“For Sparta!” "" a young Spartan commander shouted to his troops as the Persian hordes approached their defensive lines. The battle had begun. Roaring, the Persians charged the Spartans only to be massacred. Slashing and poking, the vastly superior Spartans massacred the Persian troops with their superior weapons and renowned training, but they continued to advance. “We must fall back!” » the commander shouted to his troops as the battle progressed, but his troops could not hear him over the din of the battle. As night approached, the Persians managed to break through the lines, forcing a massive rout of the Spartans to another line. “We have to hold on a little longer, otherwise Greece will fall!” » shouted the Spartan commander as he impaled a weak Persian through the mouth with his dory. This was the Battle of Thermoplyae. So, 300 Spartans held the Thermoplyae for three days against 300,000 Persians until they were all killed, resulting in a Pyrrhic victory for the Persians. The Battle of Thermoplyae is a good example of Sparta's unique military capability. still recognized today almost 2500 years ago. Although Sparta's iconic military strength is generally associated with the bravery, skill and professionalism of its soldiers, credit must be given to the Spartan soldier's equipment, training and tactics that made him superior to all other infantry of Sparta. Antiquity (with the exception of the Roman Legions). The first aspect to understand the military strength of Sparta was its equipment. Spartan armor was similar to that of other Greek city-states with its bronze greaves, muscular chest plate, and helmet with cheekpieces. One notable difference was that the Spartans wore red capes although they never were... middle of paper... you had to go through the back of the first and cut the tip of the spear, which made the armed hoplites useless. (former military) Although all Greek city-states employed the Phalanx, the Spartans never let anyone else use their other tactics, resulting in their tactics never evolving unlike those of others city-states. This is one of the fundamental reasons for the fall of Sparta. (former soldier); (Warry 42) In conclusion, the Spartan army was a formidable power until 200 BC due to its equipment, training, and tactics. The might of their infantry, which held the Thermoplyae against the numerically superior Persian force for 3 days, inspired militaries around the world and amazed us today over 2,500 years ago. Works Cited Warry, John. War in the Classical World. London: Salamander Books ltd., 1980. “ancientmilitary” www.Ancientmilitary.com/ancient-sparta.html