By S. Guraziu – Ars Poetica, Nov 2023
Plato (in his “Symposium” – translated by Benjamin Jowett, 1939) among other things, wrote the following: “…if there was a way to accomplish it (if it were possible), the creation of a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved (brave homosexuals, men who love each other – my note), they would be the best rulers of their city (state); abstaining from every dishonorable act, being devoted to one another with honor and for honor; and if fighting side by side, even if they were a small handful of men, they would win, they would overcome the world. The lover would not choose to be seen more worthy by people than by his beloved – why would he do this, by abandoning his post or abandoning his lover? Instead, he would be willing to die a thousand times, rather than experience this (shame, betrayal). Or who would abandon his beloved, or disappoint him in the hour of danger?“.
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Under civil and military law, throughout history, homosexuality has not been tolerated in most countries. In our modern times, with contemporary policy changes, some states have laws that openly allow LGBTQ military service. Yet homophobia and discrimination in this regard continue. The Netherlands would be the first country to allow transgender military personnel, since 1974. It can be said that, in general, Western European militaries are more tolerant towards the inclusion of LGBT individuals in military service.
Lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) personnel are allowed to serve in the armed forces of some countries. Based on data collected by The Hague Center for Strategic Studies, 19 countries currently allow transgender people to serve in their militaries. Australia (2014), Austria (2014), Belgium (2014), Bolivia, Brazil, Canada (2014), Czech Republic (2014), Denmark (2014), Estonia (2014), Finland (2014), France (2014), Germany (2014), Israel (2014), Netherlands (2014), New Zealand, Norway (2014), Spain (2014), Sweden (2014), and United Kingdom (2014). So not all of the world’s armed forces have policies that explicitly allow LGBT personnel.
I was a bit surprised that in the Russian military, LGBT service is forbidden – not surprised that Turkey does the same, or that Iran, Afghanistan do the same, etc. Somehow I didn’t expect it, didn’t know about Russia. Being interested to know some facts about NATO, I was curious to know how this issue stands in the armed forces of Albania and Kosovo. Both Albanian states in their militaries allow only the LGB-variant (not transgenders, nor queer cases). The same practice is “followed” by the military forces of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Hungary, and some others.
The eventual reader of our article undoubtedly remembers the Hollywood movie with the title “300” (just a number, the title was just “300”). The film in question, belonging to the epical-historical genre, was something like a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae (part of the ancient Greco-Persian Wars). The theme of the film revolves around King Leonidas who leads 300 Spartans in battle against Xerxes (King of Persia, King Kshajorsha). However, the film does not necessarily match the historical “reality.” It was based on a series of comic books from 1998 (American Comigraphy – as I call them). It was something like fiction, a hyper-epicalization of fantasy, thought to be cinematic entertainment.
In order to adapt or mimic somewhat the style of comics, the film was significantly influenced by chroma-colors, with various effects and all kinds of technical additions. Of course, “300” had to be dramatic, extreme, full of action, with duels, sweat, blood, violence, epic sacrifices. Let alone that the 300 warriors of Leonidas were those with lion hearts, outstanding braves, each braver than the other, chosen by Leonidas himself.
Let’s say that Leonidas led a “mini-battalion” (a battalion can have from 300 to 1000 soldiers). His battalion had the “minimum” of soldiers, but it consisted of the very “cream” of bravery and fighting skills. Out of 1000 candidates, as if Leonidas had singled out the 300 most special ones, the other 700 lacked something (to be chosen as well). Leonidas and his chosen 300 men would actually be up against an army of more than 300,000 Persian soldiers. Even the “size” of this idea, 300 vs. 300,000, as if only this should be enough, this kind of idea should leave us speechless, it should amaze us.
In the scope of real history, realizing the threat of the invading army coming from Asia, the Spartan government would send King Leonidas with his men to Thermopylae. Leonidas and his 300-men strong unit could be described as a “pre-attack” maneuver, at least to “slow” the invaders until the full mobilization of the Greeks. But going to Thermopylae was not only the decision of King Leonidas, since other Greek polises (city-states) would join the 300 Spartan men, and together they would be about 5000-6000 soldiers.
If an “accordance” between the ancient chronicles and the versions of modern scholars would serve us, we would have that the battle-resistance at Thermopylae was simply a defeat. Only with subsequent battles (both in land and sea) would it be possible to postpone the Persian invasion.
The movie “says” that after the epic resistance at Thermopylae, the union of the Greeks would come. The film alludes that the sacrifice of the 300 brave men would sensitize the people, and all of Greece would become “one.” But in fact, the Spartans already had an alliance with other polises against Persia, not only Leonidas with his battalion of “lions” had gone to Thermopylae (as the movie, or the previous comic books tell us).
Memes in the style “this is Sparta” were inevitable. No one could miss King Leonidas’s kick of the arrogant envoy, and throwing him into the abyss. Just as in comics, it is a special scene of the movie too, staged on purpose, staged as a design to humiliate the enemy to the extreme.
Fantasy has no limits, in fiction and entertainment (be it movies, comics, novels, or whatever) such scenes are neither forbidden nor “meaningless.” In the context of fantasy, everything has a level of “adequate logic,” each scene probably has its own meaning and connects some dots of the whole idea. Otherwise, even fantasy doesn’t work. However, in such fabrications, some fictional ideas seem to “distort,” often as if they “insult” the real history.
For example, some scenes of the movie “300” portray the soldiers of Persia as demonic creatures, as demons of the imagination… we are shown all kinds of fictions (as part of the Persian army). Even Xerxes himself, the “King God,” is portrayed as a “feminized demon” (or if feminized, demonized are big words, then he is clearly portrayed with features of pederasty). The movie had “frustrated” especially the Iranian authorities; the Academy of Arts of Iran called it “an attack on the historical identity of Iran.” The Iranians would even approach UNESCO with an official complaint.
While Hollywood demonizes the Persians (even their king is presented as a “demonized pederast”)… or even why not – as we already said, fantasy is fantasy. On the other hand, in products designed for youth and children, as if Hollywood persistently avoids the facts of real history, sometimes even “big” details. As if Hollywood likes to deal with fantasy and mass distortion, rather than to handle a few simple details of truth. As if Hollywood is persistently pursuing some kind of strange “agenda.”
If the 300 Spartans of Leonidas had “homosexual vices,” Hollywood doesn’t care, no mention at all, who cares, they avoid such things. But demonizing Persians, homosexualizing them… seems to be quite an entertaining business : )
Even though all the scholars of the world know the fact that Thebes of ancient Greece, immediately after Sparta, would have the “battalion” of 150 homosexual couples (the first homosexual unit of such kind in the real history, known to mankind). Plato, Xenophon, and a lot of heads of antiquity tell us “yeah, Greek soldiers were homosexual,” yet Iranian filmography never “demonized” neither Greece, nor Sparta, nor Thebes.
The battle at Thermopylae took place in 480 BCE, not only 300 brave men but 5000-6000 lions (together with their chief-lion Leonidas) were manfully sacrificed. About one century later, in 378 BCE, a military unit called the “Sacred Band of Thebes” was formed. This unit too would have 300 soldiers. Just like those of King Leonidas, the soldiers of this mini-battalion were an elite military force. The difference perhaps was that this mini-battalion consisted of 150 homo-couples (making up 300 men in love with each other). They were something like official gay couples, elite soldiers who would put an end to Sparta’s power itself.
Thus, as a military band, as a mini-battalion of 300 soldiers, it was the elite force of the army of Thebes. It would actually put an end to Spartan dominance and power. History says that the “Boeotian War” would break out in 378 BCE (it was the result of a revolt in Thebes against Sparta). The power of Sparta would fade, the dominance of Thebes would begin around 371 BCE, even though after a few decades the power of Thebes would be “shifted” into the hands of Philip II of Macedon. With his victory in the Battle of Kerone, in 338 BCE, as if Philip II had “secured” everything for himself.
[ attached: actor Gerard Butler (in the red robe, as King Leonidas), during the filming of “300”, perhaps consulting with the director… ]
