Going back to Philip II, this may be a fictitious story but it fits in perfectly with Spartan wit. In place of cowardice, a soldier struck down doing his duty would be carried home with his shield serving as a stretcher.Ī Spartan could only come back holding his shield in victory or die in the attempt. No Spartan woman would welcome home a coward. In battle, if soldiers had a disorderly or cowardly retreat, they dropped the heaviest piece of equipment they had, their shield. Most people are more familiar with the longer “Come back with this shield or on it,” but in everyday use, it was shortened to just five words as a woman handed his shield to a departing soldier. When asked by an Athenian why Spartan women were the only ones who could rule men, the great Queen Gorgo replied, “We are the only ones who give birth to men.” Boldly stating that only Spartans could claim to be real men. Women participated in athletics and were ready to handle the numerous slave uprisings if the men were away at war. They often waited until a woman was well into her teens to have children to ensure a healthy pregnancy. The Spartans roughly equated childbirth as similar to going to battle. This is a great quote showing the respect and status of Spartan women. By Giovanni Dall’Orto – CC “We are the only ones who give birth to men” At Chaeronea, Philip destroyed the majority of Greek power, but he may have been a little fearful of attacking the Spartans just to get a bit of strategically insignificant land. Neither Philip nor Alexander attacked the Spartans while they ruled. Philip eventually decided to bypass Sparta as it was a poor region and not worth the fight. Philip sent a message to the Spartans saying “If I invade Lakonia you will be destroyed, never to rise again.” The Spartans replied with one word, “If.”
Philip had achieved a crushing victory, and Sparta was relatively weak and without walls. As Philip II of Macedon was conquering Greek city-states left and right, Sparta was left alone. “IF”Ī perfect representation of Spartan character.
Here are some of the most epic Spartan quotes that have lived on for millennia. His response, “Nuts!” – which was roughly translated for the Germans as “go to Hell.” American General McAuliffe, when surrounded by the Germans at the Battle of Bastogne was offered to surrender as he was hugely outnumbered. Others have followed the Spartans example.
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