When the ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote The Histories he could have had no inkling that his work would spring to life in cinematic glory centuries later.
That's exactly what's happened with the 300 series, which brings the story of the Greco-Persian wars of the fifth century BC to the big screen.
The first in what's likely to become a franchise, 300, did it with panache in 2007 with big battle scenes, ripped warriors and graphic violence.
The latest offering, 300: Rise Of An Empire, dishes out more of the same - more bloody battles, more violence, more chiselled warriors in leather loincloths - as well as a psychopathic seductress and a Persian king who wouldn't look out of place at Mardi Gras.
300 told the story of the Battle of Thermopylae, in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death at the Hot Gates against the massive Persian army of Xerxes.
300: Rise Of An Empire takes the action to the epic naval encounters that raged before, during and after Thermopylae, including the Battle of Salamis, regarded by some as one of the most significant battles in human history.
Several of the characters from 300 are reprised, including Lena Headey as Sparta's Queen Gorgo, David Wenham as Dilios and of course the big man himself, the bling-laden god-king Xerxes (played by Rodrigo Santoro).
It also provides the Xerxes backstory, explaining his transformation from grief-stricken son to divine megalomaniac war lord.
Melbourne-born actor Sullivan Stapleton takes on the role of conflicted good-guy Themistocles, who leads the Athenian forces.
French actress Eva Green is the vengeful Artemisia, the pussy-whipping commander of the Persian navy who thinks nothing of slicing off a military officer's head if he displeases her.
When she and Themistocles get together sparks fly - on the battlefield and in the bedroom.
300: Rise Of An Empire, which is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel Xerxes, has been given a comic-book feel and spectacular digital effects by director Noam Murro.
The film takes serious liberties with history and the images of soldiers getting stabbed and slashed tend to become a bit monotonous.
But it should be of interest to both scholars of ancient Greece and action film fans. At the very least it's a visual treat.
* 300: Rise of an Empire opens in 3D and 2D cinemas in Australia on Thursday.
