AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The "This is Sparta!" meme features a scene from the film 300, where Leonidas, King of Sparta, dramatically declines a peace offer from the Persians. The template typically shows Leonidas shouting "This is Sparta!" before kicking the Persian Messenger into a deep well, symbolically rejecting submission. The intense expression of Leonidas and the exaggerated action makes this a popular template for portraying extreme rejection or humorous defiance.

OriginWho did it first?

The "This is Sparta!" meme is derived from a scene in the 2006 film 300, directed by Zack Snyder. The movie is an adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae, focusing on King Leonidas leading 300 Spartans against King Xerxes' massive Persian army. In a pivotal moment, a Persian messenger arrives at Sparta demanding the city's surrender. Leonidas' response is to shout "This is Sparta!" and kick the messenger into a well, a scene that has since become iconic and widely parodied. The original scene that inspired the meme can be viewed on YouTube.^[1]

Origin: 2006