Spartan Legend

Spartan Legend explores the nature and significance of ancient Sparta's supreme military reputation. Commentators ancient and modern have long remarked upon the Spartans' legendary valor in battle, but the character of the reputation as it developed in Greece over many decades, and its powerful consequences, are not widely understood. On multiple occasions Sparta's mystique so cowed their foes that they ran from battle just as it was joined, giving the Spartans an easy victory. Eric W. Robinson provides evidence that largely justifies Sparta's reputation. Moreover, he uncovers how the fear of Spartan war-fighting meant that Sparta could make and maintain large alliances over time, swelling the number of men fighting by their side, with real consequences on the battlefield. They could also frequently dictate when and where their wars would be fought. For these reasons the military reputation of the Spartans substantially lengthened the era of Sparta's hegemony in Greece. Ultimately, Spartan Legend reveals the enduring nature of the Spartan legend, which continues to the present day, readily visible in popular culture.