In the first instance, the ephors announce in proclamation
the limit of age to which the service applies for cavalry and
heavy infantry; and, in the next place, for the various
artisans. So that, even on campaign, the Spartans are
well-supplied with all the conveniences enjoyed by people living
as citizens at Sparta. All the implements and instruments
whatsoever which an army may need in common are ordered to be in
readiness, some on wagons and others on baggage animals. In this
way anything omitted can hardly escape detection.
For the actual encounter under arms, the following inventions
are attributed to Lycurgos: the soldier has a crimson-colored
uniform and a heavy shield of bronze; his theory
being that such equipment has no sort of feminine association,
and is altogether most warrior-like. It is most quickly
burnished; it is least readily soiled. He further permitted
those who were about the age of early manhood to wear their
hair long. For so, he conceived, they would appear of larger
stature, more free and indomitable, and of a more terrible
aspect. So furnished and accoutered, he divided his hoplites
into six morai [regiments] of cavalry and heavy
infantry. Each of these hoplite morai has one
polemarchos [colonel], four lochagoi [captains],
eight penteconters [lieutenants], and sixteen
enomotarchs [sergeants]. At a word of command any such
morai can be formed readily into either enomoties
[single-file], or into threes [three files of men abreast] or
sixes [six files of men abreast].
As to the idea, commonly entertained, that the tactical
arrangement of the Spartan heavy infantry is highly
complicated, no conception could be more opposed to facts. For
in the Spartan order the front-rank-men are all leaders, so that
each file has everything necessary to play its part efficiently.
In fact, this disposition is so easy to understand that no one
who can distinguish one human being from another can fail to
follow it. One set have the privilege of leaders, the other the
duty of followers. The evolutional orders by which greater depth
or shallowness is given to the battle line are given by word of
mouth, by the enomotarch, and they cannot be mistaken.
None of these maneuvers presents any difficulty whatsoever to
the understanding.
I will now speak of the mode of encampment, sanctioned
by the regulation of Lycurgos. To avoid the waste incidental to
the angles of the square, the encampment, according to him,
should be circular, except where there was the security
of a hill or fortification, or where they had a river in the
rear. He had sentinels posted during the day along the place of
arms and facing inwards; since they are appointed not so much
for the sake of the enemy as to keep an eye on friends. The
enemy is sufficiently watched by mounted troopers perched on
various points commanding the widest prospects. To guard against
hostile approach by night, sentinel duty according to the
ordinance was performed by the sciritai outside the main
body. At the present time the rule is so far modified that the
duty is entrusted to foreigners, if there be a foreign
contingent present, with a leaven of Spartans to keep them
company. The custom of always taking their spears with them when
they go their rounds must certainly be attributed to the same
cause which makes them exclude their slaves from a place of
arms....The need of precaution is the whole explanation. The
frequency with which they change their encampment is another
point. It is done quite as much for the sake of benefitting
their friends as annoying their enemies.
Further, the law enjoins upon all Spartans, during the whole
period of the campaign, the constant practice of gymnastic
exercises, whereby their pride in themselves is increased,
and they appear freer and of a more liberal aspect than the rest
of the world. The walk and the running grounds must not exceed
in length the space covered by a morai, so that one may
not find himself far from his own stand of arms. After the
gymnastic exercises, the senior polemarchos gives the
order by herald to be seated. This serves all the purposes of
inspection. After this the order is given "To get breakfast,"
and for "The outpost to be relieved." After this, again, come
pastimes and relaxations before the evening exercises, after
which the herald's cry is heard "To take the evening meal." When
they have sung a hymn to the gods to whom the offerings of happy
omen have been performed, the final order "Retire to rest at the
place of arms," is given.
From: Fred Fling, ed., A Source Book of Greek History,
(Boston: D. C. Heath, 1907), pp. 73-75
Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State
Fullerton. Prof. Arkenberg has modernized the text.