Military Culture and its Importance

Question 1

How was the army organised? Who records this?

Answer 1

The Spartan army was made up of lochoi, pentekostes, enomotia and mora. The mora were under the command of a Polemarch.

This was recorded by Xenophon.

Question 2

What does Herodotus say about the Spartan army numbers when fighting Xerxes?

Answer 2

Herodotus: Demaratus told Xerxes there was 8 000 Spartans in 480 BC.

Question 3

What does Thucydides say about the numbers in the battle of Mantinea?

Answer 3

“it would be impossible for me to give exact numbers” because of the secrecy of organisation.

Question 4

What does Thucydides’ record from Archidamus’ speech about the Spartan navy?

Answer 4

Thucydides 1.80: “Our navy? We are outnumbered, and it will take time to build up its numbers and train the crews”

Question 5

Who commanded the Spartan navy?

Answer 5

The nauarchos. It was an annual position from 408 BC.

Question 6

How powerful was the nauarchos?

Answer 6

This position was as powerful as a king on campaign. It was illegal to be re-appointed.

Question 7

List the Spartan failures in Military action alongside the dates.

Answer 7

425 BC: Sparta surrendered to Athens at Sphacteria.

Question 8

What number does Thucydides attribute to the number of Spartiates lost to Athens in 425 BC?

Answer 8

Thucydides 4.38: “About 120 of the prisoners were of the Spartan officer class”.

Question 9

List the Spartan successes in Military action alongside their dates.

Answer 9

424 BC: Brasidas persuaded Amphipolis to surrender to him, providing Sparta with a bargaining power to return Spartan prisoners.

418 BC: Battle of Mantinea. This successfully restored Spartan reputation after the surrender of Sphacteria.

Question 10

List the Spartan failures in Navy action alongside their dates.

Answer 10

425 BC: Sparta lost control of the sea at Pylos.

410 BC: Alcibiades defeats the Spartan fleet at Cyzicus. Mindarus was killed.

406 BC: Callicratidas engages and loses to the Athenian fleet at the Arginusae islands, despite being outnumbered and advised to retreat.

Question 11

List the Spartan successes in Navy action alongside their dates.

Answer 11

411 BC: First chapter of Hellenica records a Spartan victory over Athens but not where it occurred.

406 BC: Lysander defeated the Athenians at Notion (Xenophon)

405 BC: Sparta defeats Athens at the Battle of Aegospotami, ending the Peloponnesian War.

Question 12

What is a Lochos?

Answer 12

Spartan regiment consisting of 512 men, commanded by a Lochagos.

Question 13

What is the Pentekostes?

Answer 13

Spartan company consisting of 128 men, commanded by a Pentekonter.

Question 14

What is an Enomotia?

Answer 14

Spartan platoon consisting of 32 men, commanded by an Enomotarches

Question 15

What is a Mora?

Answer 15

A regiment of cavalry consisting of 576 men (Xenophon), commanded by a Polemarch.

Question 16

What is the Epistoleus?

Answer 16

Second in command under a Nauarchos.

Question 17

Who is Gylippus?

Answer 17

A Spartan general who broke the Athenian siege of Syracuse in 414/413 BC

Question 18

Who’s idea was it in Sparta to send a general to take charge of the defence of Syracuse?

Answer 18

Alcibiades!

Question 19

What did Gylippus do in Sicily?

Answer 19

He broke the Athenian blockade by land, organised resistance from other Sicilian states, and defeated the Athenians in a battle in the harbour.

Question 20

What does Thucydides say about the rest of Sicily helping Syracuse in the end of the Sicilian expedition?

Answer 20

Thucydides 7.33: the whole of Sicily joined together and instead of continuing to watch how things were going, “came in with Syracuse against the Athenians”

Question 21

Who did Gylippus want to spare in 413 BC?

Answer 21

Nicias and Demosthenes.

Question 22

What happened to Gylippus in 404 BC?

Answer 22

Lysander entrusted him with the remains of Athens’ treasury in 404 BC, however he embezzled some of the funds. He was discovered by the ephors and left Sparta in disgrace (Plutarch)