"From Thermopylae to Leuctra: The Evolution of the Spartan" Topic
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Tango01  | 27 Oct 2025 3:43 p.m. PST |
…Military Ethos
"Throughout history few nations have possessed a fiercer military reputation than Sparta. The glorious stand at Thermopylae in 480 BCE still enchants people millennia after it was fought. Films, football teams, and clothing brands all pay homage to Spartan bravery and toughness. However, most are unaware of Spartan history outside the events of this battle. History enthusiasts revere the Spartans as strong, valiant, and morbidly witty men but this is not the entirety of their story. Spartan military ethos and methods did not remain stagnant after Thermopylae. However, strict adherence to the Spartan military culture increasingly eroded the very principles it sought to uphold. By the time Sparta succumbed to Theban military prowess, it had already abandoned the spirit of Thermopylae. From Thermopylae, to Sphacteria, to the Battle of Leuctra, each period experienced a unique shift in the military culture. Thermopylae stood as the high point of Spartan military ethos, Sphacteria the low point, and Leuctra as its last gasp; ultimately, Spartan military ethos destroyed itself because the traditional warrior society was incompatible with necessary innovation…"
link
Armand
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 piper909 | 30 Oct 2025 11:03 p.m. PST |
There are a number of books and monographs on "The Spartan Mirage", which is a term of art among some ancient historians. They make a good point about how the myth of Sparta was encouraged by the original Spartans to a degree and their admirers, and how this distortion of history has influenced succeeding generations. |
| Tango01 | 31 Oct 2025 4:54 p.m. PST |
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| piper909 | 31 Oct 2025 8:50 p.m. PST |
An interesting essay, despite being a bit shallow and repetitive; thanks for the repost, Armand! |
| Tango01 | 01 Nov 2025 3:56 p.m. PST |
A votre service mon cher ami… Armand |
| piper909 | 05 Nov 2025 12:02 p.m. PST |
The other Greeks respected the Spartan army even when they didn't much care for Spartan individuals or policies. But all the same, Sparta's military record over the centuries from the archaic age thru the Hellenistic period is decidedly mixed, and after Leuctra, it was pretty much a case of "I've fallen and I can't get back up." A few moments of fading glory and a couple of reform movements that sought to restore old greatness, but all failures in the end. |
| Tango01 | 05 Nov 2025 4:07 p.m. PST |
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considers the Battle of Delium, 424 B.C.