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A Spartiate (, Spartiátēs) or Homoios (pl. Homoioi, , "alike") was an elite full-citizen man of the Ancient Greece city-state of Sparta. They served as one of the city-state's ruling bodies, as well as heavy infantry in times of war. Known for their Militarism indoctrination since childhood, the Spartiate became renowned for their prowess in battle. However, their population decreased over time due to strict qualification, which affected the city-state in the years to come.
The change is likely to have been in some way related to the transition from "Dark Age" warfare, in which nobles were the dominant force, to the hoplite warfare of the classical period. Around the time of that change, Sparta embarked on the conquest of the neighboring state of Messenia. The acquisition of such a comparatively large piece of territory and conquered population seems to have both provided the basis for the system of helotage, and required the existence of a large military force to keep the potentially rebellious Messenians under control. The Spartiates thus became a permanently armed master class, living off the labor of the helots and preventing rebellion through constant struggle.
A certain income was required to maintain syssitia membership, and thus Spartiate status.. The syssitia were common-messes where all Spartans ate, though it could also be a term for military unit that numbered to 300 men.Forrest (1969), pp. 45-46 Spartiates were expected to adhere to an ideal of military valor, as exemplified by the poems of Tyrtaeus, who praised men who fell in battle and heaped scorn on those who fled. Such ideals were standard for hoplite forces across Greece, as they relied on each man defending each other with the shield. Politically, Spartiate men composed the army assembly, the body that elected the ephors, the most powerful magistrates of Sparta after the kings. This type of governing body resulted in an oligarchy that was responsible to the organizing of the nation.
That being said, there was a level of harshness imposed on the boys. They were purposely starved to the point that they had to steal in order to survive, as well as forced to endure other hardships in order embed strict obedience.Matyszak (2017), pp. 97 By the age of 12, young Spartiate finally got to handle weapons as part of the crypteia - select groups of men whose job was to cull helot population by assassinating prominent individuals who may inspire the slave-class to revolt. Some accounts also detailed wanton slaughter of any other helots found walking alone and at night.Matyszak (2017), pp. 99-100 Upon reaching young adulthood, the Spartiate were reliable and obedient citizens. They would continue to hone their skills through basic formation drills, exercises, and other methods of war.
The standard equipment of the Spartan hoplite were the aspis (shield), dory (spear), xiphos (straight sword), and kopis (curved sword).Matyszak (2017), pp. 139-141 The shield was given much importance in the army, and losing one was a mark of shame for the Spartan army. It was stated that when Spartiate went to war, their wives or mothers would point to the shield and said, "Either with this or on this." The shield was vital to the phalanx formation; large numbers of congregating shielded men created a bronze wall that was near impervious from conventional arms of the time, including Persian Composite bow.Matyszak (2017), pp. 144,179 Most of their other killing tools were made of iron.
The kleros system allowed the Spartiate to purchase and maintain a full panoply of armor compared to other Greek allies, allowing them to use the stronger bronze cuirass or the lighter Linothorax reinforced with bronze scales or plates.Matyszak (2017), pp. 144-145, 147 Their equipment and tactics allowed Spartans to dominate Greece and remain undefeated in battle for 150 years. By the time of the Peloponnesian War, the Spartans attempted to standardized their equipment, such as using the same Lambda-designed shields. Throughout their long military history, the Spartans also employed other unique strategies, including false retreating or the "feigned retreat", which worked perfectly in battles such as Sepeia, Thermopylae, and Plataea.Matyszak (2017), pp. 129, 195
/ref>Matyszak (2017), pp. 46Forrest (1969), pp. 30-31
There were also the , literally "inferiors", men who were probably, although not certainly, Spartiates who had lost their social rank (probably mostly because they could not afford syssitia dues).Forrest (1969), pp. 124 The term "Partheniai" seemed to be a similar term as it meant "children of unmarried mothers". This group became noted in Spartan history for colonizing Tarentum in Southern Italy. Additionally, historian W.G. Forrest believed there must be a geographical origin for this group.Forrest (1969), pp. 61
The lowest caste in Spartan society, however, were the Helots, who served as state-owned slaves or
/ref> Most of these serfs were people from Helos or Messenia that were subjugated by the Spartans.Forrest (1969), pp. 31-33 The term Mothax (plural Mothakes) also appeared in the records that may have been tied with helots. They were possibly men of helot origins who were given the privileged to participate in the agoge, and may even earn full Spartan citizenship.Forrest (1969), pp. 136 In the late 5th century BC, a new class arrived that became known as the Neodamodes, which meant "new citizens". Douloi, who were chattel slaves not tied to the land, also existed; earlier sources conflate them with helots, but later sources distinguished them.
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