Not much tales of the most powerful state in ancient greece have survived.
According to the legends, Sparta was not protected by its walls but by its warriors. The well fortified city was surrounded by brave men, not by brick pavements.
At the beginning of the fifth century before Christ, the Spartans' ability to defend themselves was probably put to the hardest test when the Persian king Xerxes, who ruled over the largest empire in the world of that time, drew up plans to expand his power by conquering the city-states of Greece.
For a long time, intruders have been attracted by the fertility of the valley in which the Spartans lived, as the Spartans themselves did centuries ago. However, the valley was protected from the outside world by the mountains and the sea. The bigger threat of Sparta, however, was its inner enemies, the so-called Helots. They had already lived in the valley before the Spartans, but despite their overwhelming numbers they had been subjugated and led a life of peasants and servants.
When Sparta was shaken by a terrible earthquake, the Helots rose. It took several years to suppress their herd. Since then, the Helots have been constantly monitored by the Spartan soldiers. Every rebel was killed.
With its outward hostility and inward concern, the Spartan regime has been extraordinary in history. Constantly threatened by war, the nation lived like one unit. They were superior to all Greeks, not because of the size of their city or because of the number of men, but because through the constitution the Spartans had created, their state resembled a military camp that was well administered and willingly obeyed the officers. has been achieved.
When the Persians marched to Greece, Spartans and the other city-states stopped fighting among themselves. A small force including 300 Spartans was sent to stop the Persians while the city-states continued to mobilize.
Among the Spartans was a warrior named Aristodemos. Like the others, he had been prepared for war all his life, from birth on.
Every Spartan child was examined by the city elders immediately after birth. If it was not healthy and strong, it was thrown from Mount Taygetos into a canyon and left to die.
After he had survived his examination, Aristodemos was bathed not in water but in wine to steel his constitution, then he was handed over to slave labor. He was not pampered, nor properly nourished, and he was taught not to fear darkness or loneliness.
Part 2