This is Sparta

This is Sparta is a line spoken by the Spartan king Leonidas in the 2007 film 300 in which he is played by Gerard Butler. It has since gone on to become part of popular culture, alongside other famous quotes such as "I drink your milkshake", "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn", "Kneel before Zod" and "IT'S OVER 9000!".

The line is spoken in the first portion of the film. A Persian messenger has come to the palace of King Leonidas of Sparta, carrying the skulls of conquered kings as a warning to anyone who challenges the Persian Empire. The emissary tells Leonidas that the God King Xerxes I, ruler of Persia, intends to claim Sparta. As a gesture of submission, the messenger demands an offering of earth and water, warning Leonidas to chose his words carefully as they may be his last as king. This is rather unwise on the messenger's part as he is standing in front of a pit. A moment later, Leonidas is pointing his sword in the messanger's face, telling him that he will find an abundance of earth and water in the pit. The Persian messenger is outraged and tells Leonidas that no-one threatens a messenger. After Leonidas angrily tells the messenger that he, Leonidas had chosen his words carefully while the messanger has not. The terrified Persian emissary shouts "This is blasphemy! This is madness!" Leonidas repeats "Madness" in a whisper before turning to look at his wife, Queen Gorgo who nods succinctly. Turning to face the messenger, Leonidas then delivers the line "This is SPARTA!" in a roar before kicking the messenger into the pit.

The line has been parodied numerous times and is often compared to the subsequent quote "I am Beowulf!", spoken by Ray Winstone in the 2007 film Beowulf.