[Sparta]

A little something to think about when Western Civilzation was nearly strangled in the cradle. Also, the battle is good story of a last stand, like the Alamo.

[gridlock]

bump

[sauropod]

Thx for the post.

[IoCaster]

"Go tell the Spartans, passer-by that here, obedient to their laws, we lie."

[WaveThatFlag]

"Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat-the Alamo had none."
-Thomas Jefferson Green
(inscription on the first Alamo monument in Austin, Texas)

[Sparta]

I posted a vanity thread about the Western victories over Islamic Hoardes yesterday. If you're interested:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/789090/posts

God bless Western Civilization in its battle for survival!!

[pgobrien]

Excellent post....we can still learn from the past. Tactics and character.

[wildbill]

As reported by Simonides c556-468 bce. a memorial was placed at Thermoplylae that read:

"Go tell the Spartans, thou who passest by,
That here, obedient to their laws, we lie.

Not a bad epitaph for soldiers.

[Sparta]

I'm starting a Western Civilzation Military History ping list. Let me know if you want on or off.

[Lizard_King]

Frank Miller's "300" is a fantastic graphic retelling of this story. He takes some creative liberties, but it really captures the essence of this battle.

Thanks for the post.

[Sparta]

Ping

[curmudgeonII]

Great post for a "newbie".

And sign me up for your ping list.

[muawiyah]

Have no idea why this story keeps getting posted. The moral standards of the Greeks in those days were far removed from our own. The Persians were much more like modern Americans than were the Greeks.

Recall that in those days the Jews had been in captivity in Babylon. They were saved by the Persians and returned to rebuild the Temple. We derive more than our fair share of philosophy, legal principles, morality and religion from that event. A few interesting stories have been handed down from the Greeks, and that's about it. We look at them as though they were an alien culture, which they were.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Bump for later read.

[Sparta]

Ping

[Gael]

THE ORACLES by A. E. Houseman

'Tis mute, the word they went to hear on high Dodona mountain
When winds were in the oakenshaws and all the cauldrons tolled,
And mute's the midland navel-stone beside the singing fountain,
And echoes list to silence now where gods told lies of old.

I took my question to the shrine that has not ceased from speaking,
The heart within, that tells the truth and tells it twice as plain;
And from the cave of oracles I heard the priestess shrieking
That she and I should surely die and never live again.

Oh priestess, what you cry is clear, and sound good sense I think it;
But let the screaming echoes rest, and froth your mouth no more.
'Tis true there's better booze than brine, but he that drowns must drink it;
And oh, my lass, the news is news that men have heard before.

The King with half the East at heel is marched from land of morning;
Their fighters drink the rivers up, their shafts benight the air.
And he that stands will die for nought, and home there's no returning.
The Spartans on the sea-wet rock sat down and combed their hair.

[VOA]

bump

[WaterDragon]

How much we owe those ancient Greeks!

[Dumb_Ox]

Also, the battle is good story of a last stand, like the Alamo.

It's even better in Herodotus.

[GRRRRR]

Alright, who makes up this stuff? Aren't all those people current Hip-Hop and RAP stars?? Are they gonna make a muvee about this sometime? Spielenberger where are you???

GRRRRRRollin' 4 the USA!!

[csvset]

Please add me to your ping list. Thanks.