The Spartans: Terror Of Ancient Greece
“Spartan” has come to mean living with few comforts and that severity of lifestyle is the typical image of the ancient Spartans. When we think of the Spartans, we think of fierce warriors, fighting through pain and hardship, living for battle. But were the Spartans really so fearsome, standing above all the other Ancient Greek city-states?
The Battle Of Thermopylae
The Battle of Thermopylae is where much of the legend of Sparta was forged. In a three-day battle with the Persian Empire, the Spartans fought to the last man. The Spartans were defeated but their tenacity made them immortal.
The Best Warriors
Beyond that battle, the Spartans were feared by many of the other Greek city-states. The Spartans were regarded as the greatest warriors, and it was best to avoid them.
The Spartan Lifestyle
A big part of this reputation came from the Spartan lifestyle, how their society was structured, and most importantly, how Spartan boys were trained from a young age to be warriors. The extreme and cruel education system and training regimes were shocking even to other Greek city-states.
The Agoge
A big part of that training was centered around the Agoge—the education system used for most Spartan boys. The Agoge’s one goal was to instill values and virtues of a military life. What was valued over all other things was strength, endurance and esprit de corps—the bonding and solidarity that comes with years of training as a unified group.
Cruel And Barbaric
To our way of thinking, those methods of education were cruel and barbaric, and turned the childhood of Spartan boys into a traumatic experience. That is, of course, if they survived infancy.
Warriors From Birth
One of the most notorious practices of Spartan society was the development of warriors right from birth. Male infants were examined by Spartan elders for their suitability. If the infant was well-built and sturdy, they were allowed to live.
The Fate Of Unsuitable Babies
Disturbingly, if the baby was deemed to be unhealthy, sickly, or weak, or if it had any kind of birth defect, he was rejected. Those who were felt to be unworthy were left to die at the foot of a mountain, although some sources say they were left at the edge of a cliff.
Starting Their Education
Spartan boys judged as worthy were raised by their families. At the age of seven, the parents turned the boys over to the state. They were organized into regimental companies where they lived, trained, and studied together.
Obedience Without Question
If a boy distinguished himself early on as courageous, he was made captain of the company. The other boys in the company followed him without question. They obeyed his orders and were physically punished if they failed to fall in line.
Solidarity And Loyalty
The whole point of this was obedience and solidarity. Nothing was more important to the Spartans than living exclusively for the group. Obedience to the leader was crucial but equally important was loyalty to the group.
The Spartan Education System
Accounts of the Spartan education system were of fascination to other city-states and not always seen as something to emulate. The other Greeks claimed that other aspects of education were sacrificed for their training, although this is not entirely true.
Other Aspects Of Their Education
Although the emphasis was on fighting, Spartan boys did receive education in reading, writing, math, as well as music and art. The Spartans were hardly illiterate or without culture, but military life did dominate most of their society.
Toughening Up
One aspect of this type of education was to toughen the boys up—quite literally. They were barefoot and rarely bathed. They used ointments or oils common to the time. As such, their skin became hardened and dry.
Endurance Tests
The boys were given one flimsy cloak to wear year-round. This was to ensure they could endure all extremes of temperature without complaint. Marches, which would last for days, would be accompanied by sleeping outside on beds they made from plants they ripped out of the ground with their bare hands.
Building Physiques
As the boys matured into teenagers, their exercise regime became more extreme. Building their bodies became a singular goal. Spartan youth received regular inspections, while undressed, and those who were judged insufficiently fit were flogged.
Sports And Training
Sports were an important aspect of Spartan training. Barefoot races and grueling wrestling matches were a daily experience. One activity involved the boys trying to push each other off a platform or sometimes a small island, by kicking, punching, gouging or even biting each other.
Never Retreating
Winning fights among each other was key to positioning themselves in the ranks and all methods of fighting were acceptable. The goal was to make certain that future Spartan warriors never backed down or retreated.
Their Diet
Their diet was also designed to instill hardships. This, again, was to make them tough. Luxury was seen as weak and that included food. While building their physiques was crucial, it was also important that they remain lean. It was believed that while building muscles through strength training was important, keeping the boys slim would enable them to grow tall.
Stealing Food
There was another purpose for depriving Spartan boys of sufficient food: it was expected that they would steal food to make up for their meager rations. This was to teach them self-reliance, but also to be brutally unfeeling to those they stole from.
Building Comradery
Comradery was also a goal, as boys would steal in teams. Sometimes, they would share food in solidarity, while other times, the stronger boys would keep all the stolen food themselves. Both outcomes were acceptable.
Universal History Archive, Getty Images
Being Caught
The stealing was meant to teach the boys cunning as well, but if they were caught, they were severely punished. However, they were not punished for theft. Rather, they were punished for being caught.
Cunning And Stealth
Punishment, usually harsh and physical, was a routine part of the Spartan training system. As Spartan society developed, the aspect of stealing to show cunning and stealth became an annual ritual.
Edgar Degas, Wikimedia Commons
Annual Ritual
Spartan boys would try to steal cheeses from a temple altar. This would involve evading guards who were armed with whips. The goal was only partially to successfully steal from the altar.
Endurance Of Punishment
The other crucial aspect of the ritual involved the endurance of punishment. To be whipped was seen as a test of courage. They were publicly flogged and they were expected to not respond to the pain, to be stoic.
Courage And Endurance
Boys were often excited to be punished because it gave them a chance to show their mettle. They could demonstrate their courage and ability to endure any type of pain. This was another important way to advance in rank and prestige.
Trial By Ordeal
The Agoge was an important aspect of the Spartan male’s life. It was a trial by ordeal and those that succeeded would be selected for the communal dining groups that their lives revolved around. The idea of comradery was an important aspect of communal dining, and it was with this that the Spartan boy became a warrior and Spartan citizen.
Citizenship
Citizenship meant that the Spartan was part of the elite. Food and a home were provided by the state. He could vote and hold higher office.
Failing The Agoge
If a boy failed the Agoge, he was denied citizenship. He would need to fend for himself and his family and he could not vote. However, he was still required to fulfill military duty, however, just not in the elite fighting units.
Were They The Best?
Did this mean that the Spartans were the best fighters? Ultimately, the focus of the Agoge wasn’t just to train boys to be tough, but to make Spartan men obedient. They were willing to sacrifice everything for the state.
Spirit Of Harmony
While extreme, the one thing the Agoge did do was instill a spirit of harmony, cooperation, and comradery among Spartans. In this, they stood out from other city-states, who all had armies but would also rely on mercenaries at times as well.
Stamina And Strength
The Spartans were fit. This was emphasized from early on and it benefited Spartan warriors in their training. They had stamina and strength and could fight in any weather without rest.
Enduring Hardship
In addition to fitness, the Spartan warrior could endure a great deal of pain and discomfort. It was a badge of honor to suffer in silence and to endure any hardship. But it wasn’t just their fitness or their endurance that made them so fierce.
Training
After the Agoge, the successful Spartan youth began their actual training. This was a key to their success as their military organization was unparalleled. Their years of training as boys prepared them for endless training as adults.
Tactics
Spartans drilled relentlessly. They worked until each maneuver was flawless and the tactics they learned could be executed with perfection. The solidarity and unity they developed as boys served their later training well.
A Fearsome Reputation
The reputation the Spartans had among their enemies and other city-states was a result of their superiority in tactical maneuvering. This was something that their opponents often lacked.
Training Throughout Their Lives
The training continued throughout their adult lives. Spartans lived within their regiments. They did not live their lives for themselves.
Retirement
If a Spartan warrior lived to be 60, he could retire. Up until then, their lives essentially belonged to the state. Depending on his successes as a warrior and as a citizen, he could live well in retirement.
Inflexibility
With that precision and tactical perfection came an inflexibility. The Spartan training involved endless drills of a limited number of maneuvers. But when those tactics failed on the battlefield, the Spartans were often left with no alternatives.
The Legend Lives On
Sparta eventually fell as a superior force. Their decline started in 371, after a brutal defeat by the Thebans—facing an enemy using creative tactics, the Spartans could not adapt. Nevertheless, the fearsome reputation of the Spartans has lived on through history and they remain an inspiration for people even in these modern times.
