Beckett - Sparta History, Greek Spartans 101 Sparta: The Ultimate Greek Warriors: Everything You Need To Know About the Spartan Civilization

Military training for Spartan soldiers started straight from birth. When a child was born in the state of Sparta, the baby would be cleaned with wine and then examined to see if they were healthy. If the child was deemed to live they were taken home. If the child was thought to be sickly or to die soon, then they were taken to the top of a hill and thrown away, left to die from exposure or from hunger and thirst.

When Spartan children turned seven years old they were taken from their homes and started to live in barracks along with other children. Unlike that of other Greek city-states, these child-soldiers were put through a sadistic and cruel training which included a variety of physical training and sustaining from the cold, hunger and other treacherous circumstances.

This military education was referred to as the Agog and was famous for its strong levels of discipline and effectiveness.

Scholars agree that military training in the Spartan state was strict, harsh and cruel by todays standards, involving in numerous exams that young Spartan soldiers had to partake in. In of these exams is referred to as a game of stealing cheese; this exam involved the young soldier in being bitten but some had so many bites that they actually died during the exam.

The military training continued until the men turned 25 years old and service in the army continued until they reached 60. When soldiers completed their training they typically got married and then joined the dining clubs, moving from the military barracks to the public ones until they retired at 60. Sekunda claims that the first exercise the Spartans underwent was a type of dance referred to as a pyrriche this was done holding weapons and taught them how to move whilst brandishing a weapon. In addition to combat skills, Spartan military training included reading and writing and when they turned 12, they were called a youth boy or a meirakion.

Sekunda tells that as soon as the young Spartans became meirakion their abilities progressed. They were expected to cut their hair and go around barefoot, wearing a simple thin veil known as a Krypteia. Military training not only included vigorous physical exercises but cunning. Cunning intelligence, also known as Metis, was essential for Spartan boys as it helped to improve their situations. As they were expected to train naked and walk around without any sandals, Spartan boys were expected to steal food in order to survive. However, the punishments were severe if they were caught. It was believed that if the punishments were bad enough, then they would ensure that they werent caught the next time they stole. Cartledge says that the military training young Spartan boys underwent ensure that they were not only physically strong, but were taught respect, compliance and self-discipline.

Spartan Military Structure

The military was divided into three sections the infantry, the cavalry and the naval forces. However, due to the terrain in which Sparta ruled, her cavalry units were not as strong or efficient compared to those of other Greek city-states. The barracks were controlled in groups known as Ageles, overseen by an older Spartan referred to as an Eirena, who were supervised in turn by an officer known as Paidonomos.