Talk:Gates of Fire

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Quotes[edit]

Is there a reason the famous quotes from this book were deleted? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.179.107.205 (talk) 21:13, 5 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Apparently, copyright violations. [1] — Preceding unsigned comment added by 069952497a (talk • contribs) 01:40, 29 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Polynikes[edit]

Actually, Polynikes is depicted as being a member of the krypteia (Pressfield's spelling) early in the novel and as a member of the Knights some years later.Jbourne99 (talk) 04:45, 7 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Historical Accuracy section is BS?[edit]

I think it is; Pressfield's story is taking place from the point of view of a Spartan Helot, and so it shouldn't be thought of as Pressfield claiming the Persian host is 2 million, but simply thinking it is. That's not even excluding support staff, the millions of slaves and servants and whores and soldiers' families and everyone else brought into Greece with them. AndarielHalo (talk) 15:12, 10 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Xeones[edit]

I didn't think Xeones was a Helot. He settled in Sparta of his own volition. Rather I think he would have been more along the lines of the perioikoi. I recall there being some difference in class between Xeones and "The Rooster" with Rooster definitely being a Helot. (WolverineMatt)

Assessment comment[edit]

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:Gates of Fire/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

Comment(s)

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I only read the book once, a few years back, but if I remember correctly the actual size of the Spartan army was several thousand men, not just 300. 300 was how many Spartans fought in each company, and the number of men who could choke the pass at any one time. They alternated ranks; when the first 300 tired, they would drop back behind the sheilds of those behind them, who would move forward, and so on...

I think that in the book, if not historically, i remember there being about 5 or 6 thousand Spartans altogether. Of course, they did all still die either way.

````Jokimoto

In response.

I've read the book a few times and I think your memories may be a little hazy Jokimoto. Leonidas leads 300 chosen Spartan warriors to the Gates of Fire and along the way they collect around 6000 warriors from other Greek city states. When this small force is flanked by the Persians Leonidas sends the other Greeks away but the Thespians decide to stay and die with their comrades. (There's also an Athenian lead fleet at sea protecting the beaches further South)

Several months after the battle the full Spartan army with it's allies meets and defeats the Persians. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.152.140.149 (talk) 13:11, 24 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Last edited at 13:13, 24 November 2007 (UTC). Substituted at 15:51, 29 April 2016 (UTC)