mikemiller1955
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I dont like the terms "misguided soldiers" or "Kamikazess". The big mystery of the battle to me, is whether they really died because Leonidas believed in the Oracle's prophecy. To Leonidas, he had only two choices. The Spartans had learned from Delphian prophetess that they would either see their city in ruins, or a dead king. Leonidas had told the other Greeks to return home before his demise, to fight another day, but the Spartans stayed because of their strong belief in the Oracle and their strict adherence to Spartan law. "Misguided or suicidal", there is something to be said for this, but it is also possible that the Spartans were just too late to evacuate a hopeless position and died fighting. The greatest honor for the Spartan soldier was to die on the battlefield. These men were bred to fight from an early age and it was an honor to die in battle. I have found countless references to their strict interpertation of the Spartan law that they would not retreat in battle. I don't think they were "kamikazees or misguided", I really think that they considered this their destiny. This is just my opinion, I'm not here to argue.
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