"Because not even the dumbest bumfucked shitworm of a paidos [boy] would leave a shield lying face-down where he couldn't snatch it up in an instant when the enemy came upon him."
- Polynikes in Gates of Fire
This past weekend I finished Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. I will have to reiterate how much I recommend this book. One of the interesting moments is towards the end of the story. Note: I do not view the following description as a spoiler; this is more of an anecdote in the story rather than the plot (please notice proper use of the semi-colon). Plus, can you spoil historical fiction? It already happened right?
The Spartan king Leonidas chooses 300 warriors to defend the Greeks at Thermopylae. One of the questions raised during the book is how these 300 were chosen. Some are soldiers past their prime. Some are youths with no battle experience. They are all headed to certain death. It is known that this battle is one that will be to the last man. How do you choose 300 to die?
In one of the last chapters of this story, the reasoning/logic of Leonidas is revealed. He notes that he chose the warriors based on their wives and mothers. He knew that all of Greece would look to these women after the tale of this battle spread. What would they see? Would they see women in deep mourning or women steeled, proud, ready to fight themselves? It was the women who were part of these men lives that qualified them for battle.
Fascinating. And if I may pander to my female audience, wise.
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