We all think we know the Spartans—bare-chested warriors shouting “This is Sparta!” and charging into battle without fear. But how much of that is Hollywood, and how much is history? Behind the legend ...

Sam Barsanti has written about pop-culture for 10 years, and his work has appeared at The A.V. Club, Primetimer, IGN, and Collider. He has also contributed to the popular daily Hustle newsletter, ...