300: The Spartan Perception Of The Hero

One of the most important subjects is History. Knowledge of the past helps from repeating history. There were awful rulers, and their subjects raised up and fought for their freedoms. If the rulers of today studied history, maybe they would be better rulers and not incite rebellions. Rome enslaved many people, but Spartacus was a great gladiator that escaped, gained followers, fought for their freedom, and is a hero to the mistreated.

Sparta occupies a peculiar position within the national consciousness of the United States. On one hand Americans, as the torchbearers of modern liberalism and democracy, are averse to Sparta as a cultural and political antithesis to their proposed cultural founders, the Athenians. As the trumpeters of free speech and the ability of every person to better themselves, how can it be possible that Americans would harken their cultural antecedents to a society that cast imperfect babies upon the side of mountains?

In this research paper I am going to talk about how the Spartan Military influenced our society. You are sure to expect to learn about how it affected how we live on an everyday basis. Also, on how it affected the way the U.S military runs/works. Sparta's military has caused many influences on our modern-day society. This includes on how our military works and fights to how we live every day. In the next paragraph I am going to give a little back ground on how Sparta's military training went.

From about the time of the Persian invasion until the Battle of Leuctra, Sparta was viewed as the powerhouse of the Greek city-states. There were numerous reasons behind their success, but there are few that stand out as the most prevalent. Spartan boys are born to be warriors, they are sent to the Agoge at the age of seven and forced to abide by the Laws set by Lycurgus the Lawgiver. Spartan men never had to worry about chores or any work that was done in the kleroi, allowing more time and focus to be dedicated towards militaristic training. The Spartan army had the ability to call upon the Perioikoi and Helots if need be as extra warriors, which became a significant advantage at time. These reasons, along with

The Spartan’s were a highly developed warrior based society. They came into the major military power through their highly developed military strategy. The men were required to be a part of the military if they were future citizens. The Spartans had a highly revered group of men, who decided if a child was weak or strong and if they would live to become a good asset to the country. When they decided if they were bad, they would kill all those insufficient. The strong boys were often bathed in wine and raised by their mothers until the age of seven, when they were placed in the agoge (Andrews, 2013). When they turned seven they were taken away and trained to kill.

Beginning around 490 BC when civilization was ruled largely by men; every man was proven their preeminence within their society based highly on their woman. As stated in the book, “Warrior Ethos,” Leonidas picked the men he did not for their “warrior prowess” but he instead picked them for the courage of their women. Women in the Spartan society were known for their great influence on Spartan men. Their roles as Spartan soldier’s wives were major. Spartan women were strong both physically and mentally, they were well educated and given more freedom than majority of women in the ancient world. Spartan women played a significant role in the rise and fall of the Spartan Empire, though it was small compared to world empires, it was a role that would providing a last impression for generations to follow. This role was based predominantly on their background growing up, their marriage, and how much land they possessed.

A Spartan soldier was expected to serve Sparta until the age of sixty, but that was easier said than done. Spartan infants were inspected by an elder counsel called the Gerousia, ensuring physical ability and readiness to enter into Spartan societal training. The rigorous training period, called agoge, began at age seven for male children. Trainees were taught combat skills, survival skills, and stealth. Students were often pitted against each other, and failure or weakness were met with severe physical punishment, public shame, and even death. Agoge was not purely training for survival and combat. Spartiates were taught reading, writing, dancing, music, and social skills. All Spatiates, including women, had a strong code of honor, and devotion

Even as a child, the male Spartan was treated very harshly, even to the point where it would be considered abuse in the modern society. Once born, the infant was tested in order to declare a life of war or slavery upon him. But unfortunately, some of them don’t get to live. These, either mentally or physically damaged children, are thrown into a chasm near Mount Taygetus. The strongest infants are given back to their families, but are under the military’s control at age seven. Within years, the Spartan boys would take part in the brutal wars, fighting for the ownership of Sparta, as many other kings seek to take over the land and claim it as their own.

The Spartans had one of the most advanced societies to exist during the time. The average Spartan man lived with his wife, their warrior like son, and a daughter training to be a useful woman. The sons would always be warriors and have intense training and the daughters were brought up to be the common woman that would cook

Steven Pressfields: Gates of fire is based on a true story of how three hundred courageous warrior Spartans led by their king Leonidas and 700 Thespaian allies held off an army of over one million Persian infantrymen on a narrow pass in Thermopylae Greece in 480 B.C. for seven days. The Spartan Warriors were highly disciplined, physically and mentally tough soldiers that were dedicated to their country and way of life. The three hundred Spartan’s left home one day leaving their families behind, on a suicide mission to buy time for their countrymen to organize forces. Their sacrifice was unparalleled and their dedication and battle skill struck fear in the hearts and minds of their enemy.

Spartan Warriors worked hard all the time. That’s why they are so muscular and are able to walk and run around with armour covering them.

The Spartans lived a very meager life in comparison to the other Greek cultures. The Spartans were not concerned with luxurious items and trivial possessions. A man’s wealth was in the land he owned. However, the typical Spartan male was dedicated to life of a soldier and therefore could not be bothered with the manual labor of tending to his fields. The land was worked by the Helots, or slaves, the Spartans captured in battle. Helots were required to work in the field and return the productions to the owner of the land. This enabled the Spartan male to remain focused and dedicated to his true profession of a soldier.

In Greek Mythology, Achilles was a hero in the Greek army. According to an ancient tale, as a child Achilles’ mother, Peleus, held him by his heel to dip him in the waters of the River Styx. This process transformed him, resulting in becoming immortal, except for his heel, his weak spot, the “Achilles’ heel.” His mother, mindful of the prophecy; he would either live long and be forgotten, or have a short life but live forever in memory. Peleus disguised him as a girl to avoid him going to war, which was constantly sought after by Achilles. Much of this is not in the film as the director intended Achilles to be a strong, masculine warrior and the stereotypical hero.

Another wrong in 300 is that that the Spartans did not own any slaves while in real Sparta they did. The Spartans and other Greeks were very like the Persians in that when they conquered a foe they made these conquered foes their Slaves. In the movie the whole Spartan economy could not survive because the Spartans had no slaves and the Spartan depended on slaves for everything ranging from agriculture, to masonry, to minimal tasks. One thing they actually got right in 300 is in the role of a Spartan woman in affairs. Distinct difference compared to other city-states the Spartan woman has many more rights, including but not limited to of advising the men, holding the household, and woman are even involved in sporting events. Another thing the creators of 300 got right was the cruel eugenics policy taken place in Sparta. Yes the Spartans would murder unfit or deformed babies. The last thing the movie got right is how the Spartan child is raised and how the child is taken from the mother at an early age of seven to be trained to fight like a Spartan warrior.

The ways of the Spartans were very strict and they were a militaristic society. A member of Sparta devoted their life to the state and served in battle or in some way to help their army.