wrong.
You are wrong, Leonidas.
You are wrong.
Dispatch the Phocians
to the goat path.
Pray to the gods nobody
tells the Persians about it.
Earthquake.
No, Captain.
Battle formations.
This is where we hold them.
This is where we fight.
This is where they die !
On these shields, boys !
Remember this day, men,
for it will be yours
for all time.
Spartans, lay down
your weapons !
Persians !
Come and get them !
Hold !
Give them nothing.
But take from them everything.
Stay ready.
That's the best you can do ?
Push !
Now !
Push !
No prisoners !
No mercy !
They look thirsty.
Well, let's give them
something to drink.
To the cliffs.
Hold !
A hell of a good start !
Tuck tail !
Persian cowards.
What the hell are you
laughing at ?
We had to say it.
- What ?
- We fight in the shade.
Recover.
Today, no Spartan dies.
Easy, son.
We do what we were
trained to do.
What we were bred to do.
What we were born to do.
No prisoners, no mercy.
A good start.
It's no secret.
Theron wants what you control.
It's his voice you must silence.
Make him your ally
and you will have your victory.
Thank you.
You are wise as you are kind.
Ah, there's your mother.
You should keep a better eye
on him if he is to be king one day.
It would be unfortunate
if anything were to happen to him.
Or to his beautiful mother.
Our Greek comrades are begging
for a crack at the Persians, sire.
Good. I have something
I think they can handle.
Tell Daxos I want him
and 20 of his best,
eager, sober,
ready for the next job.
King Leonidas !
- Stelios, catch your breath, boy.
- Yes, my lord.
The Persians are approaching.
A small contingent.
Too small for an attack.
Captain, I'll leave you in charge.
- But, sire...
- Relax, old friend.
If they assasinate me,
all of Sparta goes to war.
Pray they're that stupid.
Pray... we're that lucky.
Besides...
... there's no reason
we can't be civil.
Is there ?
None, sire.
Let me guess.
You must be Xerxes.
Come, Leonidas.
Let us reason together.
It would be a regrettable waste.
It would be nothing
short of madness,
were you, brave king, and your
valiant troops to perish.
All because of a simple
misunderstanding.
There is much our cultures
could share.
Haven't you noticed we've been sharing
our culture with you all morning ?
Yours is a fascinating tribe.
Even now you are defiant,
in the face of annihilation.
In the presence of the god, it isn't
wise to stand against me, Leonidas.
Imagine what horrible fate
awaits my enemies
when I will gladly kill
any one of my own men for victory.
And I would die
for any one of mine.
You Greeks take pride
in your logic.
I suggest you employ it.
Consider the beautiful lands
you so vigorously defend.
Picture it reduced to ash
at my will.
Consider the fate of your women.
Clearly, you don't know our women.
I might as well have marched
them up here,
judging by what I've seen.
You have many slaves,
Xerxes,
but few warriors.
It won't be long
before they fear mine...
It is my divine power.
But I'm a generous god.
I can make you rich beyond
all measure.
I will make you warlord
of all Greece.
You'll carry my battle standard
to the heart of Europa.
Your Athenian rivals
will kneel at your feet.
If you will but kneel at mine.
You are generous...
... as you are divine.
King of kings. Such an offer
only a madman would refuse.
But the....
... the idea of kneeling it's...
you see...
Slaughtering of all those men of yours
has left a nasty cramp in my legs.
So kneeling will be hard
for me.
There will be no glory
in your sacrifice.
I will erase even the memory
of Sparta from the histories.
Every piece of Greek parchment
shall be burned.
Every Greek historian
and every scribe
shall have their eyes spun out
and their tongues cut from their mouths
whilst honoring the very name of Sparta
or Leonidas will be punishable by death.
The world will never