02-21-2008, 01:59 AM
Certainly Pressfield got it very wrong in thinking that the rank-and-file of the Spartan Army were similar to modern 'squaddies' or 'grunts' - as has been pointed out they were, in effect, an army of 'officers' whose nearest equivalent, perhaps, was a mediaeval array entirely of land-owning knights....aristocrats all.
D lol:
Quote:Though we are a bit degenerate these days.....aaah, Paul, a terrible confession....personal experience speaking, doubtless........but what can one expect...no doubt one of those far-distant Homioi would have sniffed haughtily and made a pithy laconic remark about mixing blood with hypomeiones (lit: Inferiors)Perioikoi ( lit:dwellers round about = neighbours) and Helots ( peasants)
D lol:
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
