Ancient History What Constitutes a Spartan? Indeed,

Ancient History What constitutes a Spartan? Indeed, what characteristics are exemplary of a Spartan? According to Steven Pressfied in his work, "Gates of Fire," Spartans are synonymous with the term warrior.

So much so in fact, that one is likely to find the word Spartan in the thesaurus when researching the term "warrior." In his book, Pressfield provides the reader with very detailed and accurate descriptions of the ideal Spartan, as portrayed through the eyes of a freedman, a former slave recruited into the service of Spartan warriors, an individual in awe of the intensity and fearlessness of the warriors he has encountered.

One can most definitely conclude upon reading this work that Spartans were raised in a society or culture that praised fearlessness, cunning, strength and courage. The text begins with the account of the leader, referred to as "Majesty" recounting the following of his most recent battle with Spartan warriors: "In three days Spartans had slain no fewer than 20,000 of Persia's most valiant warriors (Pressfield, 6). Gates of Fire is the story of a Spartan warrior during the battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greek times.

One fighting member of the Spartan league, who is not by birth a native Spartan, is healed and saved by the surgical master of the Persian army. They obtain the following information of Spartan constitution and culture from this individual. The recovered first relates the tale of his pending death, as he thought he would die before the surgeon of the Persian Majesty relieved him of his wounds.

He says this of his thoughts on Spartan comrades that had fallen in the battle: "I was keenly aware of the soldiers that had fallen with me. A bond surpassing by a hundredfold that which I had known in life bound me to them" (Pressfield, 7). What is utterly amazing is that these words are uttered by an individual who formerly served as a serf, a servant to a higher up in the Spartan ranks. He was one who aspired to be as great as the Spartan warriors he imagined.

Obviously an important aspect of Spartan culture at least between warriors must have been a feeling of kinship and dedication to ones fellow warriors. In fact, this individual also reveals that any man with a strong mind an spirit may have opportunity to join the ranks of Spartan warriors, as indicated by the following: "Serfs may be elevated to many ranks among the Spartans, to assistant of Spartan Warriors to begin..." (12).

Through this revelation one may conclude that Spartan's accepted all men with a strong constitution and lack of fear or willingness to stand up in battle among their ranks in some measure. Further passages in the book reveal the fierce and ferocious dedication held among Spartan warriors, a dedication that ultimately in many instances would lead to the death of the warrior. In a description of Spartan warriors, the following portrait is engraved upon the mind of the reader: "They move thorough these horrors with clear eyes and unshaken limbs" (24).

Described here is a villager's description of how Spartans deals with the horrors and atrocities of war and carnage. Apparently the culture of Sparta was one that did not shy away from the destruction and horror that occurs in war. In fact, the very same character claimed of her attacked town, that even having had one Spartan in the village would have resulted in a far better outcome than their total annihilation, as things stood at the time of the tale.

The book goes on to tell stories of Spartan youths, warriors in training who are whipped beyond recognition, to the point where their skin is peeled away from their muscle, and their bones stick out covered in blood. But nary one of the potential future warriors of Sparta cries out in agony of fear.

According to the tales of Sparta, the "Whippings are a ritual of the boys in training, not in punishment for stealing food, (at which boys are encouraged to excel, as they develop resourcefulness in war), but only punished for getting caught: (32). This revelation is recounted when the individual soldier saved by the Majesty of Persians recalls his feelings at being captured stealing a goose.

His tale reveals that the personalities and traits of trickery as applied to war, machinations and deception as beneficial to a country in a state of war were obviously rewarded and treasured traits among Spartan youths. As the book continues, and further texts and historical accounts of Spartan constitution, one cannot be helped but left with the impression of the Spartans as extraordinarily dedicated, ferocious, fearless warriors, almost incapable of defeat, a mighty force of benefit to any warring nation, one group to be feared by their opponents.

One last interesting point to bring up, Spartan culture was one that not only honored and recognized but bore and bread warriors. "the laws of Lykurgus forbid him and every other Spartan to know or pursue a trade other than war, his term of obligation extends from age 20-60" (34). Obviously, being natively born into the Spartan culture, if one was male and able bodied, meant being born into the discipline of war.

An interesting side note, one might assume that children brought into such a warring and aggressive constitution might naturally assume very impersonal qualities, and not be likely to demonstrate any sense of attachment or emotion. However, later in the text it is revealed that young warriors are in fact paired with mentors, charged with caring for their "disciples," carrying in actuality a great deal for their prodigy and forming a pair bond. "Such is the genius of pairing boys in training with mentors other than his own father" (35).

Pressfield presses the point that the mentor/student relationship formed by boys in training allows the student and mentor to reveal feelings, emotions and concerns that might not otherwise be revealed to a father figure for many reasons, perhaps fear of ridicule and embarrassment. One might conclude then, that the Spartan warrior was very complex, not simply composed of an aggressive and fearless spirit, but.