Questions (linothorax, sandals, Spartan moustache)

[Zenodoros]

Citizens in other city-states that wore their hair long and in locks were usually Spartan sympathizers who admired and were influenced by them, this was particularly during and after the Persian wars. Originally (8-7th century) long hair was a sign of aristocracy. Maybe that painting is just a Corinthian of that sort.

The famous bust of Leonidas seems to show him without a moustache...
although that is going by the photos.

The bust was made too early for it to be a portrait of Leonidas. He does seem have a shaven upper lip, however he doesn't have the long braided hair typical of a Spartiate. It could be of any Lakedemonian, not necessarily a Spartan.

If you want to see an image of a moustached Spartan, here's a perfume holder from early-mid 6th century:

fairly big image

To show it wasn't an early custom, here's a statuette from about 500BC:



It may be difficult to notice the moustache from that small picture (only one I could find), but on closer inspection there is clearly a moustache. Basically, I think that Sekunda's conclusion is wrong.

Cheers.