Steven Pressfields: Gates of Fire is based on a true story about how three hundred brave Spartan warriors led by their king Leonidas and 700 Thespian allies resisted an army of over a million Persian infantrymen marched on a narrow passage at Thermopylae in Greece in 480 BC for seven days. The Spartan Warriors were highly disciplined, physically and mentally tough soldiers, dedicated to their country and their way of life. One day, the three hundred Spartans left their homes, leaving their families behind, on a suicide mission to give their compatriots time to organize their forces. Their sacrifice was unprecedented and their dedication and skill in battle struck fear into the hearts and minds of their enemies. What constitutes a Spartan? According to Steven Pressfield in his book Gates of Fire, a Spartan is synonymous with the term warrior. The Spartan warriors described in this novel were real men. Bold and fearless warriors, dedicated to the safety of their families and the Spartan way of life. Spartan soldiers were born to die for their family and their country. What differentiated these soldiers from all other soldiers in the world was not only their unmatched skill, but also their loyalty to their country, their families and their peers. Leonidas declares when informing the eighty remaining Spartans on the seventh day of the battle: why men fight, “forget the country. Forget the king. Forget wife, children and freedom. Forget all the concepts, no matter how noble, that you imagine fighting here today. Act for this alone: ​​for the man who stands at your shoulder” (Pressfield, S. 1998). This statement provides insight into how the Spartan way of life was established based on their values ​​and loyalty to their comrades in arms. These warriors constituted the elite of Greece; as bravery was demonstrated on the pass of Thermopylae...... middle of paper......troops in the rear to reconstitute Greece. The Greeks viewed Thermopylae as a crucial moral and cultural lesson to be learned. That free men fought willingly, with pride and courage, against those who were forced. Who do you think was the most scared? Freedom finally won. It has always been the willingness to train, fight, and develop the proper skills that has kept this army on track. The Spartans had a great leader who reinforced their pride and motivation throughout the conflict. The Spartans knew how to be real men, fathers, husbands and warriors. They fought for their families, their country and their comrades in arms. Most importantly, they fought for what they believed in. No enemy has ever enslaved its children or raped its women and as long as brave men fight like they do on this ridgeline, freedom will always live. Works Cited Pressfield, Steven. Doors of Fire. New York: Bantam Books, 1998.