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The Oracle's words stand as a warning
a prophecy
Sparta will fall
all of Greece will fall
and Persian fire will reduce Athens to cinder
for Athens is a pile of stone
and wood and cloth and dust
and as dust will vanish into the wind
only the Athenians themselves exist
and the fate of the world hangs on their every syllable
only the Athenians exist
and only stout wooden ships can save them
wooden ships
and a tidal wave of heroes' blood
Leonidas, my husband
Leonidas, your king
Leonidas and the brave 300 are dead
The free men and women of Greece are
not bound by a beautiful Spartan death
war is not their love
yet he laid down his life for them
for the promise Greece holds
It is our enemies who forged our freedom in the fires of war
It was king Darius who came to take our land
10 years ago when you still burned in our eyes
before this bitter war forced our children to become men
10 years ago this war began
as all wars begin, with a grievance
Marathon
the Persian king Darius annoyed by the notion of Greek freedom
has come to Greece to bring us to heel
he makes land full at the field of Marathon with an
invading force which outnumbers Greek defenders 3 to 1
so it dawned the hopeless Athenians do the unthinkable
they attacked
they attacked the weary Persians as they disembarked their ships on shakey legs after a month at sea
they attacked before they can establish their war camp and supply their soldiers
and who is the architect of this mad strategy?
a little known Athenian soldier
his men called him Themistocles
he gives the Persians a taste of Athenian shock combat
All thoughts of glory are gone
1000s dead, 100s of them their own
all for an idea, a free Greece
an Athenian experiment called democracy
could this idea be worth it?
worth all this sacrifice?
Themistocles would let the good king Darius decide
for through the chaos a moment appeared
and Themistocles would seize it
a moment that would ring across the centuries
a moment that would raise him from simple soldier to the height of Athenian political power
a moment that would make Themistocles a legend
yet even as the prays and glory were heaped upon him
Themistocles knew in his heart he'd made a mistake
it was Darius' son Xerxes, his eyes had the sting of destiny about them
Themistocles knew he should have killed that boy
that glorious mistake would forever haunt him
so it was Themistocles himself who sent a ripple across Persian empire
and set into motion forces that would bring fire to the heart of Greece
for as the good king laid eye, all his greatest generals and advisors were summoned to his bedside
none greater than his finest naval commander, Artemisia
her ferocity only bested by her beauty
her beauty only matched by her devotion to her king
Darius favored Artemisia among his generals for she had brought him victory in the battlefield
in her he had the perfect warrior protege that his son Xerxes would never be
so sweet, my child
my sweet child
father
Xerxes, do not repeat your father's mistake
leave the noble Greeks to the ways
only the Gods can defeat them
for 7 days Xerxes mourned, paralyzed by grief
on the 8th day, Artemisia whispered the seed of madness that would consume him
your father's words were not a warning
but a challenge
only the Gods can defeat the Greeks?
you will be the God King
Artemisia gathered the priests, wizards and mystiques from every corner of the empire
they wrapped the young king in Sumerian .. dipped in ancient potions
and set him to wander the dessert
to in a delirium of heat and thirst, he stumbled upon a hermit's cave
Xerxes passed the vacant eyes and empty souls of the hollow creatures
that dwell in the dark corners of all men's
and in that darkness he surrendered himself completely
to power so evil and perverse
but as he emerged no part of a human man that was Xerxes survived
his eyes blazed like scarlet coals
he was stripped, cleansed, glabrous and smooth
Xerxes was reborn a God
Artemisia trusted noone
so in the cover of night, the palace was cleansed of all Xerxes' allies
all those he trusted
all those who'd raised him
all those he'd once looked to for counsel
were quickly introduced to her wrath
and as the God King stood before his people
Artemisia watched her flawless manipulation take shape
for glory's sake
for vengeance's sake
War!
War is coming to Greece
in the visage of monster army over a milion strong
It should be a little more than a formality for Themistocles
the hero of Marathon to finish what he began
Please, we must appeal to Xerxes' reason
coward! Athens is a city of cowards
-shut your cockhole -shut your own
-I kill you -fuck the Spartans
Silence!
This is a democracy, not a street fight
a Persian attack will come from both the north and the south
the city states should negotiate a truce
yes yes we must negotiate
negotiate with tyranny?
give me one example of when that has ever profited a nation
my fellow countrymen
we can only judge the future from what we've suffered in the past
now many of you here stood with me at Marathon
and for those of you who served and faced the cut and thrust of battle
you know how true peace is forged
do not be deceived
Xerxes, the son of Darius, is a wolf at our door
right here right now we must choose
do we stand and fight for Greece or not?
Argos, Corinth, Megara, Athens
not even Sparta can match the Persians alone
we must persevere as one nation
or we will perish clean onto our self interests
send us the ships that we need to defend Greece
Themistocles will need more than our city's ships
he will need our children to join the fight
and what of Sparta?
you send every ship that we have to the northern coast of Ubea
I will go and seek the help of the great Spartans
Still no word from the messenger you sent to Sparta
King Leonidas may have been insulted by your generous offer
perhaps I need to march into the Sparta myself and burn it to the ground
remember, when a king is loved as I am, much can be accomplished
it would be false to resist my divine power
Athens is attempting to assemble a coalition
it will be nothing more than a patchwork of ships
was these waters have been diverse so I only lead my forces across the land?
I will remind the cowards of Greece that we have not forgotten that insolence
rest and water the horses
it's best that I go alone
Spartans don't get along well with others
Themistocles, you old snake
what brings you this far side
I've come to see Leonidas to warn him of the Persians on the march
well you're too late
the Persian messenger already presented his terms to Leonidas
symbolic offering of earth and water
Spartans! know this, and know it well
that any Spartan's finest moment
the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear
is that moment
when he has poured his heart out for the preservation of Sparta
and lies dead on the battlefield victorious
now, who is willing to die at our king's side?
Themistocles,
you've come a long way to stroke your cock watching real men train
Queen Gorgo, shouldn't you be training them to live at their king's side?
a new age is dawning, Gorgo
won't be long before men rise up and shed the yolk of mysticism in tyranny
that sounds like a threat
no, an opportunity to join the rest of free Greece in stand against the true tyrant
unless of course you and Leonidas have already made a deal with Xerxes
no terms were reached
Xerxes' messenger was rude, and lacked respect
he didn't understand the same threats made in Thebes and Athens would not work here
this is the birthplace of world's greatest warriors
men whose king would stand and fight and die for any one of them
Xerxes' messenger did not understand this is no typical Greek city state
this is Sparta
so it was clear to the messenger there would be no Spartan submission
it was clear
even now Leonidas is in counsel with the oracle over his battle plan
the festival of the Carnea is all that stands in our way
surely the oracle will see we must fight
well then the timing is perfect
I'm commanding a fleet of ships that will represent a united Greece
I need Sparta to join me
give me your ships, Gorgo
I'll make sure Xerxes wishes he never crossed the Aegean
you will receive no Spartan ships, we're not interested in united Greece
that is your dream, Themistocles, not ours
all I'm concerned with is the preservation of Sparta
my guards will see you out
it's funny that you mock freedom here in your selfish isolation
which freedom in her wisdom has chosen you to defend her?
my queen
did Sparta join our fight?
apparently the Persians have offered the Spartans something they cannot refuse
what is that?
a beautiful death
they say you're the bravest of our captives
they say you're a whore from the eastern seas
you're not the smartest
your commander is a Greek, just like me
you Persian men take your orders from a Greek woman
yes my brother I am Greek by birth
and I have Greek blood running through my veins
but my heart is Persian
within hours, Greek fleet will be shattered
what of our master and the much feared Spartans?
it's nothing to fear. only king Leonidas and his personal guard of 300
they'll collapse instantly
you?
do you agree?
many will perish
your confidence leaves me with a strong impression
it's a curious thing for a simple ship guard to look lower his eyes when questioned by me
it could have been just a lack of discipline
a man's hands do not lie
they can reveal every imperfection and flaw in his character
you see, your hands are not rough enough to work the rigging of this ship
I know every single man beneath my lash
can you explain to me how I don't know you?
forgive me commander
let me introduce myself
seize the spy
coward
the storm is upon us
it's just some mad Greek weather
Themistocles?
come
Calisto
what's spoken here must not be repeated
anywhere
my son has not earned the right to sit at the table of combat veterans
but you can trust him
very well. tell me.
a Greek woman commands all of Xerxes' ships to the south
Artemisia
I know of her
Artemisia is murderous by trade with true skill on the sea and she has thirst for vengeance
her entire family was murdered by a squad of Greek hoplites
I have heard all the stories
and the hoplites spared noone on that day
the story goes they raped and murdered her entire family
then they turned their attention towards her
after years of being kept in the bowels of Greek slave ship
she was discarded and left for dead
where she was found near death by a Persian emissary
Artemisia vowed that day to return to Greece
only when she could watch it burn
she was fed, clothed and trained by the finest warriors of the Persian empire
until no match could be found for her skills and gift with the sword
the great king Darius was impressed by her commitment
and she quickly rose to command at his side
she has sold her soul to death himself
well some could say I've sold mine to Greece
what do you think?
-me? -yes
you are the future of this country
I'm ready to fight
I like him, reminds me of you
we will need every last man
he's still just a boy
much younger have defended our country, father
enough
you are a dreamer and we'll speak of this no more
Themistocles, I set your plan in motion and my land force will be assembled by in the second day
you will be needed, I can assure you of that
there's bad news
Leonidas has marched north to the hot gates
bad news? Spartans at the hot gates, our victory is assured
if the army were with him
now between the oracle and the Carnea, Leonidas has marched to Thermopylae with just 300 men
so the only thing standing between Athens and total annihilation is Leonidas and 300 Spartans
I'll go search the veterans among them, establish an order among the volunteers
good. little time to teach these farmers strategy.
just keep them well fed, and sober.
anything else?
wouldn't hurt if they could swing a sword
I'll be damned
your father know you're here?
no sir
and this shield and sword?
my grandfather's.
my mother entrusted them to me this morning
and she gave you her blessing?
yes sir
but a sharp blade, no less
your father is preparing the surprise raid tomorrow
I choose to fight here, now
come aboard my ship. that is where you will fight.
we're just over 50 ships
Persian forces reported in number of thousands
those ships appear hardly seaworthy
they're nothing like the monstrous ships of the Persian fleet
then we have the advantage
speed and manuverability
rest of the city states to send anyone from a handful to a single ship
of course Athens supply the balance
we have report that a small advance force of Persian ships are taking refuge from storm just across the strait
so weather breaks we could hit them at dawn
an early Greek victory
Gods have given us an opportunity to wound the Persians and strengthen Greek morale
a tempting distraction
we'll stick to the battle plan
today at sun down we will sail out to meet the main Persian fleet
we'll attack them in the open water with no short an arrow in the battle
to attack a force of over 1000 ships with our meager force is suicide
such is my plan
look at their excuse for a navy
their ships are little threat
I need a second in command, Arthapernes
and whoever proves their excellence will earn a place beside me
general Bandari has offered to lead the first attack
commander
I'll let you lead our first offensive
what guarantee do I have that you'll bring me a quick victory?
my word, and my life
good
my rules of engagement
humiliate the Greeks, and lay waste to their tiny ships
they'll be dead to last man
my brothers, steady your heart
look deep into your souls
for your metal is to be tested this day
deep in the heat of battle, you need a reason to fight on
an idea which you will give up all that you will ever have
you need only to look at man who fights at your side
this is the why of battle
this is the brotherhood of men at arms
an unbreakable bond made stronger by the crucible of combat
you'll never be closer than with those who you shed your blood with
for there's no nobler cause than to fight for those who'll lay down their life for you
so you fight strong today
you fight for your brothers
you fight for your families
most of all, you fight for Greece
there's only one thing to make sure of when the fighting starts
what's that?
don't get killed on the first day
that goes for the rest of you
Persian ships are strong at the front, but they're weak in the middle
we attack them there
now
attack
go through them
the enemy's tactics are creative
the defensive circle leaves no front to assault
we're losing
no you are losing
pull back. let them have this day.
I'm bored with your failures, Bandari
I'll not let this wound slow me
somehow I believe you
my blade will be sharp and ready by the morning
good, tomorrow you'll fight alongside your father
not bad for a bunch of farmers
and poets, and sculptors
who would have known a group of untrained men would do so well against such a considerable adversary
we're going to need all of our strength for tomorrow's fight
how long do you think we could hold them?
if my plan is to work,
long enough for the Spartans to unite Greece
Men! who will share their wine with me?
report
we're still tallying the losses
but you must understand
it's extremely difficult given the sea and the darkness
report
75 ships lost, 30 damaged beyond repair, 20 could return with a few weeks' work in a safe harbor
the commander of the Greek force is named Themistocles?
yes he's an Athenian general
he's rumored to have loose the arrow that fell the great king Darius himself
this Themistocles has shown himself to be quite brilliant in battle
which is more than I can say for any of you
do you gentlemen find my command unreasonable?
is it too much to ask for victory?
your disappointment in yesterday's losses is warranted
my disappointment
my disappointment is not with my losses, a meager number of damaged ships and dead slaves mean nothing to me, no
my disappointment is in these men
although I stand among 10000 I am alone
I long for a soul who would stand by my side, I could trust
tell me general Kashani, are you that man?
you will taste your victory by the day's end
I will make certain of it
I hope so
advance
now
got any sights of them?
the Greeks are retreating
he's got him right where he wants him
Kashani is a fine tactician
I was speaking of Themistocles
rocks
stop
brace yourselves
what are you doing here?
a commander's responsibility is to protect his family and his nation
who told you this?
my father
you see how Themistocles employs deception with such grace?
why is it so much to ask for victory?
-how can I make amendments? -silence
you will carry a message for me
now they will fear us, now they will fear the Greek men at arms
he's right. fear the Greek fighting men.
fear his sword, his shield
fear his love for mother Greece
most of all, fear his freedom
don't be angry with the boy
I took him under my command
anger is something I reserve for my enemies
Themistocles
Artemisia's ship is being anchored in neutral waters
she'd like to meet with Themistocles
how can you guarantee his safe return
well boy, the only honor for her now
will be when she watches your crushed and broken fleet sinking to the bottom of the Aegean
and is able to recognize you nailed to the mast of your ship with her sword
as you descend to a watery grave
why didn't you just say that to begin with?
welcome to my humble barge
we are honored by your presence
your barge and you are quite impressive
kind words.
now come Themistocles, we have much to discuss
do you believe the Greeks are descended from the Gods?
I've heard some say that
what of you?
is there a God in your lineage?
my men says so based on past 2 days' battle
I say this is spoke of the divine in you
now who is using kind words
my men also say that it was you who slayed good king Darius at Marathon
many heroic deeds occured on that say
it was 10 years ago
the facts of the battle are often embellished
this deed you would remember
I do what I must, to defend Greece
and I do what I must to defeat her
for every one Greek killed, you must kill 1000 Persians
for every ship I sink, you must sink 100
staying to losses for weeks, months, if need be
my numbers will defeat you
and I will take your precious boats with my sword
I will take your Greek freedom
you're asking me to negotiate a surrender
no, I offer you a chance to avoid such misery and join me
I'm in need of a commander such as you
look at the defense you've mounted
a handful of ... Leonidas with 300 Spartans
it's insulting frankly the mightiest empire the world has ever seen is made by this
I don't blame you Themistocles,
you fought as if the blood of Poseidon himself was through your veins
no I blame Greece
the squabbling bureaucrats protecting their political hinds by sending you here, to die
and yet you still fight
so there must be, what?
a family back home in Athens, then, compels you to
battle with such passion
truth is I've had no time for family
I've spent my entire adult life with my one true love
the Greek fleet
and my one passion, readying it for you
now that brings me pleasure the thought of you pining away for me
forsaking family and love for the promise of a deeper ecstasy
the ecstasy of steel and flesh
death and life
of rage and sweated muscle
of pure joy and deepest sorrow
die with me each night and reborn again with me each morning
as you plant your sword into the hearts of our enemies
you fight for freedom
I offer freedom without consequence or responsibility
join me
at my side breathe each breath with me as if it were your last
join me
no
you're no God, you're just a man.
be quick with your sword
you'll not have your death tonight. guards!
remove this filth from my ship
well? what have you learned?
can Artemisia be beaten?
the next time we face her, she's gonna bring all of her wrath with her
send in my personal guard
pull back
retreat
Themistocles, in the water
archers! on deck now!
step aside. fire at will
fight on boy, fight on
aim for the man on board
up there
abandon ship
the dead have no guilt
no responsibility
Themistocles watches the bodies of his men turn the Aegean red with blood
were they sacrified for his ego?
or to relieve the guilt of the long ago mistake Marathon
how many men would have been saved if Themistocles had killed that boy
not even his own soul can be sure
my friend, we faced the odds
together
listen to me, Themistocles,
you'll have to fight with twice as much strength in the morning
we'll fight shoulder to shoulder
no my son. you carry on for both of us.
what did he say?
I will tell you in time boy
quiet now
Go on be with your father's spirit
how many times you think we will repeat such a tragedy?
as many times as we must
we're turning young men into memories
do you think I enjoy this?
witnessing my friend's fine over it?
every widow that is made by my decision
every child who will grow without a father
they are my choices
this is the burden of my command
how easy it is to silence the strong self-disciplined
let my army witness the great warriors of Sparta
march them past these corpses
let them see the cost of daring to challenge the God king
king Leonidas and his brave 300 were the finest the Greece has to offer
there will be no saviours to rise up and vanquish us
nothing will stop the march of my empire
your majesty
you! take this dead king sword to Athens
let them know I'm coming next for them
let them know Athens, the prize jewel of a city, will disappear from the history
Themosticles, I bring word from Thermopylae
Leonidas was betrayed by a hunchback
the Spartans had been slaughtered
the hot gates are fallen
such a sacrifice
now Greece has a martyr
Daxos, take that message from the hot gates
to every city, to every village, to every countrymen, hear your words
but they're dead, all of them
Sparta's sacrifice will be what unites us
now go
move all of our ships and men back to the safety of Salamis
and you?
I'll take Daxos' message to Athens
I was told a hunchback was accountable for the fall of the hot gates
that he sold out his country
pulled the crimson from his back
and replaced it with Persian gold
what is your name, traitor?
Ephialtes of
I shan't wet this noble blade with your blood
you will be right to do so
there's little beauty about me
there's little beauty in what I have done
say what you must
I beg of you, and all of Athens
the God king will burn this city to the ground
quiet yourselves
Leonidas' and Sparta's great sacrifice was no defeat
it was a beautiful victory
this simple act of valor will allow us to rally each of our city states
and unite Greece for one purpose
against one enemy
and you will take this message to your God king
we will take whatever ships we have left
and finish this in the bay of Salamis
but there will be death and destruction
yes, there will be
Themistocles
I'm here to speak to your queen
a warning Athenian, you may not receive a warm welcome
may I offer my deepest sympathies
I cannot change what has happened to Leonidas
but his sacrifice will not be forgotten
do not lecture me on sacrifice, and be quick with your words Athenian
I request of you the entire Spartan navy
every man every ship that you can spare
have I not given enough for your dream of a united Greece?
shall I put swords in the hands of my son, our children, would that please you?
have I not given enough for your ambitions Themistocles?
a king, husbands, fathers, brothers, Sparta will give no more
this belongs with you
avenge him
the oracle's words stood as a warning
all of Greece will fall
as Persian fire reduces Athens to cinder
for Athens is a pile of stone and wood and cloth and dust
and as dust will vanish into the wind
only the Athenians themselves exist
and the fate of the world hangs on their every syllable
only the Athenians exist
and only stout wooden ships can save them
wooden ships
and a tidal wave of heroes' blood
the Greeks were fools to stand against us
Leonidas and his pride were no match for the will of a God
Themistocles was a worthless coward
now there's pathetic navy
has badly wrought to our attention
if that worthless coward had stood at my side we would've laid world at your feet
my king, your humble servant
the Greek fleet are defenseless within the bay of Salamis
you need only finish them
who commands their forces
Themistocles, of Athens
Themistocles is dead
he is alive, I have seen him myself
ready my troops and armor
we will attack at once
wisdom
would have sent a proper force to confirm it is not a trap
who would dare to advise me in matters of war?
I am the God king.
I am the one who triumphed over Leonidas
I am the one who laid waste to this show piece of Athens
I am your king
Killing Leonidas and his men only made them martyrs.
And when you raised Athens, you set fire to the only thing of value in this country
we will attack the Greeks with my entire navy
Artemisia
enough
do not forget who put the crown on your childish head
my king
now sit on your golden throne and watch this battle from the safety I provide you
they're in the distant
we witness destruction of Athens
alone we will face the monster that cast a shadow across our land
I had prayed that the Spartans would come to lend a hand this morning
perhaps they feel they've given enough
you failed us all, this is your fault Themistocles
without Spartans we're just farm hands
we should have negotiated with the Persians when we had the chance
you're all right
yes, we're down to a handful of boats
yes, we're just farm hands
we're tradesmen
we're boys turned to men through the sacrifice and forge of combat
I played a dangerous game
and I lost
if you choose to turn your back on me, on your country
I will not judge you
you're free to leave, you're still free men
very well
let us put our shoulders to work and free those ships from the bosom of Greece
there's a privilege to call our own
a story that will be told for 1000 years
let our final stand be recorded to the histories
let it be shown
that we chose to die on our feet rather than live on our knees
there's only one thing you need to know today
not to get killed
no, your father's last words
he told me you'd earned the right to sit at the table
my brother, I have no more tactics or tricks
this will be the last battle that we share
we fought next to one another for as long as I can remember
nothing will please me more than to rest this soul
the preparations that I required?
they're low deck
good
are you sure that you want to commit everything?
yes
without Artemisia's command the Persian navy is nothing
we will never be able to reach her
I will reach her
and put an end to this
there will be no room for a retreat
I know
today the last Greek ships will be destroyed
show them no mercy, give them no quarter
today we will dance across the backs of dead Greeks
today we deliver submission
today I want to feel Themosticles' throat beneath my boots
men! brace yourselves
prepare for close quarters. attack!
your father watches you
hold nothing back
seize your glory
I'm not here as a witness
now, or let them send us all straight to hell
you offered freedom without consequence or responsibility
are you accepting my offer?
my answer is still no
you fight much harder than you fuck
surrender to me
or meet your death
who would you fight if not for me?
noone could challenge your skill
I'd rather die a free man than as a slave
even if the chain was attached to you
it begins as a whisper
a promise
a lightest of breezes dances through the rigging as it creeks above the death cries of 10000 men
it moves through her hair as gently as a lover's hand
that breeze, that promise became wind
a wind that's blown across Greece carrying a message told again and again of our lady freedom
and how wise she was to charge Leonidas to lay all at her feet
a wind, my brothers, of sacrifice
a wind of freedom
a wind of justice
a wind of vengeance
you're being surrounded
all of Greece has united against you
Delphi, Thebes, Olympia, Arcadia and Sparta.
if death comes for me today I'm ready
I could lower my sword
There is still time for you to ready a launch and escape.
It would be a poor choice to force my hand into action
now order your ships to disengage and surrender to me
surrender?
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