In this episode I look at how the Spartan soldier fared in battle. What advantages had they been given through the agoge and syssitia? What was hoplite battle like and how good were the Spartans? I also look at a couple of Plutarch's sayings about the Spartans in the context of war and weigh up whether they were just a later invention or if there was something more to them.

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Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Reading list and sources used

Bardunias, P. Storm of spears & press of shields

Bardunias, P & Eugene Ray Jnr, F. Hoplites at War

Cartledge, P. The Spartans

Cole, M. The Bronze Lie

Echeverrrai, F. Hoplite and Phalanx in archaic and Classical Greece a reassessment

Taktike Techne – the neglected element in classical 'hoplite battles'

Rusch, SM. Sparta at War

Special shoutout to the excellent BadAncient website,the In Our Time Sparta episode and the Sparta episodes on The Ancients podcast.