When it comes to legendary warriors, few names evoke as much awe as the Spartans of ancient Greece. Known for their unmatched discipline, endurance, and fighting prowess, the Spartans remain one of history’s most elite military forces.
But how did they achieve such fame? How did the Spartans create a military force that gave them control over the whole world?
To understand this, let’s follow the life of a Spartan boy and see how he transformed from a newborn into one of the world’s most feared warriors.
Ages 0 to 7: Early Life of the Spartan Boy
For the ancient Spartan, Life began with a trial—literally. When a Spartan boy was born, he was inspected by a group of elders. These men examined the baby for physical flaws, searching for signs of strength and sturdiness.
If the infant was deemed weak or deformed, his life ended almost immediately, often through exposure on the slopes of Mount Taygetos. This harsh practice ensured that only the strongest boys survived to become future warriors.
Those who passed this grim test spent the next few years with their mothers, who were expected to raise them to become warriors and imbibe them with the values of the state.
Spartan women, known for their strength and independence, played a crucial role in these early years. They raised their sons to be tough, often encouraging them to withstand minor discomforts.
Toys were few, and games often mimicked the physical challenges the boys would face later in life. This early upbringing instilled resilience and the seeds of Spartan discipline.
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Ages 7 to 11: Spartan Boys Enter the Military Camp
At age seven, childhood came to an abrupt end. Spartan boys were taken from their families and entered the agoge, a state-run training program designed to prepare them for a life of war. This marked the start of their formal education, though calling it “education” in the conventional sense might be misleading.
The boys were grouped into agelai (“packs”), where they lived, trained, and studied together. Each group was overseen by older boys or young men who enforced discipline.
These older mentors would instruct the younger boys in wrestling, running, and basic combat skills. Leadership skills were also tested, as some boys were chosen to act as captains within their groups, responsible for maintaining order and punishing disobedience.
During this phase, boys were deliberately kept hungry, forcing them to become resourceful. Stealing food was encouraged but came with a catch—if caught, they were beaten, not for the theft but for failing to execute it skillfully.
For the Spartans, a man could only become an elite soldier if his wit was as sharp as his body.
Ages 11 to 15: Turning the Boy into a Spartan Soldier
By the time a Spartan boy reached his early teens, the agoge training intensified. Physical training became even more gruelling, with daily drills designed to push their bodies to the limit. Wrestling, sparring, and running were staples of their routine, all conducted barefoot to toughen their feet.
A popular training tactic involved sending boys alone into the wilderness without weapons. The boys were expected to use their resourcefulness to survive the dangers of the wilderness. If they died on this journey, it is assumed they were never supposed to be Spartan soldiers anyway!
The boys were also trained to endure pain and hardship without showing emotion. They were often subjected to public beatings with thick leather whips designed to tear the flesh.
The boys were given a single cloak to wear year-round, regardless of weather conditions. This forced them to adapt to both heat and cold, further hardening their bodies.
Beds were made from reeds they had to gather themselves, reinforcing the value of self-reliance. Hygiene was minimal, as Spartan leaders believed this contributed to toughness.
Education during this period focused primarily on obedience, discipline, and survival skills. However, contrary to some myths, Spartan boys were not entirely uneducated.
They learned basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, as well as music and dance, which were considered important for maintaining morale and cohesion in battle.
Ages 16 to 20: Preparing Spartan Boys for War
By sixteen, a Spartan boy was no longer a child. He was now considered a youth and was expected to demonstrate the physical and mental traits of a warrior. His training evolved to include more advanced combat techniques, including the use of weapons like spears and shields.
The boys also practised fighting in the phalanx formation, the tightly packed, disciplined line of soldiers that would eventually help the spartan armies conquer the world.
Around this time, the young Spartan was also drafted into the Krypteia, a secret spartan Police designed to control the massive Helot population and weed out dissenters to the ruling class. Service in the krypteia gave young spartans early compact experience where they could put all their training into practice.
These young men were sent into the countryside with minimal supplies and ordered to surveil or eliminate rebellious Helots. This brutal practice served as both a rite of passage and a method of maintaining Spartan dominance over their enslaved population.
By age twenty, the young men were officially considered soldiers. However, their transition to full citizenship was not yet complete. They joined the Spartan army and began participating in campaigns, but they continued to live in military barracks, eating and training alongside their comrades.
Ages 21 to 30: The Path to Full Citizenship
Between the ages of twenty and thirty, Spartan men served as full-time soldiers, honing their skills through continuous training and real-life combat. During this time, their commitment to the state remained absolute.
Marriage was permitted, but even married men were required to live in the barracks until age thirty. At this age, they were supposed to have sex with their wives a few times a year. The Spartans believed this would help them create stronger babies. Spartan society valued military readiness above all else, and personal relationships were secondary to the needs of the state.
For those who excelled in combat and demonstrated exceptional leadership, there were opportunities to join elite units like the Hippeis, a group of 300 elite infantrymen who were chosen to serve as the royal guard of honour for the Spartan king.
Membership in such units was a mark of great honour and came with increased responsibilities on the battlefield. They were often deployed.
Life After Thirty: Full Spartan Citizenship
At thirty, a Spartan man finally became a full citizen, known as a Spartiates. He was allowed to leave the barracks and live with his family, though his duties to the state were far from over.
As a citizen soldier, he continued to train and could be called to war at any time. He was also granted a kleros, a plot of land farmed by Helots, which provided the economic foundation for his household.
Despite reaching this milestone, the Spartan’s life remained deeply intertwined with the military. Training and readiness were lifelong commitments, ensuring that the state’s army remained formidable.
Conclusion
From the moment of birth, a Spartan boy’s life was a relentless march toward becoming a soldier. Through a brutal and unyielding system, he was transformed into a warrior capable of enduring unimaginable hardship and displaying unparalleled discipline.
This was what set him apart from other militaries of the world at this time. Years of training made the average spartan soldier more skilful and stronger than soldiers from anywhere else. They were also less likely to run on the battlefield. For the spartan, victory or death were his only options.
While these methods may seem extreme, they succeeded in forging an army that became the stuff of legend. Though harsh, the Spartan approach to life and warfare continues to fascinate us as a testament to the human capacity for resilience and strength.