10 Horrifying Facts about the Spartans 10. Spartan Children bred for War
Almost every aspect of Spartan way of life was governed by the state. This of course included its children. Each Spartan baby was brought before a council
of inspectors who examined him for birth or other physical defects. If anything seemed out of the ordinary, they
would take the newborn and leave him to die of exposure somewhere on a hillside outside
the city. In a few fortunate cases, these forsaken children
would be rescued by foreigners passing by, or by the helots (Spartan slaves) working
the fields. In their infancy, the babies who survived
this first of many tests, would be bathed in wine instead of water, as to strengthen
their physical attributes. They would also be frequently ignored by their
parents when they cried, as to make them accustomed to a “Spartan” way of life. These parenting techniques were so highly
admired by foreigners that Spartan women were often sought as nurses of nannies. Up until the age of seven, Spartan boys lived
with their family, but then they were taken by the state to live in communal barracks
and start their first training regimen, called “agoge”. This program aimed to mold the young Spartans
to become the perfect warriors. The training involved hard physical exercises,
as well as learning stealth, extreme loyalty, military and combat training, pain-tolerance,
hunting, survival skills, social communication, and morality. They were also taught reading, writing, rhetoric
and poetry. However, at age 12 they were stripped of all
clothing and possessions save a red cloak. They were then instructed to sleep outside
and make their own beds from reeds. They were also encouraged to scavenge or steal
food, but if caught they were severely punished by flogging. Spartan girls continued to live with their
families after the age of seven, but they too received the famous Spartan education
which involved dance, gymnastics, as well as javelin and discus throwing. These exercises were believed to make them
ready for motherhood. 9. Hazing and fighting among themselves
One way through which these children were toughened up as a key element in their development
as soldiers was to instigate fights among them. Older men and teachers would often start various
arguments among their students and encouraged them on, leading the boys to start fighting
with each other. Since the main purpose of the agoge was to
make these trainees highly resistant to all sorts of hardships found during war, things
like cold, hunger or pain, those who shown signs of weakness, cowardice or timidity,
were subject to harsh punishments and humiliation by both peers and teachers alike. Imagine being bullied by someone in school,
and then your teacher would come over and join in too. To make things even worse, girls often sang
choral songs in front of dignitaries during various religious or state ceremonies, sometimes
singling out specific trainees for ridicule. Not even grown-ups were spared humiliation. Spartans absolutely loathed people out of
shape. This is one of the reasons why all Spartan
citizens, the kings included, had their daily meals at a syssitia, a military mess, where
the food was bland and always insufficient. Together with daily physical exercises, Spartan
men and women kept in shape throughout their entire lives. Those who didn’t however, were exposed to
public humiliation by everyone, and even risked being banished from the city if they didn’t
fix the problem immediately. 8. The Contest of Endurance
An integral part of Ancient Sparta, and one of its most gruesome practices was the so-called
Contest of Endurance, or Diamastigosis. This tradition was said to commemorate an
incident where people from neighboring settlements killed each other at the altar of Artemis,
and since then human sacrifices ware brought there annually. Since Lycurgus however - a famous, semi-mythical
Spartan lawgiver from the 7th century BC - the ceremony at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
only involved the ephebes (adolescent boys undergoing the agoge) being flogged until
they completely stained the stairs of the altar full of blood. During the event, the altar was covered with
cheeses and the young boys would try to reach and take them. Older ones would wait for them with sticks
in hand, flogging and beating them without mercy. This tradition was in fact an initiation ceremony
where the ephebes were accepted as full Spartan warriors and citizens. The last boy standing would receive great
honor for his bravery. Deaths were also not uncommon during this
event. During the Roman occupation of Sparta, the
tradition of Diamastigosis endured, but lost much of its ceremonial importance. It instead became a favorite spectator sport
where people from all over the empire would flock to Sparta and see how young men were
being whipped in such a brutal fashion. By the 3rd century AD the sanctuary was enclosed
by a theatre where spectators could watch the floggings. 7. The Krypteia
When the ephebes reached the age of around 20, those who were marked out as potential
future leaders were given the opportunity to take part in the Krypteia. This was a sort of secret police, or at least
the closest Sparta got to one. It more closely resembled a guerrilla force
since its main purpose was to stake out and terrorize the surrounding helot settlements. At its peak during the 5th century BC, Sparta
had about 10,000 men able to bear arms, while the surrounding helot population outnumbered
them by 7 to 1. This was a double-edged sword for the Spartan
citizens. On the one hand, the helots were providing
the Spartans with all the food they would need, freeing them to become super-soldiers. On the other hand however, the Spartans were
constantly under threat from helot rebellions. This continuous risk of revolt was also the
main reason for why the Spartans developed such a highly militarized society in the first
place; in which every Spartan man became a soldier by law. Every fall these young soldiers got a chance
to test out their skills, when the Spartan ephors unofficially declared war on the helot
population. At night the members of the Krypteia would
be armed with knives and set loose onto the surrounding countryside. They were instructed to kill any helot they
encountered, especially the strongest among them. This annual slaughter of the lowest class
was to ensure the helots’ obedience, as well as to keep their population in check. Only the Spartans who took part in this gruesome
event as young men could hope to one-day achieve the highest ranks in the army and society. Throughout the rest of the year, this “secret
police” would patrol the countryside looking for any signs of unrest. Any potentially troublesome helot would be
summarily executed. 6. Compulsory Marriage
While this can’t be construed as particularly horrifying, compulsory marriage by the age
of 30 is something that many today consider especially frightening. We don’t think the same rules apply in modern-day
Sparta, but in the ancient times they certainly did. Up until the age of 30, all Spartan men lived
their lives in communal barracks and made up the active military of the mighty city-state. They would then be relieved of duty, but would
act as the reserve force until they turned 60. In any case, 30 was the age when all male
citizens were more or less forced to tie the knot, if they hadn’t done so already. And since Spartans saw marriage primarily,
but not exclusively, as a means of conceiving new soldiers, girls usually married at around
19 (later than other Greek girls). Bachelors were encouraged to evaluate the
health and fitness of their future mates. But even if the marriage arrangements were
made between the husband and his future father-in-law, this doesn’t mean the girl didn’t have
any say in the matter. After all, Spartan women were equal to their
men, more so than in a lot of countries today. In the event a Spartan soldier would get married
before finishing his active service when turning 30, he would live separately from his wife
until that time. Likewise, if a man remained a bachelor after
entering the reserves, he was seen as neglecting his duties towards Sparta itself and he would
be publicly mocked with every occasion; especially during official ceremonies. If by any chance a Spartan wasn’t able to
bear children, he was expected to find a suitable other who could. There were even cases of a woman having several
partners and their collective children belonging to all. 5. Spartan Weapons & Armor
The bulk of every Ancient Greek army, Sparta included, was the hoplite. These were heavily-armored soldiers, citizens
of their respective city-states, with enough material means to equip and make themselves
available to fight. But while other cities’ hoplites weren’t
professional soldiers and often lacked sufficient military training, Sparta’s soldiers were
bred solely for war, and did nothing else their entire lives. And while other Greek city-states built massive
walls to defend themselves, Sparta famously had none, considering its hoplites as its
defenses. The principle weapon of every hoplite, regardless
of origin, was the spear or dory. These spears measured some 8 feet in length
and were held one handed, either over or underhand. Its tip was made out of bronze or iron, and
the shaft was out of cornel wood. This wood was especially sought after because
its density and strength it gave the spear. It’s so dense; the cornel wood actually
sinks in water. Then in their left hand, the hoplites held
their iconic round shields, the hoplon. Weighing some 30 pounds, these were used primarily
for defense, but were also used for bashing. These shields were made out of wood or leather
with an outer layer of bronze. Spartans marked their shields with the letter
lambda. This stood for Laconia, the name of the region
of Sparta. Now, if either their spears broke off or the
battle became too overcrowded, the hoplites in the front row turned to their xiphos. This was short sword, about 17 inches long,
which was used for stabbing while behind the hoplon. Spartans however mostly preferred the kopis
instead of the xiphos, because of the nasty wounds it inflicted. The kopis was used more as an axe in the form
of a thick, curved iron sword, and Spartans were often depicted in Athenian art while
holding one. For extra defense, they wore bronze helmets
which protected the head, the back of the neck and the face, as well as a breastplate,
thorax, of bronze or leather. Bronze graves, knemides, to protect the shins,
as well as arm-guards were also worn. 4. The Phalanx
One of the signs a civilization reaches a certain point in its development, is the way
its army wages war. Tribal societies for example usually fought
in loose arrangements, each warrior waving his huge broadsword or axe over his head in
intimidation, and looking for personal glory on the battlefield. But more advanced civilizations fought in
compact formations, with each individual soldier having a precise role to play within a larger
strategy. So did the Romans, and so did the Ancient
Greeks. In fact, the famous Roman Legion formations
were inspired by the Greek Phalanx. Hoplites were organized into regiments, lokhoi,
of several hundred individuals strong and fought in 8 rows or more. This is what’s known as a Phalanx. The men stood shoulder to shoulder in a tight
formation, with their shields covering their left half, as well as the right side of the
soldier next to him. Above their shields and between their heads,
there was a literal forest of spears protruding outwards. The Phalanx advanced at walking speed or slightly
faster, usually accompanied by rhythmic music and war-cries; something which Spartans studied
intensely during the agoge. As Greek cities often fought each other, Phalanx
would usually meet another Phalanx in battle, in which case they would push and stab each
other until one side emerged victorious. Nevertheless, this formation was also successfully
used against the Persians on numerous occasions. Its biggest weakness however was its left
flank. As the Phalanx advanced and each man sought
to keep behind the shield of his neighbor, the formation had the tendency to shift right,
leaving the left flank exposed. A good commander would therefore put his best
warriors in his own right flank in order to take advantage of this possible situation
and ultimately win the battle. 3. No Such Thing as Surrender
As part of their extreme-loyalty training, Spartans despised cowardice above all else,
and soldiers were expected to fight without any sense of fear whatsoever. Even to the last man, if need be. In effect, the act of surrender was seen as
the epitome of all cowardice. In the highly unlikely event of a Spartan
hoplite doing such an unthinkable thing, would most likely lead him to commit suicide. The ancient historian Herodotus makes mention
of two Spartans who missed out on the famous Battle of Thermopylae and who later, in their
utter shame, killed themselves. One by hanging himself, and the other by dying
a redeeming death during a later conflict for Sparta. Spartan mothers were famous for saying things
like: “Return with your shield or on it” to their sons just before going into battle,
referring to them either returning victorious or dead. Sparta only considered its debt fully repaid
when its citizens died doing their duty for her. Men by dying in battle, and Spartan women
during childbirth. In fact, only these two groups of people were
ever worthy enough to have their own names forever engraved on their tombstones. 2. The Thirty Tyrants
Sparta was known for wanting to spread its own utopian views upon its neighboring states. First were the Messenians to the west, which
Sparta defeated during the 7th and 8th centuries BC, turning them into their subservient helots. They later began looking towards Athens itself. During the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC),
not only did the Spartans defeat them, but would also inherit their naval supremacy over
the Aegean; something that Sparta never had. Refusing to raise Athens to the ground, as
was suggested by the Thebans and Corinthians, the Spartans decided instead to shape the
city in their own image. To do so, they installed a pro-Spartan oligarchy
in Athens, infamously known as the Thirty Tyrants. Their main purpose was to revise or in most
cases, completely erase the fundamental Athenian laws for its own style of democracy. They reformed the power structure by first
lowering most citizens’ rights, and installing 500 councilors to serve the judicial functions
formerly belonging to all citizens. They also hand-picked 3,000 Athenian men to
"to share in the government", who were allowed more privileges than the rest. During their 13-month-long regime, some 5
percent of all the Athenian population died or simply disappeared, a lot of property confiscated
and many pro-Athenian democrats, exiled. A former student of Socrates himself, Critias,
the leader of the Thirty, was considered cruel, imposing and downright inhumane, as a man
who wanted to make Athens into a mirror image of Sparta whatever the cost. Similar to the Krypteia in Sparta, all people
who were considered a threat to the new establishment were quickly executed. They also employed 300 "lash-bearers" to patrol
the city, harassing and terrorizing the city’s population into submission. Around 1,500 of Athens’s most prominent
figures not in favor of the Spartan rule were forced to take poison hemlock. Interestingly enough, the more violent the
Tyrants were with the city’s population, the more opposition they faced. This poor state of affairs eventually resulted
in a successful rebellion 13 months later, lead by Thrasybulus, one of the few who managed
to escape into exile. With the Athenian restoration, the before-mentioned
3,000 were given amnesty, while the rest, the Thirty included, were executed. Critias died in the initial attack. Riddled with corruption, betrayals and violence,
the Tyrants’ short rule ensured severe mistrust between the Athenians themselves in the years
to come. 1. The famous Battle of Thermopylae
Made popular today by the 1998 comic book series, and the 2006 epic movie called 300,
the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC was an epic engagement between the few Greeks under
the Spartan King Leonidas I and the many Persians under King Xerxes. The whole conflict began even before these
two became rulers, during the reign of Xerxes’ predecessor, Darius I. He already expanded his borders into mainland
Europe and then set his sights on Greece itself. When Darius died and Xerxes took power in
486 BC, he immediately began preparations for an invasion; the biggest threat Greece
had ever faced. After much deliberation between the many Greek
city-states, a combined force of around 7,000 hoplites was sent to defend the pass of Thermopylae
against the advancing Persian army. Among them were the famous 300 Spartans lead
by King Leonidas himself. Xerxes amassed around 80,000 troops for the
invasion, though the numbers vary a lot. The relatively small Greek force was due in
part to their unwillingness to send troops so far north. The other reason was more religious for it
was the period of the sacred games at Olympia and the most important Spartan religious festival,
the Karneia, during which no fighting was allowed. In any case, Leonidas realized the peril they
were facing and chose 300 of his most loyal men, who all had male heirs. Located some 95 miles north of Athens, Thermopylae
was an excellent defensive position. Only at about 50 feet wide, and cramped between
an almost vertical cliff-face and the sea itself, the Persians couldn’t effectively
deploy their vastly superior numbers. This gave the Greeks a tremendous advantage,
coupled with a defensive wall already built there. When Xerxes finally arrived, he waited four
days in the hopes of the Greeks retreating; which didn’t happen. He then sent his envoys one last time, asking
they lay down their arms, to which Leonidas replied “come and get them”. For the following two days the Greeks withstood
the many Persian attacks, including those of the infamous Immortals. Betrayed by a local shepherd who told Xerxes
about a hidden pass through the mountains, Leonidas would soon find himself surrounded. Learning of this unfortunate turn of events,
he dismissed most of the other hoplites under his command, and kept only his Spartans and
a few others to make the last stand. When the final attack came, the might Leonidas,
as well as his 300 Spartans fell, fulfilling their duty towards their people and to Sparta
itself. Even to this day, there’s an inscription
at Thermopylae which says: “Go tell the Spartans, you who read: We took their orders
and here lie dead.” Now even if Leonidas didn’t win the battle,
what he did manage to achieve reverberated through the following wars with the Persians,
leading the Spartans to lead the resistance and defeat their overwhelming conquerors. This battle also ensured that Sparta will
forever be remembered in history as one of the world’s most unique and powerful civilizations.
