Leonidas I of Sparta is legendary but this legend is almost entirely routed in his accomplishments defending the Hot Gates of Thermopylae against the overwhelming Persian forces of the Achaemenid Emperor Xerxes.
Rare for such a famous man to have so little of his early life documented. In this video I look at his family, Spartan custom and the history of Sparta to try and address these gaps. Of particular Importance are his father Anaxandridas, his brother & predecessor Cleomenes the First and the Battle of Sepeia.
How did the legendary warrior establish himself as capable of one of Ancient Greece’s greatest feats? What was his early life like? Would he have fared well in the brutal Spartan training of the agoge? And what sort of a man was he? Let’s look beyond the Spartan Mirage, before the 300 Spartans and into the Greek sources!
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Sources Used
Ancient Texts:
Justinus - Epitome: Philippic History and Origins of the Entire World and All of its Lands (Historia Philippicae et Totius Mundi Origines et Terrae Situs)
Plutarch - Life of Cleomenes (Βίοι Παράλληλοι: Κλεομένης)
Plutarch - Moralia: Sayings Of Kings And Commanders (Ἠθικά: - Regum et Imperatorum Apophthegmata)
Cornelius Nepos - Life of Themistocles (Corneli Nepotis Themistocles)
Credits
If you see any of your artwork in the video, please let me know so I can give you credit!
Film, TV & Game Clips:
'300' (2007) | Zack Snyder | Legendary Pictures ©
''Assassin's Creed Odyssey' (2018) | Ubisoft Montreal ©
'Rome: Total War' (2004) | Creative Assembly ©
Music:
All Music is licensed by Epidemic Sound
www.epidemicso...
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