_If you want to help_ in a Spartan victory, clear the battlefield of the dead, tend the wounded, bring them water.

#qt2075369-a / read by VIVEK-96

I am sorry, my friend; but not all of us were made to be soldiers.

#qt2075369-9 / read by Subhajit-81

_Your father should_ have taught you how our phalanx works. We fight as a single, impenetrable unit.

#qt2075369-6 / read by VIVEK-96

I will earn my father's armor, noble King, by serving you in the battle!

#qt2075369-5 / read by Subhajit-81

_My father trained me to feel_ no fear to make spear and shield and sword as much a part of me as my own beating heart!

#qt2075369-4 / read by VIVEK-96

_I beg you_, bold King, to permit me to redeem my father's name by serving you in combat!

#qt2075369-3 / read by VIVEK-96

_My mother's_ love led my parents to flee Sparta... lest I be discarded...

#qt2075369-2 / read by VIVEK-96

_There is nothing to forgive,_ brave King. I know what I look like...

#qt2075369-1 / read by VIVEK-96

NO PRISONERS! NO MERCY!

#qt2070715 / read by Subhajit-81

Give them NOTHING! But take from them EVERYTHING!

#qt2021721-3 / read by Subhajit-81

Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time!

#qt2021721-2 / read by Subhajit-81

_This is where_ we hold them. This is where we fight!

#qt2021721-1 / read by VIVEK-96

_Those behind_ cry, 'FORWARD!' Those in front cry, 'BACK!'

#qt0510888 / read by VIVEK-96

The captain's cries of pain at the loss of his son are more frightening to the enemy than the deepest battle drums.

#qt0447713-2 / read by Teja-84

It takes three men to restrain him and bring him back to our own.

#qt0447713-1 / read by Subhajit-81

First, you fight with your head... Then you fight with your heart.

#qt0447711-2 / read by Shriram-60

In the end, a Spartan's true strength is the warrior next to him. So give respect and honor to him, and it will be returned to you.

#qt0447711-1 / read by Teja-84

Leonidas, your victory will be complete if you but lay down your arms, and kneel to holy Xerxes.

#qt0447707-9 / read by Teja-84

You fight for your kingship? You will be proclaimed warlord of all Greece, answerable only to the one true master of the world!

#qt0447707-8 / read by Teja-84

You fight for your lands? Keep them! You fight for Sparta? She will be wealthier and more powerful than ever before!

#qt0447707-7 / read by Shuja-34

Despite your several insults, despite your horrid blasphemies, the lord of hosts is prepared to forgive all, and more, to reward your service.

#qt0447707-4 / read by Shuja-34

Listen to your fellow Greek. He can attest to the divine one's generosity.

#qt0447707-3 / read by Shuja-34

Despite your insufferable arrogance, the god-king has come to admire Spartan valor and fighting skill. You will make a mighty ally.

#qt0447707-2 / read by Shuja-34

Leonidas, my compliments and congratulations. You surely have turned calamity to victory.

#qt0447707-1 / read by VIVEK-96

Sparta will burn! Her men will die at the arms of their women and children will be slaves or worse!

#qt0447705-2 / read by Shuja-34

Sparta wages no war at the time of the Carneia.

#qt0447705-1 / read by Subhajit-81

Before wounds and weariness have taken their toll, the mad king throws the best he has at us. Xerxes has taken the bait.

#qt0447704-2 / read by VIVEK-96

The god-king has betrayed a fatal flaw: Hubris. Easy to taunt, easy to trick.

#qt0447704-1 / read by Shuja-34

There's only one woman's words that should affect the mood of my husband. Those are mine.

#qt0447703 / read by VIVEK-96

This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die!

#qt0447702-1 / read by Shriram-60

.. that their courage bonds us together, that we are made stronger by their actions, and that your choices today reflect their bravery.

#qt0447700-6 / read by Shuja-34

But most importantly, send our army for hope - hope that a king and his men have not been wasted to the pages of history ..

#qt0447700-5 / read by VIVEK-96

Send the army for the preservation of liberty. Send it for justice. Send it for law and order. Send it for reason.

#qt0447700-4 / read by VIVEK-96

We must send the entire Spartan army to aid our king in the preservation of not just ourselves, but of our children.

#qt0447700-3 / read by VIVEK-96

I am here for all those voices which cannot be heard: mothers, daughters, fathers, sons - three hundred families that bleed for our rights.

#qt0447700-2 / read by VIVEK-96

I am not here to represent Leonidas; his actions speak louder than my words ever could.

#qt0447700-1 / read by Akanksha-14

Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death on the battlefield in service to Sparta was the greatest glory he could achieve in his life.

#qt0447699 / read by VIVEK-96

Unlike the cruel Leonidas, who demanded that you stand, I require only that you kneel.

#qt0447697 / read by VIVEK-96

Unless I miss my guess, we're in for one wild night.

#qt0447695 / read by Shriram-60

A new age has begun, an age of freedom. And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it.

#qt0447694 / read by VIVEK-96

Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty... For tonight, we dine in hell!

#qt0447693 / read by Akanksha-14

Clearly you don't know our women! I might as well have marched them up here, judging by what I've seen.

#qt0447691-3 / read by VIVEK-96

Consider the beautiful land you so vigorously defend. Picture it reduced to ash at my whim!

#qt0447691-2 / read by Shriram-60

You Greeks take pride in your logic. I suggest you employ it.

#qt0447691-1 / read by Shriram-60

And I would die for any one of mine.

#qt0447690-3 / read by Subhajit-81

Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.

#qt0447690-2 / read by VIVEK-96

It isn't wise to stand against me, Leonidas.

#qt0447690-1 / read by Subhajit-81

You are generous as you are divine, O king of kings. Such an offer only a madman would refuse.

#qt0447689-3 / read by VIVEK-96

You will carry my battle standard to the heart of Europa. Your Athenian rivals will kneel at your feet if you will but kneel at mine.

#qt0447689-2 / read by Akanksha-14

But I am a generous god. I can make you rich beyond all measure. I will make you warlord of all Greece.

#qt0447689-1 / read by VIVEK-96

Hardly, my lord, it's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare.

#qt0447688-2 / read by VIVEK-96

Dilios, I trust that 'scratch' hasn't made you useless.

#qt0447688-1 / read by VIVEK-96

Hundreds leave, a handful stay. Only one looks back.

#qt0447686 / read by Shriram-60

We did what we were trained to do, what we were bred to do, what we were born to do!

#qt0447685 / read by VIVEK-96

It is not a question of what a Spartan citizen should do, nor a husband, nor a king. Instead, ask yourself, my dearest love, what should a free man do?

#qt0447684-2 / read by Akanksha-14

Then what must a king do to save his world when the very laws he has sworn to protect force him to do nothing?

#qt0447684-1 / read by Akanksha-14

Well, let's give them something to drink! To the cliffs!

#qt0447683 / read by Shriram-60

Haven't you noticed? We've been sharing our culture with you all morning.

#qt0447682-4 / read by VIVEK-96

All because of a simple misunderstanding. There is much our cultures could share.

#qt0447682-3 / read by Akanksha-14

It would be nothing short of madness for you, brave king, and your valiant troops to perish.

#qt0447682-2 / read by Akanksha-14

Come Leonidas, let us reason together. It would be a regrettable waste.

#qt0447682-1 / read by Akanksha-14

All that God-King Xerxes requires is this: a simple offering of earth and water. A token of Sparta's submission to the will of Xerxes.

#qt0447681 / read by Anagha-10

A new age has begun. An age of freedom, and all will know, that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it!

#qt0447679-3 / read by VIVEK-96

And by Spartan law we will stand and fight... and die.

#qt0447679-2 / read by Anagha-10

Children, gather round! No retreat, no surrender; that is Spartan law.

#qt0447679-1 / read by Shriram-60

Let each among them search his own soul. And while you're at it, search your own.

#qt0447678-5 / read by Akanksha-14

Go spread the word. Let every Greek assembled know the truth of this.

#qt0447678-4 / read by Akanksha-14

Well, that's an easy choice for us, Arcadian! Spartans never retreat! Spartans never surrender!

#qt0447678-3 / read by Akanksha-14

Glory? Have you gone mad? There is no glory to be had now! Only retreat, or surrender or death!

#qt0447678-2 / read by VIVEK-96

Spartans! Prepare for glory!

#qt0447678-1 / read by Shriram-60

This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your Queen!

#qt0447677 / read by Shriram-60

This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I'm not your king.

#qt0447676 / read by Subhajit-81

Freedom isn't free at all, that it comes with the highest of costs. The cost of blood.

#qt0447675 / read by Subhajit-81

We are with you, sire! For Sparta, for freedom, to the death!

#qt0447673 / read by Subhajit-81

Because only Spartan women give birth to real men!

#qt0447672-3 / read by Subhajit-81

What makes this woman think she can speak among men?

#qt0447672-2 / read by Subhajit-81

Do not be coy or stupid, Persian. You can afford neither in Sparta!

#qt0447672-1 / read by Shriram-60

I can only hope, with all the world's warriors gathered against us, there might be one down there who's up to the task.

#qt0447671-4 / read by VIVEK-96

Arcadian, I've fought countless times, yet I've never met an adversary who could offer me what we Spartans call 'A Beautiful Death.'

#qt0447671-3 / read by VIVEK-96

There can be no victory here. Why do you smile?

#qt0447671-2 / read by Anagha-10

We saw but a fraction of the monster that is Xerxes' army.

#qt0447671-1 / read by Subhajit-81

Nor shall it. I've issued no such orders. I'm here, just taking a stroll, stretching my legs. These, uh, 300 men are my personal bodyguard.

#qt0447670-3 / read by VIVEK-96

It is the law, my lord. The Spartan army must not go to war.

#qt0447670-2 / read by Subhajit-81

My good king! My good king! The oracle has spoken.

#qt0447670-1 / read by Subhajit-81

It would take more than the words than a drunken adolescent girl to rob me of my desire of you.

#qt0447669-2 / read by Shriram-60

Your lips can finish what your fingers have started... or has the Oracle robbed you of your desire as well?

#qt0447669-1 / read by VIVEK-96

Madness...? This is Sparta!

#qt0447668-9 / read by Shriram-60

This is blasphemy! This is madness!

#qt0447668-8 / read by Shriram-60

Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same!

#qt0447668-7 / read by Shriram-60

You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death!

#qt0447668-6 / read by Shriram-60

You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city steps.

#qt0447668-5 / read by Shriram-60

No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!

#qt0447668-4 / read by Subhajit-81

Earth and water? You'll find plenty of both down there.

#qt0447668-3 / read by Subhajit-81

Madman! You're a madman!

#qt0447668-2 / read by Shriram-60

Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king.

#qt0447668-1 / read by Subhajit-81

His shield was heavy. It threw him off balance. And his target is far away.

#qt0447667-2 / read by VIVEK-96

His helmet was stifling, it narrowed his vision. And he must see far.

#qt0447667-1 / read by VIVEK-96

The steady breathing of the 300 at his back, ready to die for him without a moment's pause. Everyone of them ready, to die.

#qt0447666-5 / read by VIVEK-96

Gulls cawing, complaining, even as they feast on the thousands of floating dead.

#qt0447666-4 / read by VIVEK-96

The seaborn breeze, coolly, kissing the sweat at his chest and neck.

#qt0447666-3 / read by VIVEK-96

And now, as then, it is not fear that grips him, only restlessness. A heightened sense of things.

#qt0447666-2 / read by VIVEK-96

It's been more than thirty years since the wolf and the winter cold.

#qt0447666-1 / read by Shriram-60

Bold Leonidas gives testament to our bloodline. His roar is long and loud.

#qt0447664-2 / read by VIVEK-96

The old ones say we Spartans are descended from Hercules himself.

#qt0447664-1 / read by Subhajit-81

You have many slaves, Xerxes, but few warriors. It won't be long before they fear my spears more than your whips.

#qt0447663 / read by VIVEK-96

Immortals fail our king's test. And a man who fancies himself a god feels a very human chill crawl up his spine.

#qt0447662 / read by VIVEK-96

Relax, old friend. If they assassinate me, all of Sparta goes to war. Pray they're that stupid. Pray we're that lucky.

#qt0447661-1 / read by VIVEK-96

A thousand nations of the Persian empire will descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!

#qt0447660 / read by Shriram-60

Come back with your shield, or on it.

#qt0447659 / read by Subhajit-81

Xerxes dispatches his monsters from half the world away. They're clumsy beasts, and the piled Persian dead are slippery.

#qt0447658 / read by VIVEK-96

You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did!

#qt0447657-2 / read by Subhajit-81

I see I was wrong to expect Sparta's commitment to at least match our own.

#qt0447657-1 / read by Shriram-60

It's an honor to have lived at yours.

#qt0447656-2 / read by Subhajit-81

It's an honor to die at your side.

#qt0447656-1 / read by Shriram-60

This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine.

#qt0447653-8 / read by Anagha-10

The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any Greek.

#qt0447653-7 / read by Subhajit-81

Yet they stare now across the plain at *ten thousand* Spartans commanding thirty thousand free Greeks!

#qt0447653-6 / read by Shriram-60

.. knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the swords and spears of three hundred.

#qt0447653-5 / read by Anagha-10

Just there the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping tight their hearts with icy fingers...

#qt0447653-4 / read by Akanksha-14

Not just for Sparta, but for all Greece and the promise this country holds.

#qt0447653-3 / read by Shriram-60

.. from free Greek to free Greek, the word was spread that bold Leonidas and his three hundred, so far from home, laid down their lives.

#qt0447653-2 / read by VIVEK-96

And so my king died, and my brothers died, barely a year ago. Long I pondered my king's cryptic talk of victory.

#qt0447653-1 / read by VIVEK-96

When the boy was born, like all Spartans, he was inspected.

#qt0447652 / read by Subhajit-81

Immortals... we put their name to the test.

#qt0447651 / read by Subhajit-81

Persian cowards.

#qt0447648 / read by Subhajit-81

The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed.

#qt0447647-5 / read by VIVEK-96

Why, uttering the very name of Sparta, or Leonidas, will be punishable by death! The world will never know you existed at all!

#qt0447647-4 / read by VIVEK-96

Every Greek historian, and every scribe shall have their eyes pulled out, and their tongues cut from their mouths.

#qt0447647-3 / read by Shriram-60

Every piece of Greek parchment shall be burned.

#qt0447647-2 / read by Subhajit-81

There will be no glory in your sacrifice. I will erase even the memory of Sparta from the histories!

#qt0447647-1 / read by Shriram-60