this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
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I used to work with a guy who saw "300" and became convinced that Sparta and the way Sparta did things was perfect and that's why they won wars, and everyone should be like Sparta. When I discussed the issue with him and disagreed, he offered to wrestle me.
Well, did you? And how gay was it?
I'm asking for me.
Yes of course I wrestled him.
It went okay.
... does he remember that the Spartans die at the end of 300
But a hero's death!
Ya know, the Spartans only were better at fighting than the other Greeks because they trained. Once the other cultures started training, they lost the head start they had.
Not even. There is no evidence for special training. Their battle record was average and their reputation mostly manufactured. This entry of a blog series on the myth of Sparta dissects that particular justification frequently offered for all the inhumanity laid out in the preceding posts.
I mean, they certainly didn't lose any battles that one time Phillip II of Macedon marched in... because they never offered any and just let him take what he wanted. Can't lose if you never fight, right?
Big Joel did a solid breakdown of how pro-fasc 300 was. Shamed to admit I never realized it when I watched when I was young and it was new. I was just like, oooo slow-mo fight scenes, epic!
It's also, like, super gay in hindsight. Super, super gay. I never fully understood how it was so idolized by men back then when it was basically just slow-mo bros with huge muscles all greased up and stuff.
The Western conceptualization of masculinity is obsessed with violence, war and domination with being a protector of others (including animals and nature) being an afterthought so this is really not all that surprising if you have any exposure outside of the confines of that world view.
This is mainly a consequence of individualism which Western thought has sent into overdrive.
Valid insight, I appreciate it.
Weird question, do you have any reading sources geared toward your analysis? Philosophical or otherwise? It's ... An oddly specific question, sorry. I mean more in a broad strokes sort of way, if off the top of your head you might know a book or two relating to what you're saying in-depth. I have seen some solid breakdowns of how western culture swings that way, but no books I can read.
Thanks!
Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigineous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Planet Earth
Particularly the chapter on high respect for the sacred feminine.
Its written by a prominent Indigineous scholar (Four Arrows) and a professor of moral development psychology (Darcia Narvaez) and attempts to reconcile Indigenous teachings with our dominant (Western) worldview.
Thank you for the response. I will add these to my list and try to track them down.