The Spartan Military Culture and its Importance in the Society and Politics of Sparta

Question 1

How was the army split at the start of the period?

Answer 1

Army was divided into five Lochoi or regiments. Each made up of 1000 men at the battle of Plataea (479), but that was not the whole army. Demaratus tells Xerxes that there were 8,000 Spartans.

Question 2

Who were the Skiritai?

Answer 2

A unit of perioikoi from northern Lakonia.

Question 3

What other regiments were in the Spartan army?

Answer 3

The Brasidians, helots freed upon returning from Brasidas 424 campaign, and Neodamodeis,

Question 4

What did each lochos consist of? and then mathematically how many Spartiates were there?

Answer 4

Four pentekostues, and each pentekostus of four enomotiai, each enomotiai was 32 men. Based off this, there were 3584 Spartiates.

Question 5

What does Scott Rusch argue each lochoi consist of?

Answer 5

Argues that there were seven lochoi, this gives a total of 4,200.

Question 6

Xenophon, describes the battle of Leuktra in 371 BC, what does Xenophon say an enomotia consist of? what calculations can be made from this?

Answer 6

Enomotia = 36 men,
Each mora = 576 men,
So 3,456 in the hoplite army.

Question 7

What did the Spartans admit they lacked knowledge of in 464?

Answer 7

Skill or knowledge of siege warfare.