ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE?

[deolexrex]

Ok, ok. I know that I should probably know what this means but I don't. I've been seeing it everywhere lately... what does it mean?

 

[pacodelahoya]

Come and get them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molon_Labe!

 

[deolexrex]

That's what I thought...the whole Spartan thing, right? We'll fight better in the shade...

 

[M2 Carbine]

Come and get them.

Many people have been saying that for a while.
Since it appears that without some drastic change in the anti gun, anti 2nd amendment thinking in the federal and state governments and with the continued anti gun brain washing that the kids are subject in the public schools, that gun confiscation is inevitable.

Many, including me, like to think that if the time comes, that we would tell the government "Come and get them", but in fact the Spartan like courage is in short supply in our people.

 

[pacodelahoya]

M2,

I think that that spirit is being awakened in a lot of people lately, what with ALL of our rights being infringed on lately.

 

[cbsbyte]

Not again.

This topic has been done to death in the last few weeks. Next time use the search feature on this site.

 

[deolexrex]

Sorry...

 

[strambo]

What's Greek for "Try and find them!"

 

[Molon Labe]

Ah, so that's what it means!

 

[TimH]

What's Greek for "Try and find them!"

No no no it means " Guns.....what guns?????

 

[ec-10]

The literal greek translation is "I sold them to some guy at a gunshow years ago".

 

[Deaf Smith]

I suspect the real Greek meaning was, "Come and TRY to take them", and that was what they were conveying to the Persans. Sayings like that have been used many times, especially here in Texas (Colonel John Henry Moore said, “Come and take it” and it became part of the flag at Gonzales which pissed of the Mexicans.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_take_it

Personaly, I'd have said, "I'm a man of peace. So come in peace or leave in pieces."

 

[4v50 Gary]

The literal greek translation is "I sold them to some guy at a gunshow years ago".

Oh, you mean the helmets, shields, breastplates, greaves, spears & swords? Well, we're just the Ladies Gardening Club Auxiliary and we're practicing for our Spring Play.

 

[helpless]

No you know what it means buy some decals I couldn't resist.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Pedantic

This pedantic guy I know insists it's "Come and take them."

He bases this on his long experience and expertise in what he prefers things to mean.

 

[LaEscopeta]

This topic has been done to death in the last few weeks. Next time use the search feature on this site.

Here one thread on the topic from last October (also about the Texas “Come and Take” it flag.)

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=224926&highlight=greek

But 2 points about the battle of Thermopylae:

1. It is possible “molon labe” was not spoken the way it is claimed. The first history that claims it was written over 300 years later. No earlier Greek or Persian accounts mention it.

2. What the hell was the point of the 300 Spartan and the other Greeks staying behind to fight in the main pass, after the Persians found the smaller pass to get around them? After the whole Greek army delayed the Persians 3 days, killing maybe 20,000 of them, most of them retreated after they realized their enemy was going to get behind them. The 300 and some others stayed behind and were quickly wiped out the next morning. What did they achieve? The retreating Greek army made it back to Athens several days (weeks?) ahead of the Persians, so I don’t think the extra half day the lives of the 300 et al brought allowed the rest of the Greeks to escape. There were no more pinch points between Thermopylae and Athens where the Greeks would have a chance against the much larger Persian army, so they evacuated Athens and kept retreating south. The Persians burned Athens, which was the main war goal of the Persian Emperor (to revenge a town at the edge of the Persian Empire the Athenians had helped pillage and burn several decades before.) The Emperor went back home after he achieved this aim.

There were a few land battles after Athens was burned, but the decisive victories were two naval battles (won largely by Athenian ships.) These victories are what finally destroyed the Persians and saved Greece.

I believe I understand valor and sacrifice, but it does not seem like the sacrifice of the brave Spartans (and others) at Thermopylae achieved much.

 

[Run&Shoot]

I believe I understand valor and sacrifice, but it does not seem like the sacrifice of the brave Spartans (and others) at Thermopylae achieved much.

I don't think the 300 Spartans were trying to achieve anything. As you say, they had already accomplished the tactical objective of delay. I think it was just them being who they were: warriors. They could do nothing less.

Spartans were selected from birth and childhood to be warriors. Their entire society was oriented around being a ferocious warrior. Even though they were trained to be elusive, they were also trained to fight.

You could similarly ask why the Marines at Wake island fought so long against impossible numbers and arms. My brother and father were combat Marines. They said one thing that enabled them to keep fighting was total confidence that their fellow Marines would never run. Maybe the Spartans were demonstrating to fellow Greeks that they were dependable even under the most severe circumstance.

The Spartans may have also been making a statement that win or lose they would extract the maximum price from their foe. But, I think it came down to they were warriors and would die as warriors. I am sure they were aware they were being watched by all "Greeks". If the Spartans ran, who else would stand at the next fight.

 

[MudCamper]

So it's just an older version of the phrase, "from my cold dead hands..." OK. Makes sense now.