300

People might think they know Xerxes from portrayals in movies like 300—but the real King of Kings was a far-cry from what we have seen on screen.

The story of Leonidas and the Battle of Thermopylae was glorified in the film 300, but few know the dark truth behind the legend.

It’s a battle which has inspired Western thought ever since it happened: this was the Battle of Thermopylae, a moment which came to define the struggles of the Greek city-states in their wars against the vast Persian Empire. But how much of this story has been fictionalized by the legend? What really happened at Thermopylae?

Ancient Greek Facts: The Greek philosopher Diogenes was known to poop in public theaters and to urinate on "annoying" people.

People might think they know Xerxes from portrayals in movies like 300—but the real King of Kings was a far-cry from what we have seen on screen.