Military Organisation Flashcards
How was the Krypteia chosen?
The strongest graduates from the Agoge were chosen to serve for a period of time.
Who were the Krypteia?
They were the Spartan secret police.
What did the Krypteia do?
Sent out into the countryside of Laconia and Messenia, where they were given minimal rations so that they had to live off the land.
During the day what did the Krypteia?
They would lie low.
What did the Krypteia do in the night?
They patrolled the land.
What were the Krypteia encouraged to do?
To kill any helot they thought presented a danger to Sparta.
In order to gain full citizenship what did young Spartans have to do?
After leaving the Agoge, he had to be elected into a dining club, known as a syssition.
What is typical of a syssition?
Had 15 members and they were expected to eat together every night.
When on campaign what did syssition do?
Shared a tent together.
How was someone elected into a syssition?
Each current member was allowed to vote on a new candidate by dropping a ball of bread into an urn.
How could a member be rejected?
The member would squeeze his ball of bread flat.
What did you have to do once elected as a member?
Had to provide a fixed quota of rations from his farm each month.
What did syssitions do?
Bred comradeship and guaranteed equality between all citizens.
Why were they the most feared army in the Greek world?
They spent their whole life training for war.
How did the phalanx formation work?
Rectangular formation of soldier in rows and columns, each column was usually eight rows deep.
What happened on the front row of the phalanx?
The soldiers advanced together at the same pace, with their shields raised in their left hands; each soldier therefore relied on the shield of the man to his right to protect his right side.
What happened when the enemy was met in phalanx?
Each soldier thrust forward a long spear into the lines of the opposing soldiers.
What happened when a man in the front row fell?
The next man in the column behind him stepped forward to take his place.
What did a successful phalanx require?
Each soldier to know his place and to stand his ground in company with his colleagues.
Why was music important for Sparta’s military success?
It was central to the phalanx, as orders were communicated not by shouting but by a piper playing different tunes.
What were heavily armed soldier in the phalanx called?
Hoplites.
What was the offensive weapon used?
Long spear.
Why did the hoplite also carried a short sword?
He would use it if he lost his spear or fought at close quarters.
Describe the cloak worn?
Crimson robe. Buried in this cloak, it was red so it could hide any blood.
Describe the tunic?
A basic item which they wore under their corselet.
Describe shoes worn?
Leather boots worn in battle.
Describe the hair?
Wore their hair long, it was believed that this made them larger in stature and more frightening.
Describe the spear?
About three metres in length, main weapon of the phalanx.
Describe the shield?
It was round and inscribed with the letter L signifying Lacedaemonia, another term for Sparta.
Describe the corselet?
Made of bronze and protected the torso.
Describe the helmet?
Plume, it gave great protection although it made vision and hearing difficult.
Describe the knee greaves?
Used to protect a hoplite’s legs.
Describe the sword?
This was used if the hoplite lost his spear he fought his energy at close quarters. It was hung on the right side of a belt around his waist.
Describe what a Spartan warrior would have looked like?
Red cloak, emblem on the shield, plumed helmet, bare feet, combed long hair.
Explain why the Spartans lost at Thermopylae?
- Xerxes sent heralds asking for the Spartans to give up their arms.
- Xerxes attacked but with heavy losses without any results.
- The Persians were only able to get through the Thermopylae pass with the help of Ephialtes.
- The Greeks realised they would soon be trapped from both sides.
- Only 300 Spartans were left at the pass.
- They fought bravely to the death, holding up the Persians for a few hours.
- However facing attack from the rear as well as the front, the Spartans were simply overwhelmed.
Why were the Spartans usually successful?
- Intensive training from childhood.
- Support of the helots.
- Celebration of battle.
- Commitment to Sparta.
- Unity of tactics.
Explain Spartan fighting methods?
- Phalanx formation with each man’s shield protecting half of the man next to him.
- Took the places of fallen comrades in the front line.
- Used spears swords.
- Wore red cloaks to maintain morale and intimidate the enemy.
- Sometimes pretended to retreat the to trick the enemy.
- Were trained to die rather than surrender so as to be victorious in battle.
- Used music to give instruction in battle for efficient communication.
- Allowed enemy to flee instead of fighting.
What happened at Thermopylae?
- King Leonidas and only 300 men held back the massive Persian army of Xerxes at the narrow pass, which gave the rest of the Greeks time to prepare defense elsewhere.
- Use phalanx formation.
- Were betrayed by Ephialtes who told the Persians about another path.
- All Spartans fought to the death.
Why was the army important to the survival of Sparta?
- Reputation was a deterrent and prevented invasion.
- Maintained their way of life and isolation so that they were not influenced by other cultures.
- Made sure they had enough food / wealth to live as they didn’t trade.
- Kept helots in check to prevent rebellion.
- The army was the society’s only protection because the Spartans did not have walls.
