The History Channel Presents: Last Stand of the 300

The engrossing History Channel documentary Last Stand of the 300: The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae offers an unofficial counterpoint to the Hollywood blockbuster 300, starring Gerard Butler and Lena Headey. This documentary, like the feature, explores the legendary events that transpired in the year 480 B.C., when a legion of Greek city-states took on the forces of the Persian Empire at the pass of Thermopylae, defending itself successfully despite an overwhelming disadvantage in terms of battalion size. This nonfiction work recounts the tactical strategies that accounted for the Greeks' lengthy holdout, and utilizes both digital animation and dramatic reenactments to relay the thrilling story.