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6 more doses of Sparta

It’s hard to not geek out on the Spartans.

Hard as iron, dedicated to the art of war, their very name has become synonymous with discipline, determination and frugality. If the battle of Thermopylae teaches nothing else, it offers an important lesson in selfless dedication to the protection of others.

So feel free to keep the Spartan love train rolling. Might we recommend:

• Open the “Gates.” If you didn’t get enough of the battle of Thermopylae watching “300,” consider wrapping your brain around “Gates of Fire,” the gripping novel by Steven Pressfield. The sweeping epic takes readers behind the scenes of one of the greatest battles of all time without feeling like a high school history lesson. “Against the massed wall of Spartan armor, they might as well have been defending themselves with reeds.” We dare you to try putting it down.

• Art imitates life. Couldn’t make it to the movie? Check out the graphic novel that inspired it all. “300” — by “Sin City” creator Frank Miller — makes all the bloodshed and violence of Thermopylae somehow seem beautiful. A must-own for any Spartan fan.

• The other movie. You didn’t know “300” was a remake? In 1962, it was known as “The 300 Spartans” starring Richard Egan and Diane Baker (why yes, we are going old-school here). The original film has been credited as part of the inspiration behind Miller’s graphic novel and the new film. Available for rent from Netflix.

• Get your move on. Hey, if you long to be a Spartan, you can always become one. Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin all count a “Sparta” among their cities or townships.

• Catch the madness. Give the Spartans some support as they take to the hardwood battlefield known as “March Madness.” Predictions from some of the top sporting news organizations, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated, put the Michigan State University men’s basketball team into the mix for the Big Dance.

• The other game. Don’t own a PlayStation Portable? You can always try playing “300” on your cell phone. “300: The Mobile Game,” a real-time-strategy game, puts players in command of Spartan warriors on the battlefield, stomping over the dead bodies in what is billed as the first “mass mobile combat” game. Check out a preview trailer, ring tones, wallpapers and more here.

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Official movie site