fantastic image

Cool pic, I saw the original film from the 60's called The 300 Spartans, that was pretty good so I'm sure this later version will be even better!

Wonderful image! Great composition & sky!

Like it? It's awesome - great render and captures the scene perfectly. PS, if anyone is interested in Spartan culture/history AND like a bit of fantasy reading, can I suggest reading Lion of Macedon (and the part 2 - Dark Prince) by David Gemmell if you haven't - it is all about Spartan life with a bit of fantasy thrown in. Sadly, DG died last year - but he was awesome writer, I am going to miss looking for his new releases in the shops.

excellent, like movie... j'aime les teintes... ;D),

Oh my god! How long did THAT take to render? That is a very striking and powerful piece of artwork. Stunning!

Superb work! I like this kind of historical scenes.. so GREAT work man!!!!

Actually it takes about 12 hours rendering in this resolution in a Pentium at 2,66 GHZ. Thx for your kind comment.---Kostas.

very cool image... Many figures.. great sky (photo), a story to get cold of.. So many men died in history for crazy presidents, senats and kings.

This is a really good peice of art. I'm not sure if i'm right or not, but the sky has the orange tint of sunrise or sunset, should there be a slight orange tint to the men as well? not sure, but other than that is great, the blood looks like its part of the shiels as well... good work.

fuq'n awsom the composition is mind blowing

This latest film due out "300" has almost almost nothing to do with the originial fabled story.This new film appears to have more visual ties with Lord of The Rings than the original film from the 60's.Sorry but I don't think Leonidas "actually" said "we're gonna".Curious? where did you get the costumes your figures are wearing? Excellent render! :B eaver !

Answer to Syrup: The costumes are from DAZ Hoplite...I forgot to mention that. Textures are mine. As for the "we 're gonna" it's a free translation...I can write it to Greek, Greeklish and ancient Greek if someone is interesting. Thx for your comment. Kostas.

An excellent image! Although perhaps Leonidas was telling the Greeks about a nice little restaurant in Corinth...good food, moderately priced, and just perfect after a day of battling invading Persian hoards.

Excellent picture. I really love your images. As a side note the king of the Persian army was Xerxes, the same Xerxes found in the book of Esther. (Which by the way is an interesting and quick read.)

Incredible work!!!!!

whatever the historical accuracy/innaccuracy debate throws up, this is still a fantastic image!! great work!

This movie 300 is going to be Awesome!!!! Amazing render as well!

An exceptional image !!! Well done indeed !

Superb work! I had seen the old Hollywood production of the "300 Spartans", and I was looking forward to the re-telling by Frank Miller, but no matter how many film versions come out, nothing will compare to the historical version. Thank you for sharing this incredible version, my friend.

Impressive. Well put together

Imposing !

???? ???? ????????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????! Simply Bloody Beautiful!! Well done, Kostas!

Wow! Fantastic work!!!

Super Excellent!!!

That's a wicked pic! I like the history you gave too. Definitly right up my alley. Thanks for posting!

Bravo, excellent image. The colors are fantastic and the troops seem so dark, like the fate waiting for them!! Haha -- wraio sxolio pio panw gia ti taverna sti Korintho!!!

Great image. The book to read, imho, is Steven Pressfield's novel, "Gates of Fire" which is decidedly pro-Spartan culture (as opposed to many who have seen their militarism as antithesis to Athenian democracy) and which tells a stirring story of bravery, courage and honor in the face of incredible odds. The Spartans and their allies did not die for "crazy kings" or the like, but to protect their homes and their right to live as dignified individuals in the face of the vast antheap of those who worshipped the Persian king. As to what Leonidas would or would not have said, I have read many a flowery speech supposedly given by military leaders in time of crisis, and I would have to agree with the likes of Robert Graves, who portrayed Julius Caesar as eating onions while standing on the dais addressing his troops in a language that was infinitely more down to earth than what classicists would have us believe. The grunts respond to cold, hard truth, crude humor, and tough, brotherly encouragement. Spartans were a hard race, disciplined, somewhat brutal, and to the point. "Eat well, because tonight we dine in Hell," doesn't sound at all a stretch of the imagination.

you certainly have the wide screen working to full advantage, and every detail looks in place. The sky is a nice one, too. really great, Kos.

Great depiction of the hoplite warrior equipment and formation, as well as the true narrowness of the pass at that time. And Kudos for noting the true story. An English poet of early last century clued me in (I don't recall his name); he wrote of Spartan "numskull courage is a kind of fear, a fear of thought and of oafish mothers (or with your shield or on it!) in their ears." The poet ended with, "What has the popular report to say of us, the Thespians at Thermopylae?" Unless one reads the histories, they would be forgotten. Thespia was on the path the Persians took to Athens; they spared Thebes but destroyed Thespia. I have a silver obol of the town to remind me.