300: Rise of an Empire

300 Rise of an Empire is a 2014 American fantasy war film directed by Noam Murro. It is a followup to the 2007 film 300, taking place before, during and after the main events of its predecessor and based on the Battle of Artemisium and the Battle of Salamis. It is based on the asyetunreleased Frank Miller graphic novel Xerxes. Zack Snyder, who directed and cowrote the original film, acts as writer and producer on Rise of an Empire.

Queen Gorgo of Sparta tells her men about the Battle of Marathon, in which King Darius of Persia was killed by General Themistocles of Athensyears earlier. Darius son, Xerxes, witnesses his fathers death, and is advised to not continue the war, since only the gods can defeat the Greeks. Darius naval commander, Artemisia, claims that Darius last words were in fact a challenge and sends Xerxes on a journey through the desert. Xerxes finally reaches a cave and bathes in an otherworldly liquid, emerging as the 8feet tall GodKing. He returns to Persia and declares war on Greece to avenge his father.As Xerxess forces advance towards Thermopylae, Themistocles meets with the council and convinces them to provide him with a fleet to engage the Persians at the sea. Themistocles the Athenian general then travels to Sparta to ask King Leonidas for help, but is informed by Dilios that Leonidas consulting the Oracle, and Gorgo is reluctant to side with Athens. Themistocles later reunites with his old friend Scyllas, who infiltrated the Persian troops and learned Artemisia was born Greek, but defected to Persia as her family was raped and murdered by Greek hoplites and she was taken as a sex slave, and subsequently left for dead in the streets. She was rescued and adopted by a Persian emissary. Her lust for vengeance gained the attention of King Darius and he made her a naval commander after she killed many of his enemies. Themistocles also learns that Leonidas has marched to fight the Persians with only 300 men. ........

Source: Wikipedia