POETRY / FILM / THREE DAY CINEMATIC POETRY CHALLENGE

Three Times One Hundred Spartans

They’re off to the Battle of Thermopylae (in their knickers, apparently)

King Leonidas, King of Sparta, had a row with Xerxes, because the Persian King dared send a herald to the gates demanding earth and water as a token of submission. The Spartans pitched him down a well, which made Xerxes irate.

The Persian King sent his vast army to take their revenge. The Spartan’s were, in contrast, just a piddling little force. But Leonidas figured that they could take slight advantage by funneling the Persian horde with a wall built at Ephors.

But consultation by Ephors of the Oracle most knowing, put a dent in Sparta’s hope, when prophecy was given declaring that they must not go to war during Carneia, a festive time when military action was forbidden.

The hopes of Leonidas were thus dashed. The fates had spoken. The Oracle had prophesied, the battle plans to thwart. But Persian agents then appear and it becomes apparent the Ephors are in league with Xerxes, giving him support!

So Leonidas then decided to circumvent the war ban. Three hundred soldiers he amassed and said they were his guards. Then off they marched, and soon were joined by Greeks and the Arcadians. They built a wall at Thermopylae that could double as a graveyard!

Now I confess I haven’t seen this film, and am relying on blessed wikipedia to solve for me the mystery of what the plot is, what transpires, and who are the main players: It must be said some years have passed since I learned Ancient History!

At any rate, the battle soon ensues and there’s much bloodshed; but I can’t stomach gore without a vat of strong chianti. Though now I’m thinking I might try again, cause I’m quite taken with the prospect of 300 soldiers fighting in their panties!

With many thanks to Jeff Ehren for tagging me in his Three Day Cinematic Poetry Challenge.

No pressure, of course, but for their potential interest in the challenge, I’m tagging Jennifer McDougall Anthony O’Dugan Will Hull Elle Beau ❇︎ Skye Mo’ipulelehua Kahoali’i Adelia Ritchie Sarah Paris Denise Larkin Kyomi O’Connor Carlos Garbiras Haikuster Sherry McGuinn Michael Burg, MD (AKA Medium Michael Burg) Denise G Eva Rotolo Lindsay Soberano-Wilson Hogan Torah Eric Pierce Edward Riley Kiki Wellington Gaby Rogut Tree Langdon Dave Logan Marcus Christine Stevens Ann Marie Steele Carolyn Hastings Melanie J. Christina M. Ward Galit Birk, PhD Orla Kenny Laurie Perez Terry Trueman TC Hails Roz Warren and anyone else reading this who would like to give this fun little challenge a go.

Jupiter Grant is a self-published author, blogger, narrator, and audiobook producer. Buy me a coffee here: https://ko-fi.com/jupitergrant

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