Table of Contents
What pass did the Spartans defend?
pass of Thermopylae
Three hundred Spartans, joined by a small force of Greeks, defend the mountain pass of Thermopylae against the invading Persians.
What were the Spartans fighting for?
In the late summer of 480 B.C., Leonidas led an army of 6,000 to 7,000 Greeks from many city-states, including 300 Spartans, in an attempt to prevent the Persians from passing through Thermopylae. An army of Spartans, Thespians and Thebans remained to fight the Persians.
What was the main goal of all Sparta citizens?
Unique in ancient Greece for its social system, Spartan society was completely focused on military training and excellence.
What did the Spartans fear the most?
Owing to their own numerical inferiority, the Spartans were always preoccupied with the fear of a helot revolt. The ephors (Spartan magistrates) of each year on entering office declared war on the helots so that they might be murdered at any time without violating religious scruples.
How did the Thebans help the Spartans in battle?
Cleombrotus, when he heard these words, was spurred on to join battle. . . . The space between [the two armies] was a plain, so the Spartans posted their cavalry in front of their phalanx, and the Thebans did likewise. But the Theban cavalry was in excellent training . . . while the Spartan cavalry was exceedingly poor. . . .
What was the epitaph above the graveyard in Go Tell the Spartans?
Above the graveyard is an epitaph in French, which a corporal explains, “I think it refers to the battle of Thermopylae where 300 Spartans died trying to hold the pass, if you remember your Greek histories.” Scene from Go Tell the Spartans (1978).
What did the youths of Sparta do for fun?
The Spartan youths were taught to fend for themselves. They slept in the open, engaged in endless military drill, athletic contests, and mock battle. In order to sharpen their agility and resourcefulness, they were expected to steal most of their food from local farmers.
Why did the Spartans of Thespiae lay down their lives?
They still had time to withdraw, but Leonidas and what was left of his 300 Spartans insisted on staying. So, too, did the contingent of 700 from the ancient Greek city of Thespiae. Since their city in the nearby region of Boeotia was in the path of any Persian advance, they had good reason to lay down their lives.