The histories of Athens and Sparta—the most dominant cities of classical
Greece—are of vital importance to understanding the story of Western
Civilization. In Athens, great thinkers such as Plato examined universal
philosophical questions. In Sparta, the martial virtues, including the
virtue of courage, were mastered. A careful study of these two cities
reveals timeless lessons about human nature and human conflict.
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What was it about those Spartans? A king of Sparta that had been thrown out of Sparta told Xerxes -3 million men against 300 Spartans is not an even contest. There simply was no way xerxes could win.
ReplyDeleteEvidently fighting to the death was more important.
DeleteThat is what Demaratus told Xerxes. That the most important thing to the Spartans was to obey the law. And they only had one law. Never Retreat.
ReplyDeleteNever Retreat.
DeleteI think there was something about Sparta that had a lot to do with training. In the Armada of Xerxus there were plenty of Ionians and other people of the exact same ethnic group as the Spartans. So it was not DNA. It must have been training and mental attitude.
ReplyDeleteMy Mother brought me up with their stories.
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