09-02-2011, 02:43 PM
Spartans generally buried their dead where they fell. There were some exceptions to this. Injured warriors might be carried on their shields - but not the dead. There were obvious reasons for this - respect for the dead and burying them where they fell honourably; basic hygiene; not wanting to lug bodies all the way home; the memorials acted as a useful political reference point about the extent of military power etc.
The saying ascribed to Plutarch about returning with or on your shield was almost certainly not said by a Spartan woman and is a misapplication. If it was ever said at all it was probably by another lady Greek outside of Sparta.
The saying ascribed to Plutarch about returning with or on your shield was almost certainly not said by a Spartan woman and is a misapplication. If it was ever said at all it was probably by another lady Greek outside of Sparta.
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Ghostmojo / Howard Johnston[/size]
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]