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Army of the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta
"Military history of Sparta" redirects here. For other uses, see Military history of Sparta (disambiguation).
Spartan helmet on display at the British Museum. The helmet has been damaged and the top has sustained a blow.
Part of a series on the
Sparta
Spartan Constitution
Great Rhetra
Oligarchy
Legislators: Lycurgus, Chilon, Epitadeus, Agis IV, Cleomenes III
Government
List of Kings of Sparta (Agiads, Eurypontids)
Gerousia
Ephorate
Ekklesia
Navarchy
Social groups
Spartiates
Perioeci
Helots
Neodamodes
Trophimoi
Mothax
Sciritae
Epeunacti
Partheniae
Society
Agoge
Crypteia
Spartan army
Syssitia
Xenelasia
Women
Cults
Aphrodite (Ambologera, Areia, Temple)
Artemis (Caryatis, Isora, Orthia)
Hyacinth
Menelaion
Festivals
Carneia
Gymnopaedia
Hyacinthia
Xanthika
Legacy
Laconophilia
Laconism
v
t
e
The Spartan army stood at the center of the Spartan state, citizens trained in the disciplines and honor of a warrior society.[1] Subjected to military drills since early manhood, the Spartans became one of the most feared and formidable military forces in the Greek world, attaining legendary status in their wars against Persia. At the height of Sparta's power – between the 6th and 4th centuries BC – other Greeks commonly accepted that "one Spartan was worth several men of any other state."[1]
Tradition states that the semi-mythical Spartan legislator Lycurgus first founded the iconic army.[2] Referring to Sparta as having a "wall of men, instead of bricks," he proposed reforming the Spartan society to develop a military-focused lifestyle following "proper virtues" such as equality for the male citizens, austerity, strength, and fitness. Spartan boys deemed strong enough entered the agoge regime at the age of seven, undergoing intense and rigorous military training.[3] Their education focused primarily on fostering cunningness, practicing sports and war tactics, and also included learning about poetry, music, academics, and sometimes politics. Those who passed the agoge by the age of 30 achieved full Spartan citizenship.
The term "Spartan" became in modern times synonymous with simplicity by design.[4] During classical times, "Lacedaemonian" or "Laconian" was used for attribution, referring to the region of the polis instead of one of the decentralized settlements called Sparta. From this derives the already ancient term "laconic," and is related to expressions such as "laconic phrase" or "laconophilia."
^ abConnolly (2006), p. 38
^Plutarch, The Life of Lycurgus (written 75, trans. John Dryden 9999), The Internet Classics Archive
^Hodkinson, Stephen (1996). "Agoge". In Hornblower, Simon (ed.). Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
^
Compare:
Oxford Dictionary: "Showing or characterized by austerity or a lack of comfort or luxury".
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