Spartan Mora regiments at Battle of Plataea

[Ghostmojo]

I agree Paul. There would be more than an element of elitism within the homoioi ranks (even probably shared by hypomeiones, mothakes, etc.) and down-nose-looking towards the perioikoi - but - I think it is entirely conceivable any enomotia would array itself to allow the Spartans to form the forward ranks with periokoi similarly mirroring this format in the rear ranks. I'm prepared to admit, however, that the phalanx would probably need Spartiate file closers (in order to execute certain manoeuvres) and there is always the issue of ancient sources mentioning even perioikoi fighting in the front ranks alongside their Spartiate 'brothers'. An alternate arrangement might possibly be alternate files A = 8-12 deep Spartiatoi / B = 8-12 deep Perioikoi ... AB AB AB etc. or perhaps BAB BAB BAB etc.*

ABABABABABA000000AAAAAAAAA
ABABABABABA000000BBBBBBBBBB
ABABABABABA000000BBBBBBBBBB
ABABABABABA000000BBBBBBBBBB
ABABABABABA000000BBBBBBBBBB
ABABABABABA000000AAAAAAAAA
ABABABABABA000000AAAAAAAAA
ABABABABABA000000AAAAAAAAA

alternate filed000000back-ranked

Regarding training - isn't possible/probable/certain, given that Spartans garrisoned various locations around Lakonia and Messenia, and Kythera - that localised training took place periodically of perioikic units under Spartiate monitoring? There would certainly need to be Spartan leadership of these subordinate units - they couldn't be allowed to form seriously weak links in the chain.

Of course this mingling would probably be at a later date than Plataia, which I have to keep reminding myself is what this thread was about.



(* or conceivably ABBA if they wanted a good old sing-song!!! :lol: )