In The Histories, Book VII line 184, Herodotus tells of the multitude of the Persian army under the leadership of King Xerxes that would leave any reader amazed. Later we see how, despite being warned by Demaratus and the spy, Xerxes sends the Medes and the Cissians, only to his detriment. This shows that Xerxes was stubborn by nature. Line 212 clearly describes Xerxes' concern for his army. Xerxes' joy when Ephialtes tells him about the other path shows his desire to win the battle, also exemplified by Diodorus of Sicily, Book 11[8]. Thorsten Beigel's account of Xerxes is practically a corollary of the first two. Leonidas, was described as a descendant of a prestigious Spartan lineage (Herodotus, The Histories, Book VII, line 204). His courage is clearly depicted when he led an army of just 300 Spartans and a few other troops from Thebes against a powerful Persian army. In line 220, when the Spartans were about to lose the battle, Leonidas himself sent some Greeks away but waited with the Spartans. This describes his concern for others but also his pride and determination to fight the war with honor. Although Leonidas lost his life in the battle, a stone lion statue was erected in his memory, which is sufficient proof of his glory. An excellent representation of Leonidas' wit is found in Diodorus of Sicily, Book 11[4], where Leonidas explains how taking only an army of 300 Spartans is the correct decision. Another quality of this Spartan king was highlighted by Thorsten Beigel's story in which he speaks of Leonidas as a loving husband and father as well as being a king and a warrior. The conversation between Gorgo and Leonidas before leaving for battle shows us the emotional and at the same time responsible side of Leonidas. Another thing people talk about is the Spartan military mystique. The Spartans had a certain air of confidence in their warrior characteristics, which is evident because they set out fearlessly against an extraordinarily large Persian army. Even when they knew they would lose, they refused to give up and chose to lose their lives rather than lose their glory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe role of Gorgo and other Spartan women was not discussed much by Herodotus and Diodorus. However, Zack Snyder's “300” places excellent emphasis on Gorgo's role at the time of this battle. According to her account, Gorgo appears as an active and confident wife and queen who advises and supports her husband. This is evident from the two incidents that occurred with the Persian envoy. His bold and courageous tone and attitude depict his self-confidence. The story also tells us about some emotional and romantic conversations between the royal couple, important because they highlight Leonidas' family responsibilities. Gorgo is also depicted as a woman willing to endure Theron's sexual assault for the sake of her husband and Sparta. Despite being sexually kidnapped by Theron, Gorgo does not lose her honor. Instead, he kills him with a sword and sneers back at him. The tale also speaks of a scene in which Ephialtes is lured by lascivious dancing women as he goes to greet Xerxes. This is especially important because the contrast between the women of the two sides highlights the honor of the Spartan women. This depiction of Gorgo is of significant importance because it shows how Spartan women enjoyed greater freedom and equality. A co-heroine was awarded male courage. Another extremely important concept is the concept of defending Greece's freedom and gaining glory.