 Paul Cartledge , Professor of Greek History at Cambridge University , advised the filmmakers on the pronunciation of Greek names , and said they " made good use " of his published work on Sparta . He praises the film for its portrayal of " the Spartans ' heroic code " , and of " the key role played by women in backing up , indeed reinforcing , the male martial code of heroic honour " , while expressing reservations about its " ' West ' ( goodies ) vs ' East ' ( baddies ) polarization " . Cartledge writes that he enjoyed the film , although he found Leonidas ' description of the Athenians as " boy lovers " ironic , since the Spartans themselves incorporated institutional pederasty into their educational system . 
