spartan army at Mantinea 418 BC

[hoplite14gr]

Most people trust Xenophon's "Lakedemonion Politieia" but it is very late period Spartan Army. The Skiritae are the oldest skirmishers in the Spartan order for battle probalby from the Archai age. The Cretans and the cavalry come in the 4th century and saddly mostof them could be hired with Persian gold.

The Archaic Spartan army was a hard core of hoplites wholes lifetime term of services allowed trianing in various combat styles.
Plutarch mentions in both Lykourgos and Laconina proverbs that hunting wad encouraged among the youths so that they may acquire stealth and other field-craft skills. Cavalry lost favour and not only in Sparta because it was powerless against formed spearmen.

The most "combined arms" Laconian Army exists in the 4th century.

Kind regards