Molon Labe

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Molon Labe "Come and Take Them" M1A Rifle 11"x3 " White Decal | eBay

For Second Ammendment rights advocates...



History
The phrase was reportedly the defiant response of King Leonidas I of Sparta to Xerxes I of Persia when demanded to lay down their arms and surrender, at the onset of the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC).

Instead, the Spartans held Thermopylae for three days and, although they were ultimately annihilated, they inflicted serious damage upon the Persian army, and most importantly delayed its progress to Athens, providing sufficient time for the city's evacuation to the island of Salamis. Though a clear defeat, Thermopylae served as a moral victory and inspired the troops at the Battle of Salamis and the Battle of Plataea.

The source for this quotation is Plutarch, Apophthegmata Laconica, 51.11.[5] This work by Plutarch is included among the Moralia, a collection of works attributed to him but outside the collection of his most famous works, the Parallel Lives.

Modern usage:
Replica of the Gonzalez Flag at the Texas State CapitolMolon labe has been repeated by many later generals and politicians in order to express an army's or nation's determination not to surrender. The motto ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ is on the emblem of the Greek First Army Corps, and is also the motto of United States Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT).[6] The expression "Come and take it" was a slogan in the Texas Revolution.

Molon labe has been used once again in Greek history, on 3 March 1957 during a battle in Cyprus between members of the EOKA organization, and the British Army. After someone had betrayed his location, the British forces surrounded the secret hideout of the second-in-command of EOKA, Grigoris Afxentiou, near the Machairas Monastery. Inside the hideout were Afxentiou and four of his followers. Realizing he was outnumbered, Afxentiou ordered them to surrender themselves whilst he barricaded himself for a fight to the death. The British asked Afxentiou to come out and surrender. He replied with the phrase Molon labe, imitating the ancient Spartans. Unable to get him out, and after sustaining casualties, the British set fire to the hideout, and he was burnt alive. The British buried his body in the yard of the central jail of Lefkosia, where it lies today.

In America, both the original Greek phrase and its English translation are often heard from pro-Second Amendment activists and Tea Party members as a defense of the right to keep and bear arms. It began to appear on web sites in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[7] The phrase again gained popularity among supporters of the Second Amendment, as it has the connotation of a strong belief in the ideals of personal freedom and in the individual right to self-protection.[citation needed] In the Second Amendment or firearms freedom context, the phrase expresses the notion that the person uttering the phrase is a strong believer in these ideals and will not surrender their firearms to anyone, including governmental authority.[8]

[john70t]

First clans. Then Persians. Then Nazis, British, and now international bankers.

Poor Greeks.
The originators of progress.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Come and take it - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Geronimo '74]

Sniper drives a volvo?,

[pete3799]

I thought this was going to be about female body parts...........carry on.

[jcommin]

As I Greek-American, I have a Molon Labe tee shirt but not for 2nd admendment reasons. I prefer it's original meaning.

[SiberianDVM]

Great! Just bought one. Now, which car to put it on?..............