For Strength And Glory
We all think we know the Spartans—bare-chested warriors shouting “This is Sparta!” and charging into battle without fear. But how much of that is Hollywood, and how much is history? Behind the legend lies the startling truth—a real society more brutal, bizarre, and complex than most people realize. Let’s pull back the curtain on the true lives of ancient Sparta’s most feared fighters.
1. They Chose Their Heritage
The problem with history this old is that sometimes myth is more powerful than the truth—or at least, it seems that way. Truly reliable sources on the origins of Sparta are difficult to find. According to what seems to be the Spartans' report of their own history, the Dorians migrated to the area about 60 years after the Trojan war, eventually leading to the rise of Sparta. What many historians have dug up, though, gives a very different version of events.
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2. Their Stories Are Disputed
As early as 1824, classical historians disputed the source of this theory. They believed it to be rooted in what much of history leans on, propaganda meant to promote the strength of Sparta and differentiate it from Athens, which had an Ionian heritage rather than Dorian. But even in the 1800s, scholars used this myth to claim authority over various heritages—but once more evidence came to the light, the truth finally seemed to emerge.
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3. Their Early Culture Fell
The discovery of a written script from the Mycenaean period referred to as Linear B in the 1950s finally undermined the theory of the Dorians once and for all. The Linear B script showed the supposed “invasion” of the Dorians to be none existent, with most Bronze Age movement moving away from the southern Peloponnese, not towards it. The fall of Mycenaean culture was a natural combination of many factors that typically happened over time. However, in its wreckage, it bore this unforgettable Grecian city—Sparta.
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4. They Built Themselves Back Up
The archeological evidence suggests that Sparta came into being around 1000 BC, roughly 200 years or more after the collapse of the ancient Mycenaean civilization of myth and legend. Sparta came into being as four villages came together, rebuilding themselves from the fall of the previous culture. This created a period of pure chaos, filled with a lack of law and strife. As such, the Spartans needed control if they were to survive. Luckily for them, the solution came in the form of one man—supposedly.
Universal History Archive, Getty Images
5. They Controlled Chaos
According to legend, Sparta would not exist if it were not for the intervention of one man: Lycurgus. The Spartans credited their later success to Lycurgus and the reforms he supposedly made in those early years. Granted, some historians argue he was actually a Spartan god and not a person at all. Either way, though, the changes attributed to Lycurgus changed the city forever.
Merry-Joseph Blondel, Wikimedia Commons
6. They Formed Organically
One of Sparta’s earliest difficulties was a dual kingship. Most historians believe that this came from the amalgamation of two major villages that often struggled with unity. This, undeniably, created chaos within Sparta. As such, one of Lycurgus’s main achievements was the creation of the Spartan constitution which most stories agree happened after this dual monarchy ended. However, some sources do vary on this and mention of the dual kingship continues or some time. Still, Lycurgus was not done.
7. They Created Their Identity
Lycurgus is credited with far more than merely creating a constitution. If one believes the myths and stories, Lycurgus introduced a radical new order: communal mess halls where men and boys dined together, a sweeping redistribution of land among citizens, and strict cultural values rooted in austerity and self-restraint. He created the very identity of Sparta, which may be why some historians question his identity. How can one man do so much?
Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier, Wikimedia Commons
8. They Wrote Myths
While many records dictate what Lycurgus did, there are few records that state who he was. The records are also often contradictory. Lycurgus is a shadowy figure that seems to exist only to better the myth and story of Sparta. Some classicists also note that the root of Lycurgus’s name derives from “wolf” which is associated with the god Apollo. Some theorize that Lycurgus may have been merely an alter-ego for the god. Regardless, from this point Sparta was on its way.
9. They Began To Grow
One of the reasons that Sparta continues to capture modern imagination is because they are credited as a great warrior culture. Their early history does suggest success in this as they spent these years expanding their boundaries and further securing their own safety by defeating those that were around them. In other words, It was dangerous to catch the eye of Sparta.
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10. They Controlled The Valley
Sparta’s location within the valley made it fairly difficult to approach. This meant that Sparta did not spend much time fortifying themselves against potential dangers. However, they weren't satisfied. Amyklai was one of the few surviving cities near them, and believed to be Sparta’s most powerful neighbor. But even they fell, likely around 750 BC with their people either driven out or absorbed into the growing Spartan city-state. Even so, even that wasn't enough for the early Spartans...
Universal History Archive, Getty Images
11. They Fought Battles
Sparta had one last battle to win in order to secure themselves as a source of power and strength within the Peloponnesus and Greece as a whole. According to an ancient source, Tyrtaeus, the battle to conquer the Messenians, Sparta’s western neighbors, lasted 19 years and they fought it in the time of “the fathers of our fathers”. But, as always, doubt is cast upon these accounts.
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12. Their History Became Stories
Much of Greek history as told by poets like Tyrtaeus was told for entertainment as much as it was for sharing information. Taking these sources as history without being skeptical is equivalent to watching film adaptations of our own history and not acknowledging something has been changed for entertainment or to tell the message that the creator wanted. As such, historians turn to archeology and other sources for a fuller understanding of the truth.
13. They Conquered Cities
While the length of the battle remains questioned and modern sources believe that it happened later than Tyrtaeus’s account suggests, there is enough evidence to confirm that Sparta conquered the Messenians through a second conflict around the 7th century. As a result, the Messenians were reduced to the status of “helots” giving them a semi slave status within early Spartan culture. Now Sparta had its eye on its remaining neighbors.
14. They Exulted Their Power
To the east, Sparta was bordered by a territory known as Cynuria. There is more doubt about whether Sparta battled over Cynuria. However, their low population suggests that Sparta continued to hold power over them as well. Regardless, by the end of the Second Messenian War, Sparta became a recognizable force of power, and the rest of Greece respected its strength. No one could rival the Spartans.
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15. They Changed Strategy
Now that Sparta had exerted its power over their neighbors, it was time to centralize that control once and for all. Previously, as exhibited with the success over the Messenians, when the Spartans conquered a city they absorbed their people into their own society at a degraded position akin to enslavement. But a significant loss in the 6th century BC saw a turn in Sparta’s treatment of invaded states.
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16. They Lost
During this period, potentially still under a dual kingship, Sparta made an attack on their next biggest opposition: the city of Tegea. Unfortunately, Tegea did not fall as easily as others before them had. After Sparta faced a significant defeat referred to as the Battle of the Fetters by ancient poets—they found themselves forced to change their strategy.
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17. They Turned to Allies
Instead of attempting to conquer all their neighbors, Sparta began to seek alliances with them. Sparta remained the center of power through these alliances. Eventually, this alliance grew to become the Peloponnesian League, which banded together many of Sparta’s neighbors through loyalty with Sparta retaining their position of leader within the league.
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18. They Were Hellas
By the 400s BC, no one had any questions about the might of Sparta. All across ancient Greece, they respected Sparta as a leader and champion of their culture, Hellenism. When other portions of Greece faced pressure from outside forces, they turned to Sparta to rescue them. However, there was one force that could match Sparta’s might: Athens.
19. They Looked Northward
Sparta seemed to first engage with Athens in 510 BC when they traveled north to help in overthrowing Hippias, an Athenian tyrant. In this period, the term "tyrant" was far more neutral; at the time, a tyrant was merely a ruler who came to power without constitutional right. It had no reflect on their temperament or ability to rule. As such, Sparta removed Hippias not out of justice but for their gains. But then they tried to take things just a bit too far...
Leo von Klenze, Wikimedia Commons
20. They Tried To Control Athens
Sparta moved into Athens to dispose of Hippias with the backing of an Athenian aristocrat named Isagoras. They successfully removed Hippias and the Spartan king, Cleomenes, took power—but the Athenians weren't too fond of the change. The Athenians exiled Cleomenes, forcing him to return to Sparta. However, from that point on Athens remained a desirable target for Sparta and tensions between the two powers grew, creating a tiny flicker that eventually grew into an all consuming flame.
21. They Saw Great Conflict
Some fifty years later, in 499 BC, the entirety of Greece entered into conflict with invading Persians who were looking to conquer Greek land. This started the Persian Wars which lasted for fifty years. As the two largest city states at the time, smaller states often called upon both Athens and Sparta to defend their land. With the mighty Persians looming, this proved to be one of those times...
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22. They Created Legend
One of the most famous battles during the Persian conflict is the Battle of Marathon. This is because it is the source of the modern marathon. The Battle of Marathon occurred between the invading Persians and the Athenians. However, as the battle raged the Athenians sought help from the only allies that could match their might: the Spartans.
Georges Rochegrosse, Wikimedia Commons
23. They Had A Problem
The story goes that in order to get that aid the Athenians sent a runner from Athens to Sparta. Understanding the importance of his mission, the man supposedly ran the entire 140 miles between the two cities in order to seek help. The memory of this story inspired the creators of the modern Olympians who used it to create the marathon race. However, it had far more dire implications in ancient Greece.
24. They Withheld Their Aid
When the runner, Pheidippides, arrived in Sparta, he did not receive the reception that he or Athens were hoping for. The day Pheidippides arrived, the Spartans were celebrating a sacred festival, Carneia. This period called for peace. Rather than jumping to the Athenians' aid, the Spartans informed Pheidippides that they could not gather the armies or march to the conflict until the full moon rose. This would take at least ten days. In the mean time, this left Athens to hold onto Marathon on their own.
Ian Alexander, Wikimedia Commons
25. They Arrived Too Late
The Spartans were good to their word. Once their festival period concluded, they marched to Marathon, covering the ground in three days. However, by that point the Athenians had already succeeded in winning the battle; they no longer had need of the Spartans. While Athens did not need Sparta in the end, this would not be the last time Sparta’s religious scruples stalled the conflict.
26. They Hesitated Again
Ten years later, the Battle of Thermopylae fell during the Olympic truce; the Spartans felt they should honor this truce. The other states disagreed and began assembling forced. Sparta was the greatest power on land, so they they faced pressure to contribute. Without their input, they felt Athens may defect to the side of Persia, a hit that Greece could not survive. In the end, they made an unexpected move—one that ended in tragedy, but cemented their place in cinematic history.
John Steeple Davis, Wikimedia Commons
27. They Did Their Duty
Eventually, the Spartan King, Leonidas, led a mixed group of about 7000 men to defend Greece at the Battle of Thermopylae. The men fought valiantly for seven days, holding back the Persians until a traitor in their midst gave their enemy an upper hand. When Leonidas found out, he sent the troops from other cities away, holding his place on the field with 300 Spartans to face the grand Persian army. If you've seen the movie, you know what happened next. If not, you're in for a doozy...
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28. They Refused To Back Down
Leonidas and the Spartans refused to back down. In a moment that became so iconic it remains as one of history's greatest "last stands," the Spartans fought to the very end, despite the fact that they likely knew they were far outmatched by the imposing Persian army. And though history remembers their valor, their enemies couldn't let the defeat go without one final, embarrassing addition of insult to injury.
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29. They Disrespected Him
Xerxes, the Persian King, ordered a harrowing display for Leonidas's lifeless body. Reportedly, he ordered the body decapitated, mounting the head on a stake and sending the remainder of it to be crucified. Eventually, the Spartans retrieved his bones and gave him a proper burial, but, tragically, the end of war for the small Grecian city was far from near.
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30. They Faced Disaster
Back in 464 BC, Sparta faced an unavoidable disaster from nature. An earthquake destroyed much of the city. Sources from that time say that as many as 20,000 perished in the earthquake. While modern historians feel that number is probably exaggerated, this earthquake significantly weakened Sparta. But even worse than the fatalities, it caused a serious crack in the relationship between Sparta and Athens.
31. Their People Revolted
The earthquake resulted in a revolt from Sparta’s slave class, the helots. Athens sent aid to Sparta, but Sparta sent the reinforcement back, fearing they’d identify with the rioters, not Sparta. The snub offended Athens. They cancelled their treaty with Sparta, sending Athenian politics into sweeping reform. The culture in Athens became increasingly anti-Spartan. It was a powder keg just waiting to explode.
32. They Launched Civil Conflict
Officially, the Peloponnesian Wars pitted the Delian League, which Athens controlled, against Sparta’s Peloponnesian League. There were many factors involved. However, at the root of the conflict was the growing power feud between Sparta and Athens. Unfortunately for Sparta, when the conflict started, they were in a weakened state.
33. Their Hands Were Tied
Sparta was not able to participate in the First Peloponnesian War with the force they were known for. Their earthquake and resulting revolt still took up much of their manpower. They involved themselves in a few battles before ultimately entering a five-year truce with Athens. However, their seeking of a truce was not a sign of giving up. They were preparing for a bigger fight.
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34. They Hedged Their Bets
Sparta sought out another truce at the same time. While their truce with Athens was only for five years, they signed a thirty-year peace with Argos. This ensured that when the time came to attack Athens again nothing would divide Sparta’s attention. They would be able to focus their full might on Athens and Athens alone.
35. The Renewed Conflict
Six years later, Sparta and Athens sparred again. Officially, Sparta went to battle due to Athenian alliances with enemies of Sparta’s allies. In truth, Sparta feared Athens’ strength; Athens was the only state powerful enough to challenge Sparta so Sparta wanted to challenge them first. This Second Peloponnesian War became the longest and most impactful conflict in Greek history.
36. They Went On The Attack
For the bulk of the conflict, Sparta went on the attack while Athens secured themselves behind their large city walls. Sparta was the Greeks’ power on land. However, Athens had the sea. Therefore, Athens used their navy to attack the Spartan coastline. An early surrender put Sparta’s might into doubt. However, it was merely a pause in the fighting.
19th century lithograph, unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
37. The Ruled The Land
The Spartans cut Athens off by land leaving them their navy and the sea as their only defense. However, the early Spartan navy was inefficient. Athens outranked them easily on this field. Sparta, however, turned to an old enemy. Persia provided Sparta with much-needed funds to support their navy in exchange for ancestral lands. This gave the Spartans the extra might they needed.
38. They Cut Athens Off
Sparta now had Athens cut off by land and sea. Athens had no choice but to surrender to the might of Sparta. After much debate, Sparta allowed Athens to keep their lands. However, their defensive walls were torn down and they had to withdraw from the Delian League. Athens had fallen; Sparta no longer had a true adversary that could rival their might—for a while, anyway.
39. They Ruled Greece
Sparta briefly retained the partnership with Persia that had originated during their conflict with Athens. However, Persia eventually attempted to push against Sparta’s might, forcing the two states into conflict. Persia attempted to use the states already opposed to Sparta against them. This led to a series of battles that ultimately concluded with Sparta reinforcing their strength. Many states fell under Spartan control.
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40. They Faced Opposition
No one city-state could face the might of Sparta. However, Thebes, Athens, Corinth, and Argos thought they might have success if they banded together. This started another civil conflict known as the Corinthian War. This time Persia, now fearing Spartan invasion, supported the other side leading to victory and the Peace of Antalcidas. The treaty gave Persia the Greek cities of Ionia and attempted to curb Sparta’s influence on all of Greece. Unfortunately, it didn't last for long.
Unknown, published 1882, Wikimedia Commons
41. They Eyed Thebes
Despite this peace, Sparta continued to battle with Thebes, seizing their citadel of Kadmeia. The conflict between Thebes and Sparta continued until 371 BC when Spartans faced something they hadn’t in a very long time: defeat. The Thebans defeated Sparta at Leuctra and the Spartan forces took heavy damage. Sparta lost their upper hand. Thebes emerged as the Greek source of power.
Edmund Ollier Publication date 1882, Wikimedia Commons
42. They Began To Crumble
Sparta faced a problem internally as well. A citizen of Sparta inherited that standing through blood. However, the Spartan population declined and the population of Helot rose. Aristotle viewed this as a sudden turn. However, many researchers suggest these years of constant battle resulted in huge loss of life, contributing to the issue. Regardless, the population began decreasing at 50% every fifty years, battle or no battle. The very fiber of Sparta began to dissolve.
43. They Took A Final Hit
Sparta managed to hold onto a small amount of power for another hundred years or so. However, when Messenia revolted, they failed to hold onto her. From that point on, Sparta began to lose its power and might. Eventually, Alexander the Great overpowered them. Still, even in their decline, the Spartans never forgot who they were. During this final conquest, Alexander's father, King Phillip II of Macedon, sent a warning to Sparta: :If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out". The Spartans' response? Truly iconic.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
44. They Held On
The Spartans sent their reply with a quickness: "If". In other words, the King needed to bring his best as the Spartans would never take a challenge lying down. Even so, Alexander ultimately forced them to join his League of Corinth. Despite never regaining its former glory, Sparta never forgot its fierce sense of independence. They were Sparta and always would be.
Giuseppe Cades, Wikimedia Commons
45. They Never Gave Up
Sparta continued to fight even if they never regained their former strength. In 272 BC a displaced Spartan king convinced another Greek king, Pyrrhus, to lay siege to Sparta. Pyrrhus, who believed his success to be easy, faced surprise instead. All of Sparta, including the women, banded together to defend against Pyrrhus’s attack, preserving Sparta for a while longer. The spirit of Sparta lived on.
Helene Guerber, Wikimedia Commons
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46. Their Population Dwindled
By the 3rd century, Sparta faced a bigger crisis internally. Approximately 100 families controlled the wealth of the city, leaving much of the nation poor. The backbone of their army had always been held by equals. At its height, the Spartan army had 9000 members. But by this point, Sparta had only 700. Calls for reform began to arise; while they eventually saw success, it never returned Sparta to its previous strength.
47. They Faced Rome
Since the success of Alexander the Great, Sparta had been a part of Macedonia. However, a new power began to rise within the region: Rome. During the various power struggles, Sparta became a part of the Achaean League. However, when the League faced conflict with the Romans, Sparta did not become involved, putting them in an interesting position when Rome defeated the Achaean League.
Modern portrayal of Roman soldiers (legionaries), Wikimedia Commons
48. They Gained Freedom
Although officially part of the Roman empire, the Romans designated Sparta as a “free city”. This gave Sparta a certain amount of freedom. They restored some of their institutions that had been made by Lycurgus. The Roman elites became amused by the Spartan customs; they attracted Roman tourists who wished to come see them for themselves. So the once mighty Sparta became a mere tourist destination.
Bildagentur-online, Getty Images
49. They Finally Fell
Records on Sparta from this point on are difficult to locate. Contemporaries disagree on how much freedom Sparta truly had. However, it seemed to carry on until 396 AD when Alric, king of the Visigoths, sacked the city. Although it was rebuilt, it was much smaller. Ultimately, it was finally abandoned during this time as an Avro-Slav group continued to raid the city. Sparta had fallen.
50. Their Glory Remains
Today Sparta is little more than a memory. Although King Otto of Greece expanded the small middle-aged town of Sparta back into a city and people continue to live there today, it is no longer the place of glory it once was. However, Sparta’s control of ancient Greece and their determination to live on in the face of defeat continues in story. They may have lost their glory but it will never be forgotten.
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