For the city of Sparta to survive, one king of Sparta must die. — The oracle at Delphi
The classic struggle of free men fighting against tyranny is not always as clears cut as we are led to believe. The clash of the ancient Greeks and the Persian Empire, as portrayed in the new movie "300," is a good example. While the legend of 300 brave Spartans standing up against overwhelming odds to protect Greek freedom seems admirable on the surface, the lifestyle of the Spartans, who depended on slave labor, presents a different story.
Prelude to war
Persian expansion and the desire to punish the Athenians for their role in an uprising in Asia Minor brought about the wrath of the Persian King Xerxes I and the battle of Thermopylae.
Social Classes
The Spartan existence as free men required the subjugation of their neighbors, the Messienians or helots. The conquered helots provided the manpower that supplied the labor force, enabling the Spartans to dedicate their lives to fitness and the art of war.
The Spartan middle class, or the perioikos, were tradesmen that dealt with commerce. They were allowed to own property but were not allowed citizenship and had no political rights.
Spartan vs. Messienian (helots) population: 25,000 to 500,000*
*at the height of Sparta's power
Each year Sparta would declare war on the helots to ensure an agricultural work force and to extract potential troublemakers.
Under Spartan rule, women had unprecedented freedom in Greek culture and were allowed to own property and engage in commerce.
The Spartans were ruled by two kings and a council of 28 elders. Ultimate power was ceded in the ephorate. This group of five elders had broad powers that included everything from infant selection to deposing a king. All member were over 60 years old.
The battle Thermopylae 480 B.C.
A small force of Greeks (7,000), under the command of the Spartan king Leonidas, determined that the best place to attempt to stall the Persian advance was on the thin strip of land along the coastline at Thermopylae. At this point the passage between steep cliffs and the shoreline narrows to about 50 feet, making it a defensible position for a small force holding off a far superior number.
Xerxes soon arrived with his force of 250,000 men. His scouts reported scenes of Spartans grooming their hair (a beautifying ritual practiced during wartime) and doing calisthenics. Not at all the state of chaos Xerxes expected from a severely outnumbered force.
Xerxes probably believed the presence of his superior force would be enough to scare the Greeks into submission. The overconfident Xerxes decided stall his attack for four days — probably to allow his parallel traveling naval force and supply ships to catch up with his land forces.
On the fifth day he ordered his troops to attack with the condition that the Spartans be taken alive. The Spartans feigned retreat, making the pursuing Persians break ranks, then turned and fought savagely, turning back the onslaught. Xerxes sent in a second wave of troops, the crack Immortals. They met the same fate, as did a third wave.
The Greek position seemed impregnable until a local shepherd, Ephialtes, approached Xerxes with information of a goat path that circled behind the Greek position. With the aid of a full moon, a group of Persians managed to slip by the Greeks.
Realizing they had been outflanked, Leonidas ordered the retreat of the majority of the Greek force. Forming a rear guard, a force of 300 Spartans and a few thousand Thespians and Thebans remained to hold back the Persians. Although they fought bravely, they were ultimately all killed in a hail of arrows.
Perhaps Leonidas died in an effort to appease the gods by fulfilling the prophecy of the Delphi oracle.
During the final stages of the battle, the Spartans, having lost or broken their weapons, were reduced to hand-to-hand combat before making a final stand on a small hill.
Xerxes had King Leonidas' corpse beheaded and crucified.
The Immortals
The Immortals were an elite, handpicked group of 10,000 of the bravest Persian soldiers who also served as Xerxes' bodyguards. They were called immortals because continuous replacements made their number never dwindle below 10,000.
Spartan life: warlike, brave, hardy, stoical, severe, frugal, highly disciplined
The life of a Spartan citizen definitely lived up to the dictionary definition. An individual brought up under this system could expect a lifetime of austere living and an existence that was dedicated to the state.
A newborn was brought before a panel of elders that would determine whether the child met Spartan physical standards. A bath in wine, which caused all but the most hardy to convulse, was the final test used chose those who would be kept and those who would be left to die on Mount Taygetos.
At age 7, boys were turned over to the state to be raised. This was the beginning of a lifestyle of segregation and discipline. A tough regimen of athletics and military training, coupled with minimal academics, followed.
A minimal ration of food was given. This was meant to encourage the boys to be resourceful and steal to supplement their diet. Even though thievery was required for survival, it was also severely punished.
During the festival of the goddess Artemis Ortheia, older boys tried to pick up as many pieces of cheese as possible while running a gauntlet of guards. This was meant to display their physical prowess and their bravery. Some boys were beaten so badly they died.
Facts
Fighting and violent games were encouraged among Spartan boys.
Girls were also raised under tough physical conditions that included athletics.
Spartan Olympic champions had the honor of fighting next to the king.
Sparta had no coins but traded only in awkward iron bars.
Spartans could only travel on state business, and foreigners weren't admitted without good reason.
At age 20 a male became a citizen soldier. An individual could marry had to live in the barracks until age 30
At age 60 an individual retired from the military to a life of public service and teaching.
SOURCES: "The Wars of Ancient Greece"; "Time Frame 600-400 BC: A Soaring Spirit"; World Book Encyclopedia; ancienthistory.about.com; oplite.co.uk; wsu.edu; laconis.org