Yes, it's based off of a comic book series, which is based off of a real event (save for a few details). It's still purely for entertainment so I'm not going to trash it and pick it apart. The series has fantasy elements so I'm certainly not going to scan it with a magnifying glass. However, I do enjoy seeing what was accurate and sharing with you the cool facts of the events you don't see on screen.

The Spartans

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source: Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

First, let's talk about the soldiers themselves. Although Spartans did have red cloaks, they never wore them into battle. That's probably the most obvious observation since any cloak or cape can be cumbersome and dangerous. Also, between men and women, men had long hair while women typically wore their hair short. Before battle, Spartans would oil and braid their hair, while performing rituals, singing hymns to each other, and making offerings to the Gods.

Not exactly brutish meatheads are they?

At Thermopylae

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It was 300 Spartans - not because King Leonidas wasn't allowed any and had to sneak them out under the guise of being bodyguards, but because they didn't want to lose too many men. They were not alone however as there were 5,000 to 6,000 Athenians at the ready behind them. In fact, it was originally Athens who was growing concerned over the advancements of the Persian army. They asked Sparta to join them in the fight. Sparta agreed under the condition that they command everything.

There was absolutely no wall of bodies, however cool that may have looked. Before battle, Xerxes waited 4 days before deciding to try and fight. The 50 foot wide pass the Spartans were holding came as an advantage as Xerxes would be unable to send too many men. He first sends 10,000 of his regular soldiers which were mainly made up of tribute and defeated peoples.

They all get slaughtered.

He then sends 10,000 of his best, comprised purely of Persians. They were called the Immortals. They mainly relied on psychological warfare with their faces covered while walking silently. They were "immortal" because typically as one fell, another took its place. Another thing I'd like to point out: they most obviously did not have a strange monster they used in battle. In reality, the Immortals were simply and utterly slaughtered as well.

At this point, Ephialtes defects to the Persians and tells Xerxes of the path that leads directly behind the Spartans. He was not deformed, despite the portrayal in the film. With this information, Xerxes takes his men and marches them up the path, where the Spartans meet their fate.

Why didn't they leave?

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There are two reasons why the Spartans didn't try and flee. First, Spartans are never to come back home unless they are victorious. A popular saying Spartan mothers shared with their sons was "come back with your shield or on it". Basically, "win or die trying". Another reason is that Leonidas apparently knew of a prophecy that stated his destiny was to die there.

Statue of King Leonidas I source: History.com

Devastating Blow to Spartans, Inspiration to Greece

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Unlike the film, Leonidas does not make it far into this last battle - he gets an arrow shot right through his eye. Near the end, their weapons and armor are broken. With nowhere to retreat, they use everything they can to fight back. Some throw rocks, others even resort to biting at the ankles. It's pure desperation to survive and prevail but, ultimately, they all perished.

Xerxes, who was so furious at the defiance of the Greeks, cuts Leonidas' head off and puts it on a pike, which he carries all the way to Athens. What is true and is shown in the film, was how inspiring this battle was to the rest of Greece. Greeks were moved by how bravely the Spartans fought to protect Greece and, essentially, all of the people in it. City-states that capitulated to the Persians felt ashamed and rose up to fight back. At Salamis, Greece successfully defeats Xerxes.

Xerxes witnessing the Battle of Salamis