Empire over a century later!

So please tell me and inform me that what Empire is rising in this movie? Is it the Non Existent Athenian Greek Empire which is on the rise? Is it the imaginary Greek Empire in the mind of Frank Miller which is on the rise? Is it the Cockamamie Athenian Empire created out of the rectum of the Zack Snyder and the Hollywood Liberals which is on the rise? Exactly which empire is it that is surely on the rise? Can anyone inform me? Anyone? Anybody? Anyone please?

XX. Persian Immortals did not look like Japanese Masked Ninjas!

Where did the creators of the 300 got the idea that the Persian Elite Immortals were wearing Ninja masks and dressing up as Japanese Ninjas?! The Immortals have never looked like Ninjas!


Persian Immortal, 300 Rise of an Empire Movie Poster

For more information on how the Persian Immortals looked like, review,

Pictorial History of Iranian Military Uniforms (Book in 23 Chapters):

Chapter 6: Achaemenian Uniforms 5

Chapter 8: Achaemenian Uniforms 7


Ancient Achaemenian Persian Immortal with Spear
This is how Real Immortals looked like.


Real Persian Immortal
Ancient Achaemenian Persian Immortal shooting bow arrow
This is how Real Persian Immortals dressed and looked like.

XXI. Xerxes never had claimed of being a God!

In the complete history of his reign, Xerxes nor any other Persian Shahanshah (Emperor) or Shah (King) has ever claimed of being Gods! The Persian Queens also have never claimed to be Goddesses. The creators of this movie are mistaking the Persian Shahanshahs with the Egyptian Pharaohs who were God Kings!

XXII. Slavery did not exist in the Persian Empire

Persian Empire was the only ancient empire where the slavery did not exist in it. Slavery came to Iran with the entrance of Islam! Slavery was an Arabo-Islamic concept introduced to Iran. So specifically before 651 AD, there existed no slavery in the Persian Empire.

On the contrary, Greeks and Romans were great slave owners who practiced in nationwide slavery!
The 300: Rise of an Empire film portrays Persians as Slave owners who enslaved the world and portrays Greeks as democratic freemen who fought against the slavery.

In reality, while the whole world was practicing slavery (including Greece), Persia was the sole empire where there existed no slavery in her borders. The greatest and the sole super power on earth (at the time) was slave free! Persia was the most advanced, open-minded and free empire of the ancient world. Every citizen had rights and there existed no slaves. Persia was jewel of the globe.

For more information on slavery, read:

History of Slavery in Iran

Civilization: Persia versus Greece and Rome (2 Chapters)

8000 Years of Iranian History! (3 Chapters)

222 Years of Struggle for Independence of Iran (4 Chapters)

For more about the Persian Philosophy, read:

Faravahar History and Art Galleries (5 Chapters)

Zoroastra and Zoroastrianism, The Real Story!

Meaning of Faravahar, Derafsh Kaviani and Persian Colors

XXIII. Artemisia was not a vengeful psychopath but she was an ambitious Military Genius

300: Rise of an Empire portrays Artemisia (Artemisia I of Halicarnassus) as a vicious and vengeful, unbalanced woman who had a beef with the Greeks. The irony was that herself, she was Greek!

The reality is that Artemisia was a well calculated, ambitious woman who had a plan and step by step she moved towards completing her plan which was capturing Xerxes’ heart and then Persia’s heart. Artemisia was a powerful, brave and charismatic military commander and a sexy tomboy!


Realistic looking Artemisia and Xerxes
Eva Green as Artemisia and Rodrigo Santoro as Xerxes in 300 Rise of an Empire 2014
This moment is when Xerxes looked normal, before he went in to the cave, dipped in to the out of this world liquid and become the Gold Skinned God King with tons of piercings and chains!
In reality, Artemisia and Xerxes were great military strategists, close friends, great Persian patriots and lovers.

Artemisia was a local queen, the queen of Halicarnassus, a city in the Achaemenid Persian Empire’s Khashtara (Satrapy AKA State) of Caria and of the nearby island of Kos, in about 480 BC.

Artemisia was an ally, an advisor, a lover and a friend to Xerxes. Artemisia was a master naval strategist and a superior intellect.


More Realistic Looking Artemisia and Xerxes
Artemisia and Xerxes, 300 Spartans 1962
Xerxes (David Farrar) and Artemisia (Anne Wakefield) discuss battle strategy.

Artemisia (Victorious One) has a Persian version and a Persian origin (Artemis). Artemisia was most likely against the battle of Salamis. Artemisia clearly spoke against it to Spahbod (Field Marshal) Mardonius and Xerxes.

Artemisia told Mardonius:

“Inform Xerxes to spare his Triremes (battleships) and not engage in a naval battle because our enemies (Greeks) are much stronger than us at the sea, as men are to women. Why does he need to risk a naval battle? Athens for which he did undertake this expedition is his and the rest of Greece too. No man can stand against him and they who once resisted, were destroyed.

If Xerxes chose not to rush into a naval battle, but instead kept his Triremes close to the shore and either stayed there or moved them towards the Peloponnese, then victory would surely be his. The Greeks can't hold out against him for very long. They will leave for their cities, because they don't have food in store on this island, as I have learned, and when our army will march against the Peloponnese they who have come from there will become worried and they will not stay here to fight to defend Athens.

But if Xerxes hurries to engage battle, I am afraid that the navy will be defeated and the land-forces will be weakened as well. In addition, he should also consider that he has certain untrustworthy allies, like the Egyptians, the Cyprians, the Cilicians (Kilikians) and the Pamphylians who are completely useless.”

Even though Xerxes disagreed with her, yet he praised her, admired her and respected her as a wise advisor.


Real Artemisia and Xerxes
Grand Admiral Artemisia and Xerxes the Great, holding hands and walking the Persian gardens with the artistic ruins of Persepolis at the background.

Artemisia charged in battle of Salamis. During the battle, while the Persian fleet was facing defeat, an Athenian ship pursued Artemisia's trireme battleship and she was not able to escape. In front of her were Persian ships. She finally turned and rammed a few Greek Triremes and forced her way out of there. In a few occasions Artemisia was very close to get captured by the Greeks but she escaped by a narrow margin.

Xerxes was overseeing the sea battle from his throne, which was at the foot of Mount Egaleo. Once he witnessed Artemisia’s bravery,

Xerxes stated:

"My men have become women, and my women men."

The rise of Artemisia had truly started after Salamis. After Salamis she participated in various Persian naval campaigns and proved to be a worthy commander. Eventually Artemisia was raised to the level of a Persian heroine, Grand Admiral and next the Commander in Chief of the Imperial Persian Navy.


Realistic looking Artemisia
Eva Green as Artemisia
Artemisia on the board of her Trireme, 300 Rise of an Empire 2014


More Realistic looking Artemisia
Anne Wakefield as Artemisia
Artemisia listening to Xerxes’ plan, 300 Spartans 1962

Greeks called her traitor, lowly sea pirate and a devious woman; however, they always admired her military strategies and braveries. Persians have learned to love her. Primarily they doubted her but eventually they cherished her as a populist and a brave soldier.

During the Pahlavi era, the famous Imperial Destroyer Ship “Artemis” (Artemisia in Persian) was named after Artemisia.


Real Artemisia
Artemisia Halicarnassus, the Ancient Persian Naval Grand Admiral at the Courthouse


Real Artemisia with her famous Messenger Hunting Falcon
Artemisia Halicarnassus the Achaemenian Grand Admiral of the Imperial Persian Navy

Artemisia was much respected and honored in Iran. Artemisia is a symbol and role model for the Persian women and specifically young Persian girls.

Now on to the next chapter on the next page

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