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Hosted by Dr. Michael Scott (PBS, BBC, NOVA, Nat'l Geographic, History Channel and more)

"Thermopylae...This is the site of the most famous last stand in hisotry! Go back 2,500 years to the wars between ancient Greece (West) and Persia (East). The Greco-Persian Wars 2,500 years ago were a clash between two people, two cultures, two systems of government and two continents. The first clash between East and West. A clash that has, sadly, continued all the way to today."

Great TV companion to the hit movie 300.

Adapted from the 8-episode epic documentary drama called The First War for Western Civilization, this is the perfect television documentary complementing the blockbuster movie 300.

What was the real mission of Leonidas and the 300 Spartans? Were they always on a suicide mission?

Putting aside the myths and legends surrounding the 300 Spartans, this documentary takes a detailed look at The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, leading to the last stand of the 300 Spartans, other Greeks and the Great Spartan King, Leonidas. The legend passed down is that Leonidas went to Thermopylae with a picked band of 300 Spartans to defend the narrow pass with units from other Greek cities.

Why they were there and what eventually led to the most famous last stand in history. Focusing on six key passages in Herodotus’ text, the real story gives a completely different picture than the legend we all know. Leonidas did not stay because Spartans never retreated, they had already retreated once in this war. He had plenty of time to retreat if he wanted to, but his actions on the last day point to something completely different.

300 Spartans - The Real Story

The Legend is Fabulous, the Real Story is Astonishing!

Hosted by Dr. Michael Scott (PBS, BBC, NOVA, Nat'l Geographic, History Channel and more)

"Go back 2,500 years to the wars between ancient Greece (West) and Persia (East). The Greco-Persian Wars 2,500 years ago were a clash between two peoples, two cultures, two systems of government and two continents. The first clash between East and West. A clash that has, sadly, continued all the way to today."
--Hosted by Cambridge University's Dr. Michael Scott

The perfect television documentary to complement the global movie "300". Also, see our one episode version called "300 Spartans - The Real Story" here on CelebrateGreece.com or on Vimeo at
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/300spartans

The first democracy in the world spawned the Greco-Persian Wars 2500 years ago that shaped most of the world today, particularly our politics, but it also gave us some of the most iconic moments and curious mysteries in history...a time when history really did become legend: Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, The Battles of Thermopylae, Marathon, Salamis and Plataea, The Roots of Democracy and, now, the story of Athenian Generals Miltiades (Father) and Kimon (Son).

However, other than the 3 days of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, the rest of the 49 year war between Persia and Greece has been almost completely overlooked, and has never appeared in full as a documentary or drama. Presented by Dr Michael Scott of Cambridge University, with contributions from nine other experts and four researchers and using the latest research, satellite positioning, and imagery, the series gives complete coverage of the story. Included is a detailed analysis of two of the oldest mysteries in history itself, what really happened at the Battle of Marathon and what really happened to King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae. Re-examining the 2500 year old text of Herodotus, the “Father of History”, has revealed some missing links.

Answering some unanswered questions:

What was the real cause of the war?
How did the Greeks win, was it just legend and propaganda?
What really happened at the Battle of Marathon?
What was the real mission of Leonidas and the 300 Spartans?
Were they always on a suicide mission?

The life of Kimon has remained in the shadow of other heroism during the period, but he came closest to uniting Greece, and humbled the mighty Persian Empire in the process.

Episode 1: THE BEGINNING:
Our modern connection to this period, the importance to us here and now. The three major players, Athens, Sparta and Persia. Greece & Persia, where each came from and what made them different to each other. A closer look at Athens and the beginnings of Democracy.

Episode 2. TREACHERY:
The Spartans and their unique position in Greece. How Greece & Persia came in to conflict. The disloyalty of Histiaeus. The Ionian Revolt, Kimon and Miltiades in Athens, meeting Isodice, Athenian betrayal, the first Persian Invasion. Events leading up to the Battle of Marathon including the mystery of Marathon.

Episode 3: MARATHON:
The Battle of Marathon, the Marathon Run, war heroes, the fall from grace of Kimon's family, prison, bankruptcy, incest, recovery and marriage. Why did the Athenians call for help, then attack the much larger Persian army at Marathon without waiting for that help? Athens builds the fleet.

Episode 4, RISE AND FALL:

Episode 5, THE GREAT INVASION:
The Great Persian Invasion of Greece by King Xerxes, the construction of the bridges over the sea at Hellespont and the canal at Athos,and the lead up to the Battle of Thermopylae, days 1 and 2. The betrayal of Leonidas.

Episode 6: THERMOPYLAE AND SALAMIS:
The disaster of Thermopylae and sacrifice of the lives of Leonidas, his 300 Spartans and other Greeks, trying to delay the enormous Persian forces of King Xerxes. What really happened there? Were the 300 Spartans always on a suicide mission? The evacuation of Athens, Spartan timidity and indecision. Victory at the naval battle of SSalamis Themistocles brings on the naval battle. The lead up to the Battle of Plataea.

Episode 7: THE DECISION IN GREECE:
Stabilization and the lead up to the Battle of Plataea. The Battle of Plataea and the pledge made there. The new League of Greek Allies (Delian League), Kimon made commander in chief, Battle of Eurymedon (Kimon, the Conqueror of Persia), death of his wife Isodice, Ostracism (exile) of Kimon, his return to power, the death of Kimon and the Peace of Callias/Kimon.

Episode 8: THE AFTERMATH AND LEGACY:
Was it all worthwhile? Less than 50 years after the death of Kimon, why did the mighty hoplites of Kimon and Leonidas become the hirelings of Asia? The legacy of Greece. The legacy of Sparta.

Learn more at
https://www.../copy-of-project

ASIN: B01LXXGMHC (USA); B01LWY3C1S (UK)

The First War for Western Civilization

A Time When History Became Legend

Red Carpet Interviews

2nd Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, Episode 4 of 5

Celebrities on Greek Food

Meet the Favorite Son of Greece's Golden Age. He was the only Greek to fight for 40 years against the Persians at Marathon with Miltiades (against Persia's King Darius), at Thermopylae with Leonidas and the 300 Spartans (against Persia's King Xerxes), at Salamis with Themistocles (against Persia's King Xerxes) and at Plataea leading the battle against the Persians finally driving the them out of Greece. He was THE GREAT 'uniter' of Greece 200 years before ALEXANDER and the only General in history to have personally led his men into battle 30 days after he died! Were it not for his heroism the Golden Age of Athens would not have occurred and Western Civilization would be vastly different, if at all.

EPIC, 4-EPISODE HISTORICAL DOCU-DRAMA SERIES. No Subtitles. An abbreviated series from the epic 8-episode "The First War for Western Civilization," hosted by Dr. Michael Scott.

The Man History Forgot, Ancient Greece's Unsung Hero

Meet the Forgotten Favorite Son of the Golden Age of Greece!

Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were not among them!

The Seven Wise Men of antiquity, or the Seven Sages as they are also commonly known, reflect one of the most brilliant aspects of the ancient Greek spirit. This documentary revives the period, 27 centuries ago, when the Seven flourished and enlightened humanity through their wisdom. The Seven Sages of the 6th Century B.C. were seven exceptional personalities distinguished for their extraordinary wisdom and knowledge which they applied as scientists, philosophers, statesmen and lawmakers. They were namely, Thales of Miletus, Chilon of Sparta, Solon of Athens, Pittacus of Mytilene, Bias of Priene, Cleoboulos of Rhodes and Periander of Corinth.

On her return voyage to Sparta from Troy, Helen carried a golden tripod, which she dropped into the sea in order to prevent an old prophecy: that the tripod would become a cause to battle. That battle would then lead to the most unusual competition to determine the Wisest. The Seven Sages, of 6th Century BC Greece, are exceptional personalities distinguished for their extraordinary wisdom and knowledge as scientists, philosophers, statesmen and lawmakers. However, even the Seven would choose only One as the wisest of all!

The Seven Sages of Greek Antiquity

Though Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were not among them, ancient Greece's most sage men would unanimously choose one as the wisest of all.

Father of Medicine treats revered athletes at the ancient Olympics.

Hosted and Narrated by Two-Time Academy-Award Winning Actor Sir Peter Ustinov. The companion documentary to "The Quest for the Athlos". ﾒHippocrates in Olympiaﾓ focuses on the fascination of Hippocrates and his advanced holistic medical beliefs, while investigating a closely related subject, namely the medical care of the revered athletes during the ancient Olympic Games. It was of vital importance in that era that the sportsmen of the day were kept in perfect health in order to provide the much loved entertainment to the leading dignitaries, artists and philosophers in attendance at the ultimate sports festival.

Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, has been passionately studied for centuries for being the first pioneer into what we now know as the field of modern day health care.

In addition to his famous Hippocratic Oath, his fascinating life is beautifully portrayed in this one hour documentary entitled ﾒOlympics: Hippocrates in Olympiaﾓ, by George Petritsis, based on the book ﾒMedical Care During the Ancient Olympic Gamesﾓ by Christos Lolas, M.D., and narrated by Academy Awardｨ winner, the late, great Sir Peter Ustinov. This documentary is believed to have been Peter Ustinov's final narration and his mellifluous voice adds additional richness to this magnificent work.

Olympics, Part 1: Hippocrates in Olympia

The Father of Medicine uses his advanced holistic medical techniques on the revered athletes at the ancient Olympic Games.

To the ancient Greeks, athletics made gods and heroes of men.

Hosted and Narrated by Two-Time Academy-Award Winning Actor Sir Peter Ustinov. The companion documentary to "Olympics: Hippocrates in Olympia". This program journeys among the ruins of antiquity to depict ancient stadiums and gymnasiums and to discover where the spirit of peaceful contest was cultivated.

Athlos - participating in athletics - initially defined these significant deeds: the pursuit of perfection through creative activities that involve physical endurance and skill, as well as virtue, energy, beauty, and health.

An insightful and thorough examination of the basis upon which the Greek ideals of athleticism and sportsmanship were formed.

Olympics, Part 2: The Quest for the Athlos

To the ancient Greeks, athletics made gods and heroes of men.

Today, Santorini taunts us to identify it with Plato's Atlantis.

The island's original name of KALLISTI, meaning "most beautiful," was given to it by the Minoans of Crete. Befitting the name Kallisti, this documentary conveys the awesome beauty and archaeology that was, and is, Santorini.

Kallisti ("Most Beautiful")

Today the Greek island of Santorini taunts us to identify it with Plato's legendary lost island of ATLANTIS.

This simple documentary interviews survivors of the modern day genocide of 1.5 million Greeks from the Pontos and Micra Asia (Asia Minor) regions of modern day Turkey. On September 8, 1922 the Muslim Ottoman Turks committed the first case of modern day genocide and ethnic cleansing. It began with the genocide of over one million Armenian Christians around 1915. Between 1915 and 1922 over 350,000 Greek Orthodox Christians of the Pontos and up to 1,500,000 Greek Orthodox Christians of Micra Asia were exterminated by forced death marches and burnings. Holocaust, which comes from the Greek word "olokaftoma," means total consumption by fire.

We hope that the survivors who share their memories and stories of unspeakable pain will help the world remember this grotesque crime. With the 100th year anniversary, we honor the remembrance of the horror of the Greek holocaust and offer this film as a memorial to the Greek Orthodox victims of the Pontos and Micra Asia.

The Greek Holocaust: 1915-1922

This simple documentary interviews survivors of the modern day genocide of 1.5 million Greeks from the Pontos and Micra Asia (Asia Minor) regions of modern day Turkey.

On July 20, 1974 the country of Turkey began the illegal invasion of the independent Greek island of Cyprus. This led to the displacement of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot regime to govern the invaded area in the north. This ongoing dispute has contributed to the de facto partitioning of the Republic of Cyprus into three main parts:

1) The area under the effective control of the Republic, in the south of the island,
2) The area not under the effective control of the Republic, styling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognized globally only by Turkey), in the north, and
3) The United Nations-controlled Green Line, separating the two.

The United Nations has condemned this illegal occupation of the northern 40% of the island, yet it still exists today.

Experience the pain of some of the 200,000 Greek Cypriots in refugee Camp Stavrou outside of Lefkosia (Nicosia) as they share their struggle in January of 1979. The film includes a 30 minute update with interviews and parades with Greek Cypriots from Toronto, Canada and New York in 1993 and 1994.

This first 20 minutes of this film was featured at the Amnesty International convention in Los Angeles in May 1991.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, attracting over 2.4 million tourists per year. A former British colony, it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960 and became a Commonwealth republic in 1961. The Republic of Cyprus is a developed country, and has been a member state of the European Union since 1 May 2004.

Cyprus: South Side

On July 20, 1974 the country of Turkey began the illegal invasion of the independent Greek island of Cyprus.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES' About.com Culinary-Travel Video Program. Travel to Greece by watching this video and experience a wonderful Greek Islands Gourmet Cooking Class in the village of Thera on the island of Santorini.

Follow our award-winning host, author and Greco-Roman beauty CYNTHIA DADDONA as she and the professionals at our featured gourmet restaurant prepare a special multi-course gourmet dinner.

Follow along on this destination cooking show which includes everything from harvesting the herbs, learning the history of the foods and wines, preparing the courses and, finally, dining while enjoying the spectacular island views from the restaurant's outdoor terrace. Only the DVD (CelebrateGreece.com) includes Greek gourmet Bonus Features on Wine, Cheeses, Cookies & Breads, Meats, Agricultural Products and Herbs.

Also, enjoy visiting this beautiful Greek Island's archaeological sites-to-see, the things-to-do, the culture and the warm people of the Mediterranean.

A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class (Santorini)

#1 New York Times' About.com Greek Culinary-Travel Program

Join "The Goddess and the Greek" on a Romantic Greek Culinary-Travel Journey in Under the Grecian Sun in Crete, Greece. Follow award-winning on-camera personality, lifestyle journalist, national wellness author of Diary of A Modern Day Goddess, and independent producer Cynthia Daddona as she delivers her most fun and inspiring cultural travel exploration yet. In this documentary Cynthia, an Italian-Greek-American, is joined by her Greek-American husband James and together they are The Goddess and the Greek,ｨ in Crete: Under the Grecian Sun. Come along as they celebrate a romantic culinary and eco-travel journey on this savory island in the Mediterranean Sea. This delicious, entertaining and informative program is the next best thing to actually being in Crete!

The Goddess and the Greekｨ welcome you to celebrate Greece's BIG island, CRETE!

So, sit back, relax and enjoy as you discover the delicious and life-enhancing ways of life on the Greek island of Crete. Follow Cynthia as she explores eco-village living and the longevity enhancing Mediterranean way of life that includes savoring times at the table while eating the delicious and healthy cuisine of Crete. A 15-year scientific study of seven diverse countries confirmed that the Cretan village farmers of the 1960's had the best health and longevity in the world. The diet of Crete and Southern Italy inspired the foundation for the famous Mediterranean Diet.

Crete - Under the Grecian Sun showcases Crete's bountiful food traditions and tables, both ancient and modern, vibrant and vital villages, wisdoms of the Yia Yias (grandmas), working farm-to-table agritourism sites, contemporary hotels and spas, sun-soaked sandy beaches, goddess-centric ancient Minoan culture, archaeological splendors of rich history, and natural majestic landscapes reminiscent of a Tuscany on the Aegean Sea. Cretan culture today is a blend of mainly Greek along with touches of Venetian & Turkish influences. Its cuisine is forever an ethnic cornucopia of tastes and smells using the freshest local ingredients and time-honored recipes.

With 20 years of travel and lifestyle journalism and a television and improv comedy background, Cynthia will educate, entertain and inspire you as she visits locations in Crete such as Elounda, Spinalonga, Heraklion, Knossos, Hersonissos, Rethymnon, Anogeia, Chania and many other wonderful and romantic places in-between. Her other productions in Greece include her #1 New York Times' About.com Greek culinary-travel DVD, A Greek Island Islands Destination Cooking Class. In addition to hosting for CelebrateGreece.com, Cynthia is the creator and hosts of the video websites RomancingTheTable.com and ModernDayGoddess.com.

Under the Grecian Sun: Crete, Greece

With The Goddess and the Greek

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