Dr Roel Konijnendijk, Historian specializing in Ancient Greece, takes a deep dive into the life of a Spartan Warrior. Separating fact from fiction, he discusses their education, training, and familial expectations. The episode explores the truth behind the popular image of the Spartan Warrior and their role in the army. It also highlights the importance of the shield in Spartan warfare and their standardized equipment. This podcast challenges the myths and offers insights into the reality of Spartan warriors.
Spartan warriors were trained from a young age to prioritize discipline, athleticism, and mental endurance, without specific weapons training.
Spartans relied on a citizen militia rather than a professional army, emphasizing uniformity and obedience within their heavily armed infantry called hoplites.
The Spartan shield played a crucial role in warfare, symbolizing commitment and preserving formation, with strict rules against abandoning it, reflecting their dedication to staying in battle.
Deep dives
Spartan warriors and their training
The podcast episode explores the training and education of Spartan warriors. The Spartan education system starts at the age of seven and emphasizes discipline and obedience. Physical exercises are mainly focused on athletics and fitness. Mental resilience and endurance are also cultivated through deprivation and harsh conditions. However, there is no evidence of specific weapons training. Spartans are known for their uniform appearance with polished bronze shields, possibly displaying the lambda symbol. The iconic red cloaks or tunics add to their imposing image as a unified force.
The Spartan military system
Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not have a professional standing army. Instead, they relied on a citizen militia. All Spartan citizens, known as Spartiates, fought as heavily armed infantry called hoplites. This included both Spartan men and certain groups of non-citizen freeborn inhabitants, known as perioikoi and inferiors. The Spartans focused on creating a sense of uniformity and obedience within their army, presenting a unified front. The equipment of a Spartan hoplite included a bronze polished shield, red cloak, and standardized weaponry. The specific use of lambda shields is debated but is frequently mentioned in later sources.
The importance of the shield in Spartan warfare
The shield played a crucial role in Spartan warfare, as it did for all Greek hoplites. It served as a defensive tool, protecting not only the soldier but also the soldier next to them, ensuring an unbroken line formation. Dropping or abandoning the shield in battle was considered a major offense, as it could lead to disorder and panic within the ranks. Both Athens and Sparta imposed strict rules against throwing away shields. The Spartans, in particular, emphasized the importance of coming back with one's shield or upon it, reflecting their commitment to staying in battle and preserving the formation.
The Spartan phalanx and mixed formations
The Spartan hoplites fought in a phalanx formation, which was standard for Greek warfare. This formation consisted of tightly packed soldiers with their shields interlocked, forming an impenetrable wall of bronze and scarlet. While the Spartans had a reputation for uniformity, their phalanx included perioikoi and inferiors, who may not have been equipped in the same standardized manner as Spartiates. The use of mixed formations aimed to maintain the illusion of a unified Spartan force, instilling fear in their enemies. However, the precise nature and organization of these mixed formations are not entirely clear from the available evidence.
Importance of Maintaining Formation
One key aspect of Spartan success in battle is their ability to maintain order in their formations. Unlike other Greek city-states, Spartans march into battle in step, allowing them to maneuver and respond to orders effectively. This not only instills fear in their enemies but also gives them an edge in controlling the battlefield. Spartans have a more articulated officer hierarchy, allowing for quick and efficient communication of commands, which ensures that their troops remain cohesive and disciplined during combat.
The Spartan Royal Guard and Burial Traditions
While the Spartan army is mostly a militia, there is an elite unit known as the hippies, translated as horsemen, though they do not fight on horseback. They serve as an honor guard to the Spartan kings and are picked from the best Spartans of each year group. However, as the Spartan population declines, the unit becomes more of a rite of passage, with all Spartans eventually serving in the hippies due to the lack of available candidates. When Spartans die in battle, they are buried on the battlefield or nearby, as it is seen as a testimony to their willingness to fight for their allies or those in need of their help. This contrasts with Athenian tradition of bringing the dead home for burial. Additionally, the famous Spartan quote "Come back with your shield or on it" might refer to the practice of carrying the wounded back on their shields rather than returning home for burial.
One of the most famed classes of soldiers from antiquity, the Spartan warrior has been immortalised in media today. Characterised as super soldiers, formidable fighters who would rather perish than surrender - their reputation truly did proceed them. But how accurate is this image - and does it correlate with what the ancient sources actually tell us?
In the second episode of our Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes Dr Roel Konijnendijk from the University of Oxford, to take a deep dive into the life of a Spartan warrior. Looking at their education, training, and familial expectations - how do you separate fact from fiction when it comes to the Spartans? And is it possible to know what their society was truly like?
Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code ANCIENTS sign up now for your 14-day free trial HERE.
