The Importance of Athletics and Athleticism in the Classical Spartan Army

Abstract

The Spartans were a feared and organized fighting force on the ancient battlefield. They treated hoplite warfare as a skill, or techne, honed through athletics training and discipline to become proficient hoplite warriors. This paper will examine how the Spartans used athletic competitions to train for warfare. Additionally, this research will examine how the Spartans were molded from an early age by their culture, via their state–sponsored upbringing known as the paideia, to value discipline, athletic competition, and traits associated with athleticism for later use in their hoplite phalanx.