“In order to fully understand them, truths must also be lived.
Amonius Sacas, a Neoplatonist from Alexandria from the 3rd century.”
“In 480 BC, enormous military forces of the Persian Empire, composed of over thirty subjugated nations, which, according to Herodotus, numbered more than two million people, set out on a conquest campaign against Europe. On their way, they were opposed by a coalition of a few Greek cities, gathered around Athens and Sparta. Despite conflicts and divided interests, the Greeks, aware that it was a matter of life and death for them, reached an agreement on defense strategy and sent smaller allied forces, totaling 4,000 people, to stop the conqueror at the gates of Greece, in the Thermopylae pass.”
“Leading this suicidal mission was King Leonidas and his three hundred chosen Spartans. They held off the Persians for seven days, and on the last day of the battle, knowing they were betrayed and surrounded, Leonidas released all surviving allies. The Spartans and Thespians voluntarily stayed until the end (about a thousand people) until they were annihilated.” but everyone to the last man.
With their heroic sacrifice, they held back the enemy, inflicted great losses on them (20,000 dead Persians), enabled the preparation for defense by other Greeks, set a heroic example, and elevated patriotic fervor to unprecedented heights. This inspired other Greeks to come together more tightly and to utterly defeat the Persians in the naval battle of Salamis that same year in autumn, and on land in the Battle of Plataea in spring 479 BC.
These victories allowed Athens and other cities to flourish and thus laid the foundation for what continues to serve as a model for European civilization today: a lasting ideal of cultural enlightenment that has yet to be surpassed or exhausted by any means.
Today, at Thermopylae, there stand two monuments that preserve the memory of these events: the contemporary, so-called Leonidas Monument, with his response to Xerxes’ demand to surrender weapons: Molon labe! (Come and take them!), and the other, from that time, the most famous warrior epitaph in European history, with the verses of poet Simonides from the island of Kea:
“Oh, Stranger, go tell the Spartans.” Lacedaemonians said, “Go, stranger, tell the Spartans
That we lie here, obeying their commands.”
Culture as a driving force
The heroes at Thermopylae were determined to fulfill their duty without coercion. Faced with inevitable and certain death, they did not retreat. All people fear death, but what kind of upbringing, education, or belief led them to decisively reject fear?
To understand this more deeply, let us ask: Who were these heroes? What did they love? What did they look forward to? What did they fear?
By seeking answers and preserving the memory of exceptional examples of human elevation, we preserve the foundations of culture, the human endeavor through which individuals fulfill their human nature and affirm the sources and foundations of their dignity and pride.
The Greeks believed that Phobos, fear, resided in the body, and that Nous, the mind, should govern the body, and that it is precisely this control over the body in a broader sense, which includes thoughts, desires, and Feelings, brings closer to the divine. They also believed that a person’s life does not belong only to them, but also to their children, mothers and fathers, and all the people they are responsible for in their polis.
Because of this, the Greeks attached great importance to education (paideia) which encouraged connections with tradition and ancestors, strengthened awareness of responsibility for one’s actions, and emphasized the importance of present actions for the future.
There is a strength in man, stronger than fear and more powerful than the instinct for self-preservation. The greatest misfortune is not considered death, but it is much worse to be alone, deprived of connection with the gods, without one’s home and city. That is why political punishment of exile was considered worse than execution. They believed that there are values worth dying for and that life itself is not valuable if it is not enriched by the bond of souls, unbreakable ties of friendship, when people are raised and live by shared values in love and loyalty to their city, through respect for its laws. These were the foundations of the worldview of every The story is about an ancient man who, from an early age, listened to Homer’s verses and strived to live in a way that was worthy of his heroic ancestors.
Spartan upbringing
Since the Spartans themselves left no written trace, debates about their value system have been the subject of thousands of books, with each era trying to understand them in their own, mostly limited way. On one hand, we admire their concise and concise, laconic speech, their bravery, and their very strong self-discipline. On the other hand, we criticize them for being a closed, conservative, and militant society in which a warrior minority ruthlessly ruled over the majority of servants and slaves, lacking family life, etc. Overall, we find it difficult to understand the entirety of their approach to life and have no desire to live in their way.
Before briefly presenting the Spartan upbringing, as described by Xenophon and Plutarch, we must emphasize that our modern times do not understand what the Spartans respected or valued. They lived and loved. They believed that freedom consists of serving the community in the best possible way, fulfilling their human duty as effectively as possible.
During the period from the 8th to the 4th century BC, Sparta was the most influential Greek city-state, not only because of its military invincibility but also because of its justice, fair treatment of its allies, and wise decision-making in mediating constant conflicts and wars between Greek city-states.
If we delve into the way of life and customs of the Spartans, we will realize that the strength of Sparta was primarily its laws, which according to myth were established by Lycurgus, a brave and wise legislator later elevated to the status of a divine hero. Lycurgus did not allow these laws to be written down as he believed that would not preserve them. He sought to deeply instill them in the heart and mind of every citizen through education, so that they could best apply these laws in every life situation. He implemented significant reforms in the then… In Sparta, there were radical changes in lifestyle and priorities of the citizens. All political structures established based on these laws were founded on personal responsibility of the individuals for their actions, before the state and the gods. To understand the Spartan way of life, it is important to note that they, the most serious of all the Greeks, respected the gods. To ensure this, Lycurgus prescribed modest sacrifices that were available to every citizen. Greek philosophy, associated with mysteries, taught man that the sensory and visible world is not the true reality. In Steven Pressfield’s historical novel Gates of Fire, one of the Spartan shield-bearers at Thermopylae explains it like this: “The earth and everything on it are only manifestations of a more subtle and deeper reality behind them, invisible to mortal senses. Everything we call reality actually reflects that hidden foundation, which is eternal, indestructible, behind the curtain of our limited senses. Only that which transcends our senses is real. The soul. A mother’s love. Courage. Only.” “It is close to the gods because it exists on both sides of death, behind the curtain as well as in front of it.”
Lycurgus took power away from the king through his reforms and handed it over to the Council of Elders (geronti), which consisted of proven wise and moral citizens over the age of 60, a total of 28 of them. All residents with full civic rights, who earn these rights not by birth but primarily through completed mandatory training (Spartans), become equal in rights at the age of 30 and elect 5 ephors, supervisors, who, together with the geronti, make all important decisions for the state. These decisions are to be implemented by two kings with hereditary rights (descendants of the mythical hero Heracles), who govern the army in wartime and perform religious duties.
Lycurgus also carried out a redistribution of land into equal parcels, around 9,000 holdings for Spartans, where descendants of conquered peoples, state slaves (helots), lived and worked, numbering about 150,000. In the vicinity of the city, there were free citizens (perioikoi) who performed all the work for the city, They owned small estates and did not have civil rights (around 30,000 possessions).
Licurgus’ laws abolish money and any form of luxury, thus eliminating the desire for wealth in the city, and replacing it with competition in virtues. Sparta begins to give importance to other things, promoting simplicity and usefulness in everything. As a fundamental value, duty towards the community is deeply ingrained in the hearts of the citizens.
The political system in Sparta, based on the distribution of power, responsibility, and control through clear laws, has served for centuries as an effective barrier against poverty, destitution, and tyranny of individuals or social groups.
The citizens were divided into smaller groups of about thirty people (fraternities), who ate, trained, talked, and spent most of the day and night together. Through the wisdom and experience of the elders, the diligence of the mature, and the courage of the young, intergenerational connections were fostered to achieve a common purpose. Such education among them nurtured friendship. Spending and loyalty. And the purpose of all Lycurgus’ laws was the internal and external improvement of man, through gymnastics, music (a set of skills protected by the Muses) and most importantly: the ability to listen and command. Thus formed citizens were also the most useful for the state.
Their diet was simple, modest, and public, and moderation was recommended in wine consumption. The same rules generally applied to kings as to other Spartans; the ruling elite lived more strictly and frugally than their subordinates. They gave up everything that is today our basic concern in life in order to preserve the proven advantages of Lycurgus’ laws and maintain combat readiness. The emphasis was not only on developing skills, but above all, on creating a team spirit and friendship that help overcome fear, the desire for mere biological survival, and saving one’s own skin at any cost. Spartans had to achieve this kind of victory over themselves in order to become unbeatable.
To become Spartiates, m Descendants of full citizens as well as the talented offspring of Spartan and helot relationships had to go through a highly demanding and exhausting education system, which started for them at the age of seven and lasted until they reached the age of thirty and became adults. This strict way of life applied only to full citizens, while everyone else lived in the same way as the rest of Greece.
For girls, this training began slightly later, in a milder form, and unlike boys, they lived with their parents. Women had an extremely important role in Sparta because without their dedication, courage, and wisdom, this system could not have endured. In ancient times, Spartan women were considered the freest and most influential, yet at the same time, the most modest women. It was said that they ruled over their men because only they could bear children.
The Spartan education program (agoge) started by taking boys away from their parents’ home at the age of seven and subjecting them to constant exercises to strengthen their bodies, psycholog In order to develop a resilient, strong, and simple character, there is emphasis on physical and social education, as well as intelligence exercises. At the age of twelve, the training becomes even stricter, involving rigorous physical exercises, reduced food intake, sleeping on the floor, and exposure to cold and sleep deprivation. During this phase, education is complemented with music and boys prepare artistic programs and compete in various skills. At this time, they are allowed to engage in honorable theft, meaning they were allowed to steal food as long as no one saw them. Otherwise, they would be punished with whipping. They also gain friends, advisors, and supervisors, young men between the ages of 20 and 30 who serve as mentors. The older men primarily teach the younger ones through their example and become role models in every aspect. A special relationship of friendship, love, and loyalty develops between them, and this is transmitted to the entire group. Thus, through exercise, socializing, and music, nobility is cultivated, elevating the soul like music, and the boy learns to connect with the community in order to become one with it. A young man fights not for himself, but for his comrades, striving above all to never betray them and to be worthy of them. Only then can his heart truly despise the fear of death; he surpasses himself and touches the sublime with his actions.
At the age of 15, young men take care of themselves completely and receive the famous crimson-red Spartan cloak that they will wear for the rest of their lives. In this most delicate period of adolescence, the care and assistance of mentors (philatei) were crucial, as it is usually a time of rebellion against all authorities and a search for one’s own path, when a friend who has already gone through it is most needed. At the same time, it was believed that at this age, a young man is most inclined towards justice and honesty, and it is when virtues of courage, honor, and loyalty are born in him, virtues that last a lifetime. However, they were aware that passions, desires, and various appetites are also born at this time, and it is crucial, through the example of elders, to guide and teach the young man to choose his path correctly. They were always teaching him something. Adili and they were constantly monitored, and during conversations at communal meals (sistija), good examples were emphasized and errors were corrected in order to have a pedagogical impact on all participants. In this way, these young men, with the help of the adults, adopted Lycurgus’ laws through practical behavior and actions.
At the age of 18, a young man would be sent into the wilderness armed only with a stick and would have to stay there for two years, guarding the borders from external and internal enemies (constant threat of a helot rebellion), surviving almost unseen and taking care of all his basic needs. At the age of 20, he would return to the city and join the Spartan army. Until the age of 30, he would live in the barracks and be encouraged to marry, although he could only see his wife secretly. At that time, Spartans would grow out their hair, receive complete military equipment, and have the right to be chosen among the three hundred best personal attendants of the king.
They only became full citizens at the age of 30, when they could actively participate in the city’s political life and live with their own rights. In Spartan families, military service lasted until the age of 60. Through such upbringing, Sparta created citizens who made it invincible, and the only Greek city without any defensive walls. It established itself as a compact community that willingly chose isolation from the outside world, primarily to preserve its way of life, where every citizen engaged in philosophy.
Ancient writers have preserved numerous stories and anecdotes that faithfully depict Spartan way of life and their attitude towards themselves and others. For example, a mother, giving her son a shield inherited from his ancestors and sending him off to war, says: “Return with the shield or on it!” This meant that he should come back as a victor or die honorably.
One of the many Spartans who won at the Olympic Games refused to let another competitor take the victory, even for a great reward. When asked why he valued the laurel wreath more than wealth, he replied: “I fight to earn the right to die in battle.” “I can stand in the front row, next to my king.”
“When an old man entered the crowded stadium at the Olympic Games and passed by the Athenian section, nothing happened; but when he reached the Spartans, they all stood up as one, which prompted the Athenians to spontaneously applaud. Upon witnessing this, a Spartan said: ‘The Athenians know what is proper for a man, but they do not do it!'”
“The Persian Empire, 500 BC.”
“The Battle of Thermopylae”
“Preparing for battle was a special moment for the Spartans. While they usually walked barefoot and dressed in the same chiton, they took special care in preparing for battle. After sunrise, they would comb and braid their long hair and beards, and in order to look their best, they adorned themselves with flower wreaths and placed feathers on their helmets. They would anoint their bodies with olive oil, while their shield-bearers (from the ranks of helots) helped them put on the protectors and wear their armor. They would then put on sandals and, in their well-groomed state, surround their king, who would offer a sacrifice to the Muses so that they would fight beautifully and so that their bravery would remain preserved.” Imprinted in the memory of posterity, They offer sacrifices to Eros, the god of love and friendship, in order to be united and fight as a team, as one. In the Battle of Thermopylae, they left us perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of their bravery, and thanks to Herodotus, this story has become a legend.
To gather the entire army at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, Xerxes needed almost a week, and he sent scouts to observe the position and strength of the Greeks. When they reported seeing unarmed men exercising and arranging their hair, Xerxes laughed, believing that his “Immortals” (the elite imperial guard of a constant number of 10,000 soldiers) would easily sweep away the Greeks. Demaratus, the exiled former Spartan king, was accompanying him, and he explained that those men were Spartans who were preparing before the battle knowing that they would not return alive. “Individually, they are no better than others in the fight, but when they gather, they are the best of all men. And although they are free, they are not entirely free: their master is the law, and they fear it.” And much more than your friends fear you. They act accordingly to his orders; and his orders remain the same, not allowing them to retreat from the battle, no matter the size of the enemy, but to stay in the battle formation and either win or die.”
Leonidas knew of an old prophecy that said: “If the Spartans do not mourn the death of the king, Sparta will fall.” He believed that he was the king referred to in the prophecy, and because of the ceremony in Sparta dedicated to Apollo Karnejski, when they were forbidden to go to war, he led only a select unit of three hundred Spartans who had male descendants. When they set out, they say an old woman asked him: “You lead so few men, but how many enemies are waiting for you there?” Leonidas responds, “Too many for death anyway, but not too many for glory.”
Xerxes delays the attack for four days, expecting the Greeks to be scared and retreat, but since that does not happen, he begins the attack on the fifth day.
Four thousand Greeks, led by the Spartans, repel the Persian attack throughout the day and inflict no My friend, great losses. Seeing that there are many people, but few true husbands, Xerxes sends his “Immortals” to battle the next day, but they also withdraw with great losses. Herodotus writes: “The Spartans fought in a truly memorable manner, showing the ignorant how to fight skillfully; and every time they turned their backs, they all seemed to flee together, and the barbarians, when they saw them fleeing, would rush in with shouts and chaos, but they would stop and suddenly turn towards the barbarians, and in doing so, they would bring down countless Persians to the ground; there, both few Spartans and many Persians died. Since the Persians, despite their efforts, could not conquer any part of the pass, whether attacking in groups or otherwise, they began to retreat.”
At the end of the second day, Xerxes is uncertain, his army is demoralized, and many prominent Persians have died. Then a traitor appears, Ephialtes from Malis, who reveals to him. rampart secret path over the hills and Xerxes immediately sends the army commander Hidarn to lead the elite troops They marched all night, bypassed the Phocians who were guarding that trail, and on the morning of the third day, the fate of the Greeks was sealed. The prophet Megistius prophesied to the Greeks in the gorge that death would strike them that day. Then the Phocians descend the hill and report on the betrayal and siege. Leonidas then disbands the majority of the army, and only the Thespians (voluntarily) and Thebans (as hostages, against their will) remain with the Spartans, totaling about a thousand men.
Herodotus writes: “Knowing that death awaited them soon from those who were going around the hill, the Greeks demonstrated as much strength as they could in battle against the barbarians, full of contempt for death and blinded by rage. By this point, most of their spears had already been broken, so they destroyed the Persians with swords. In that battle, Leonidas fell, who proved to be the most exceptional hero, along with other famous Spartans, whose names I have learned as names worthy of mention, and I have also learned the names All three hundred Spartans were there. Two of Xerxes’ brothers fell in battle, and there was a fierce struggle for Leonidas’ dead body until the Greeks managed to retrieve it and forced their opponents to flee four times. This lasted until those led by Ephialtes appeared. When the Greeks noticed their arrival, the battle began to change completely: they retreated towards a narrow part of the road, crossed the wall, reached the hill and took positions there, with everyone except the Thebans. At that place, they fought with swords, those who still had them, and even with their hands and teeth, while the barbarians showered them with arrows, attacking them from the front after knocking down the wall, and from all sides after surrounding them from everywhere.”
And so ended that battle. The immortal story of Spartan heroism remained, to which nothing can be added or taken away, because it was a victory, regardless of the fact that they all perished. However, the Spartans did not only glorify the warrior heroism, which is present in all nations. However, they are special because of deeper reasons. Namely, what they greatly valued and never ceased practicing and educating was the pursuit of virtue, and that effort and work was primary for them. They did not believe in retirement, instead considering that a person in their mature years, above the age of sixty, can be most useful to the common good, i.e. the state, with their wisdom and experience. Those who were not chosen for the council of elders taught the younger generations primarily through their own example of virtue. Their teacher and poet Tyrtaeus, in the 7th century BC, wrote verses that became the foundation of the education of Spartan youth. Thus, Tyrtaeus sings: “Oh, you warriors, before crossing the boundaries of death, you must first cross the boundaries of virtue!”
This was the demand they had in front of them, the imperative of the entire Spartan community, and as long as that was the case, Sparta was invincible. However, everything that humans build is subject to time, and so was Sparta. After conquering Athens, during the period after the Peloponnesian War, Lysander introduced changes in Sparta. By plundering other nations in war, Sparta violated some of the basic principles of Lycurgus. Fifty years later, Sparta was defeated by Thebes, and with the expansion of the Macedonian kingdom, it disappeared from the historical stage. The attempts of kings Agis and Cleomenes to restore Lycurgus’ laws through reforms in the 3rd century BC were only a swan song of former greatness and glory.
However, despite this, Sparta left a legacy and an inheritance of undisturbed brilliance. In this age of spiritual lostness and crisis, great examples of virtue and heroism, humility and loyalty, friendship and selflessness remain as beacons for us.