Epic Moments in History - Top 10 Spartan One Liners

The Spartans are remembered as famous warriors but their words could be every bit as biting as their spears! Here is a top 10 list of the most epic Spartan one liners in history! Bibliography and recommended reading below:
(Use affiliate links for purchase to help support the channel)
"The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece" by Paul Cartledge (amzn.to/2r4a5Sj)
"Spartan Warrior 735-331 BC" by Duncan B Campbell (amzn.to/2r4p6Dz)
"The Spartan Army" by Osprey Publishing (amzn.to/2qDgX9c)
"Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield (amzn.to/2r3L4qe)
Script: Oakley
Narration: Officially Devin ( / officiallydevin )
Art: Oakley and T. Hopwood
Video Editing: Oakley
Music:
"Walls of Sparta" - Total War: Rome II OST
"The Sassanid Empire" - Total War: Attila OST
"Marathon" - Total War: Rome II OST
(Learn about military history on the official Facebook page: bit.ly/2jBbZ6q)
Check out the rest of my channel for more Total War content including massive battles, warhammer gameplay, and historical documentaries
For Massive Battles be sure to check out this playlist: • 11,000 Man Siege of Cy...
For documentaries on classical antiquity check out this playlist:
• Classical Antiquity (D...

[@InvictaHistory]

I am very pleased to present the pilot episode for the new Moments series! These will attempt to provide a more bit size view of history from a much wider and less traditional scope than is common. For instance the next episode will be looking at the serial killers of the ancient past. The narration was done by Officially Devin (kzbin.info) and I had assistance with the art from T. Hopwood. With this new series I will be better able to leverage outside help to reduce my workload. This will allow me to put out historical videos more frequently and get back to pending series like the Siege of Jerusalem or the Evolution of the Roman Legions. Again thank you all for your support. As always, feedback is very much welcome!

[@praiza1481]

This really is an original idea, it will bring some pleasant diversity to your videos and the topics studied! Great art and voice acting, kudos to everyone who worked on it.

[@jophielswings]

Make 1453! The final fall of the Romans, and the end of the Medieval Age!

[@ISawABear]

BTW i really appreciate how you guys dont fill in the videos with number counting cards and instead put the numbers in the top corner. I really appreciate that, keeps the flow and makes the video non-annoying

[@InvictaHistory]

Glad you appreciated the little touch, I really wanted to focus more placing the quotes together in a way that drives a narrative than an arbitrary list based on "epicness"

[@BadgerzNadgerz]

Invicta Absolutely love this video, the visual style is great, the content is interesting and the narration is good too. Awesome work man!

[@cecemelz]

“He who sweats more in training, bleeds less in War” - The old Spartan Warrior Mantra

[@terner1234]

somehow this made it into hebrew- קשה באימונים קל בקרב (if it's) hard in training (it will be) easy in battle

[@anime4life209]

i think they would have respected Bruce Lee if they ever met him. given his one single quote "I fear not the man who's practiced 10,000 kicks, but i fear the man who's practiced one kick 10,000 times."

[@MblCJluTEJlb]

Тяжело в учении, легко в бою. -Суворов

[@qwemzndhwlwdj]

Sun tzu

[@cactuslover5]

No its sun tzus

[@amak3]

Philip also sent another message:"Would you like me to enter your lands as a friend or foe?" The spartans answered another one word response:"Neither."

[@siphon.8328]

spartans wanted that beef so bad lmao but they would still clap cheeks tho

[@davidedbrooke9324]

Yes, love that one especially.

[@maddiehail7991]

oof😂

[@CarlTackett]

amak3 yeah, I think I heard that that was actually what provoked the threat

[@gibanicarstolar2149]

JG_BotYT actually, the macedonians were superior in military tech, and would have won. I guess phillip respected their ballsiness so much that he didnt invade them

[@TBStudios91]

My favourite: An old man went to the Olympics and begged the Athenians for a seat but no one moved. He then went to the Thracians, then the Corinthians, always ignored. When he approached the Spartans, they all rose and watched the game standing, the old man being the only one seated. After the game, one Spartan said: "Every Greek knows what's right, only the Spartans do it"

[@shubhankarsingh2605]

Wow

[@David-ni5hj]

Impressive

[@purplepanther3585]

@@dafi0 that would’ve been Macedonia not Sparta

[@Craftedbywaltz]

@@dafi0 fire...they really cared for human rights

[@felipewerner6670]

@@dafi0 Romania was invaded since the fall of roman empire by tartars, huns, mongols etc, eastern europe is completely mixed with the people of the east, and no they are not beasts.

[@annalieff-saxby568]

Another "Laconism" I've heard of is Sparta's response to an extremely long-winded, but beautifully phrased, Athenian proposal of alliance. The reply was: "No".

[@scribblerstudios9895]

They take no flowery deliberation or honeyed words. They as to the point as their spears

[@skyfallprime7977]

This one made me laugh more than the rest

[@arielteixeira4306]

And they did it using a same length letter, as the athenians had sent them, so it was a gigantic “no”

[@sagesarrazine6270]

Or another time when a village was asking for more rations of wheat and gave a long winded proposal for why. By the time they finished the Spartans listening had forgotten most of their points and so denied them food. Later the same village tried again and simply said "We need food". The Spartans replied that they didn't even need the first two words, and sent them enough food for winter

[@Pixel3572]

@@sagesarrazine6270 “Why use lot word when few do trick?” - Spartans probably

[@Rickyrab]

The Spartans would've done pretty well on Twitter.

[@MattieK09]

blahahha! so true

[@MattieK09]

Exist in name only, not spirit

[@elshanks1578]

Evil Snail No. Spartans don't exist anymore so stop trying to inflate your importance or ego. Fool.

[@egordontov9814]

Evil Snail with all due respect, I doubt modern citizens of the city of Sparta have much to do with ancient laconic warriors

[@elshanks1578]

Evil Snail Well if so, like the guy above said, in name not in spirit.

[@xavierreichel8254]

"If I enter Laconia, you will be destroyed, never to rise again!" *_"If."_*

[@derek400004]

sent a chill down *my* spine just hearing it!

[@liambanloh6972]

And they never doubt it will be a very costly victory if they do. More costly than anyone can imagine!

[@howardsmith9342]

That is one of the best lines ever, with Gen. McAuliffe "Nuts." from the Battle of Bastogne the only one that's close.

[@innosanto]

Imagine sending an envoy to make a trip to deliver this one word.

[@knotten55]

@@innosanto Probably hilarious

[@Alopex1]

One of my favourites: A young Spartan warrior complains that his sword (encheiridion) is too short to reach his enemies. His mother simply says: "Then add a step to it."

[@innosanto]

Spartans had on purpose short swords to have close contact and look the opponent in the eye.

[@Fyrebrand18]

innosanto I remember a conversation another greek had with a spartan. The greek asked why spartan swords were so short. The spartan replied “It’s long enough to reach your heart.”

[@geol5448]

@@innosanto they were fighting mostly on phalanx formation ( contraty to what hollywood makes you think) , so short sword was much more usefull in these conditions.

[@fredrickpoggi5493]

@@geol5448 The laconian short sword was a nasty little weapon. It has many similarities to the Gladius in function. In the dense and compact ranks of the phalanx it would have been very useful.

[@nhdarling2]

Blaadclaat

[@OddityDK]

“Forever immortalized”. So much better than being temporarily immortalized.

[@Dazzletoad]

Yeah, those tautologies make me frustrated by how much they wind me up 😏

[@HenryMcGuinnessGuitar]

@@Dazzletoad did you do that deliberately on purpose?

[@scottwpilgrim]

@@HenryMcGuinnessGuitar it's not like he had an unintentional accident.

[@jakeramos5067]

It’s funny because something that has a ton of writing and records is barely remembered, but the Spartans kept little to know records and they are remembered through history.

[@Miloun]

@@Dazzletoad tautologies are tautologies.

[@wixolotus8287]

"we are the only ones who give birth to men" roasting people before it was cool

[@BurnRoddy]

They could also sleep with any man they wanted, even after marriage, if the husban was away (which generally he was) and if it's purpouse was to do it absolutely unprotected in the hopes of concieving a child.

[@michaelhenry3234]

+BurnRoddy Hahaha, what? That's actually hilarious to me for some reason. Like, it was socially acceptable to get cucked, lol.

[@NM-br1rb]

Michael Henry probably bc more kids = more future soldiers

[@hikeandphoto2521]

Women in Sparta get married at the age of 18_19 . In the rest of Greece the age was 12_14 . Also they could have property speak in public and had same education as men. When king Pyros of Epirus attack Sparta (at that time Spartas glory had long gone) he failed to conquer them even wasn't any fortifications and both man and women fight(about 4000 in total). Problem with Sparta is that society didn't evolve during Classical age and remain on the Archaic age status.

[@CaptainRawlings-1-SFOD-DTFW]

Lone Hiker yeah they definitely would have been an even more dominant force if they advanced with the times.

[@bantakkor8039]

"The Spartans do not ask how many the enemies are but where they are." Agis II (427 - 401 BC)

[@GreeKManiack]

"ου ποσοι αλλα που"

[@asnard2346]

Yeah I think the actual quote is a lot shorter. I think more like _"not how many, but where"_ (4 short words in Greek) What Bantak Kor wrote sounds more like how those idle-talking Athenian babblers would have phrased it. LOL

[@bantakkor8039]

Well since I can't speak greek, I can only use what translations tell me ;)

[@maaaku]

he told you what you said but in the original form of ancient greek

[@bantakkor8039]

I realised that. But as I said, I can't read Greek, therefore I could only quote as I found it in English, but it's good that a more accurate translation is provided (and a Greek version, but most non-greeks won't be able to read it). :)

[@aceofspadesguy4913]

“If” and “nuts” are perhaps the two most savage responses to ultimatums in history.

[@JohnnyReb]

Ah the response to the Germans asking the Americans to surrender at Bastogne. "NUTS!"

[@adammchiti5594]

Me listening to sabatons screaming eagles in the background. (GO TO BASTONE THE CROOSROADS MUST HOLD, STAND ALONE THE COOOOOOOLD.) (that part of the lyrics of the song if you couldn't tell)

[@CsStoker]

"Fine quarters for women" Damn son

[@mperun7276]

yeah... not the smartest cookie

[@steelbear2063]

@Hakageryuu They were Ancient Greek, this wouldn't by an insult

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

@Hakageryuu Ya buddy, might want to check up on that...

[@NoName-kw3tp]

I laughed my ass off That was hilarious

[@michaelterrell5061]

@@steelbear2063 that would be considering that the Greeks were known for there intelligence.

[@stevenkramer4263]

Alexander: Skip Sparta and conquer the whole Asia. 10/10 Genius.

[@sonaruo]

sparta did not exist that time they were a ghost of their formal selfs no army no might nothing

[@thitran1362]

Not whole of Asia though? I don't recall he conquer China or Japan.

[@mr.q337]

No, thats Genghis Khan. His territory make Alexander look like a joke

[@lemondelbosque7702]

*laughs in British Empire*

[@dontkillme5332]

Laughs in china's product..conquerong the whole world..

[@theghostofspookwagen4715]

Surprised this didn't make it in: "Who is the greatest man in all of Sparta?" "The one least like you."

[@TheManeymon]

DAMN

[@kulamakus7720]

another victory for the shining city of our fathers!!!!

[@Lucas-zk2vy]

It is Kratos

[@bernardoheusi6146]

Ouch. that burned even me

[@thechannelthathasfithteens6792]

I can feel the burn from here

[@moodylad2033]

*Legends say that the persians are still falling through that hole to get Earth and Water*

[@jovalin5939]

To be fair, Sparta wasn't the only one to reject the offer. Athens put their messengers on trial and then executed them

[@salimkhawati7222]

@@jovalin5939 And, at least the Spartans, dreaded that act.

[@nab7135]

Imagine scaring two generations of conquerors with one word *SAVAGE*

[@anubhavghosh4556]

They weren't scared, it was more about respect.

[@friendlyone2706]

@@anubhavghosh4556 same thing back then

[@adolfhipsteryolocaust3443]

They weren't scared, it's just that sparta at the time was so weak and poor that attaking it was pointless

[@drippylad3973]

@@adolfhipsteryolocaust3443 Your username doesn't give you much value in terms of knowledge tbh so better to keep your mouth shut, just saying

[@emmanuelardena5100]

If.

[@davidedbrooke9324]

Akuma Studies That was my favourite.

[@Sinyao]

Badass, although undercut that Alexander didn't think it was worth the time to actually invade them. The Spartans had weakened by that point that they were considered a joke.

[@kylesanders8786]

If is good

[@eruantien9932]

The preceding reply makes it all the better. Philip II's first message to Sparta was "Would you rather I brought my armies to your lands as an ally or as a foe", and the reply was simply "Neither".

[@vratko3155]

If if if if if if if if okie dokie.

[@duewhat9815]

Spartans may have had a bit of an ego, but they were the epitome of warriors and they backed that ego until death.

[@ciaareinthecommentssection9575]

People try to discount them but the fact is that thy are the epitome of masculinity. Only for gynocentric beta males do men find satisfaction in their defeat.

[@janeza382]

Spartan society was matriarchate actually, that is why. Matrirchate is from Macedonia Doric 7000y. BC.

[@HrHaakon]

No, not really. They were really good at shitposting, but they weren't better than the guys from say, Thebes.

[@LordDeathwing17]

It’s not arrogance if you can ACTUALLY back it up.

[@timesthree5757]

Actually no. Sparta was ruled by men. Women were allowed to speak but not vote. Womendid even get to decide what happened to their boys at age 6 they were sent of for war training.

[@thomasthetanderloin]

there was another one i really liked when a spartan general wrote to the spartan government back home that "athens is taken", the other spartans replied: "you should have just said "taken""

[@GuadalupeF.Arredondo]

Dude actually got in trouble for using to many words lol

[@maelstrom2313]

Did they really reply with multiple words to tell him he should have used one word? Lol

[@Leo-ok3uj]

I bet they just say: words

[@smartalek180]

It's like the [almost certainly apocryphal, sadly] story of the British general in India, Sir Charles Napier, who supposedly sent a one-word dispatch to tell HQ he'd succeeded in his mission of conquest of the Indian princely state of Sindh: "Peccavi" [which is Latin for, "I have sinned"].

[@judsonbuckner8590]

"Come and take them" will always be my favorite.

[@dionysosadwan551]

Molon labe

[@JohnDoe-pt7ru]

The original 2nd amendment motto.

[@iplyrunescape305]

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

[@IAlwaysWantedToTryThat]

...and then the Persians Molon'd all the Spartans' Labes. People tend to forget that part though. The Persians burned Athens and took every city up to Corinth, before being defeated at Salamis in a naval engagement, not with swords & spears. Fearing being outflanked without naval support, he retreated back to Asia.

[@xXJMatherXx]

@@IAlwaysWantedToTryThat The point of the quote is they'd rather die living their way than give up and be conquered.

[@marvelfangirl3328]

*"We are the only ones who give birth to men."* So... epic.

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

Though by the time of Pyrrhus of Epirus, it was the Spartan women who had to goad their men into fighting.

[@yihuamei9427]

Phillip didn't say "If I invade Laconia..." In this case the Spartan answer would be plain stupid. He said that If he conquers Sparta he will show no mercy, the city will be razed to the ground and all Spartans will be sold as slaves, to which they replied "if".

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

Yeah but they still needed spartan men semen for that so.

[@hbleblanc205]

Best one

[@xandercorp6175]

@@yihuamei9427 You sure your comprehension isn't just lacking a tiny bit in this case? If Phillip has said "If I invade", the Spartan response would be a call out to the fact that Phillip did not dare, because the whole threat was a sham; it makes perfect sense, and follows the common form of such wordplay.

[@nysp993]

My favorite Spartan one liner is one that historians debate if it actually happened. The Greek Xiphos was the most common sword in Greece at the time and the one that the Spartans used was known to be smaller than the average of its day. One day an Athenian soldier asked a Spartan "why don't you use longer swords?" To which the Spartan replied " its long enough to reach your heart."

[@user-sd8ec5jv2z]

nysp993 I believe they were referencing the Xyle, don't quote me on that though.

[@factsabouturmum9250]

My favorite is the one where a Spartan complains to his mother that his spear is too short. "Step forward and it will be long enough."

[@gweromonitor4419]

"Because the longest one impregnate your women." - Me

[@FerrugemCaio]

greeks fights with spears

[@Pixtel1]

Spears broke sometimes they used swords too.

[@ftwjoseph7660]

Spartan: “Sir, permission to leave the station?” Admiral: “for what reason?” Spartan: “to give the covenant back their bomb”

[@henrymilner7061]

Admiral: “Permission granted”

[@GuadalupeF.Arredondo]

@@henrymilner7061 could have just said "granted".

[@markfiedler9415]

@@GuadalupeF.Arredondo But that was the Admiral's quote.

[@GuadalupeF.Arredondo]

@@markfiedler9415 no shit for real?

[@fredrickpoggi5493]

Master Chief is very laconic, and its perfect because he's a "Spartan".

[@giorini2318]

Leonidas:Immortals? We'll put their name to the test

[@quantustremorestfuturus5434]

In France, we have "Immortals", a group of useless elder people who discuss the evolution of language. yes they die a lot, but every time they get replaced and there are always 40 of them, thus the name, immortals. Same idea goes for the Persian ones. Immortals because their number was always the same. Just sayin'

[@thetproject2266]

I am in a small village in Laconia right now(some km from sparta ).It's 3 a.m. ...everyone in the village is sleeping(total silence) and i am watching the best quotes of my ancestors.damn i feel so good

[@taurauross9576]

You have rich strong history and ancestry

[@zerocooljpn]

you should be having a snack too. Maybe some pork blood soup

[@kmbytt984]

Spartans were black hebrews from the tribe of Dan. Maccabees chapter 12. Is that correct?

[@legoyoda3546]

@@kmbytt984 What?

[@1BeGe]

@@kmbytt984 No.

[@PathMaster7]

"You mind telling me what you're doing on that ship" "Sir, finishing this fight"

[@rhysnichols8608]

But first....I need a weapon. The Spartans were defeated, were it so easy

[@michaelhenry3234]

+Flycotic Hahahahaha, yep! The greatest Spartan one liner of all.

[@Jay-zh8vs]

Probably one of the best one liners from spartans ever. But what is more memorable is "Wake me When you need me".

[@ReformedSooner24]

Cali Style Lol, I see what you did there

[@celleryvon9546]

Ah yes, my favorite Spartan.

[@blankslate6590]

The Spartan women's quote was easily the spiciest. She said that to her face. What a savage.

[@oz_jones]

Literal queen

[@patmorris9692]

Best Laconic quote from my Peloponesian grandmother: "If it thickens, we’ll have pilaf . If it doesn’t, soup."

[@thanosroussos4179]

all greeks felt that

[@MasterofOssus]

You missed my personal favorites: When asked why the Spartans give such small gifts to the gods, the reply was, "That is so we always have something to give." Also, at Thermopylae, Leonidas needed a messenger to bring news of their impending defeat back to Sparta. The first two Spartans refused, preferring to die in the field with Leonidas. The third replied, "But, sire, if I stay, then the news will be better."

[@tylerdurden3722]

While Lycurgus was busy turning Sparta into what it became, he was looking for ideas. A Spartan came to him and proposed, why don't try democracy? Lycurgus replied, "Start with your own family". Two Greek guys from somewhere far made the long journey to the Spartans to ask for grain. When they arrived, they made a long speach telling of their situation and the journey etc. When they were done, the Spartans told them..."it was so long, we forgot the first half and was thus unable to make sense of the second." The two guys left and then returned with an empty grain bag and holding up the bag said: "bag needs grain"...The Spartans replied: "you didn't have to say "bag".

[@frostghost75_6]

Zeus: Why do you give me such small gifts?! Spartan: It’s a gift, right?

[@Ajvt-ux4ec]

Ashwin Mouton a

[@georgepreda1755]

legendary

[@MrWongWey]

@Damian Patriot A gift is a gift no matter how numerous or glamorous it is.

[@attilakatona-bugner1140]

"if" .... 10/10

[@phililpb]

almost as good as "nuts"

[@levitschetter5288]

A spartan king was asked how he would keep Laconia safe, and he replied with "by keeping it poor"

[@ghotifish118]

A visitor to Sparta ate their food for a couple days and quipped "Now I know why the Spartans are not afraid to die."

[@smartalek180]

The British -- who assembled (albeit briefly, compared to some others) the greatest empire by total land area yet made in human history -- are also infamous for their less-than-stellar culinary skillz. Think this might be a historical pattern?

[@adharshmanikoth3381]

No its like " now I know why they are so willing to die'

[@Oupii313]

"Speaking is the most important skill man can acquire, there is no need for warriors in times of peace Spartan King". Spartan King: "And when you are done talking, you are worthless."

[@jb-xc4oh]

This is my favorite...!!

[@charlieclifton-brown3729]

My favourite one is the If one to Philip

[@InvictaHistory]

Its honestly the single most badass one-liner I think I've ever heard. Just savage. Though a little bit of backstory is that the Spartans were not really a threat at that point and Phillip had other reasons not to invade Laconia than fear of military resistance.

[@MasterOfCydonia]

Agreed, it is the only one liner that can still be used today and is still just as savage. Also, the Spartans may not have been top dogs but they were still feared for their tenacity in battle. Not to mention the fact that Spartan training was so revered that children from other city states still send their children there to learn.

[@emmanuelardena5100]

If.

[@hazzmati]

Both Phillip and Alexander did not bother because not even the effort was worth it. They knew Sparta was a stubborn little chihuahua with a mean bite but at the same time not a threat at all so they just left them alone. It's not like they needed the Spartans anymore, their time of glory was over.

[@cb430sbro]

It also gave the Macedonians and excuse for extensive garrisons left in Greek cities to counter the spartan 'threat'' while on campaign in other areas. Allowing for a firm military hold on the newly conquered and eager to rebel city states.

[@phantomplayz7952]

This is another great Laconic phrase “I am not afraid to die, but to die by such a coward.” He was shot with an arrow in the chest.

[@MichaelTheWayfarer]

One time, an athenian came to sparta, he approached a spartan and asked him: "why is your blade so short?" The spartan replied: "it is long enough to pierce your heart".

[@joebloggs5318]

Only two inches are needed to kill the rest is to deflect weapons

[@philippvonblohn105]

Spartans do not ask how many. They ask where!

[@rvn4562]

Philipp Von Blohn played too much total war huh

[@philippvonblohn105]

correct xD

[@dauntul]

Phillip didn't say "If I invade Laconia..." In this case the Spartan answer would be plain stupid. He said that If he conquers Sparta he will show no mercy, the city will be razed to the ground and all Spartans will be sold as slaves, to which they replied "if".

[@user-dg9sr2fe6y]

Correct.

[@timesthree5757]

Americans have the same way of thinking. During the battle of the bulge the German had this American unit surrounded the Germans sent a letter telling the Americans to surrender or else. The American Gen. replied One word, "Nuts."

[@kidthebilly7766]

TimesThree or maybe we took inspiration?

[@timesthree5757]

Or Maybe we think the same. Either way it's awesome.

[@oddfoxx4155]

it wouldn't be _stupid_ ,still would make perfect sense.

[@wolfgangsebastian8357]

A little known Spartan jail warden named William Corganus once said to a Persian captive who was issuing death threats: "Despite all your rage you are still just a rat in a cage."

[@joebloggs5318]

William is not a Greek name

[@evanhoy2339]

Joe your killing me smalls

[@joebloggs5318]

@@evanhoy2339 I aim to please.

[@evanhoy2339]

@@joebloggs5318 I see comedy has struck again

[@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y]

''Dig it out for yourselves''. And this is how Minecraft was invented.

[@petepyrotechnic6150]

But they dug straight down...

[@TeroHal]

"With it or on it" does not mean "victory or death". This is a common misconception. Spartans were not stupid - if the battle was unwinnable, they wouldn't fight it but would rather retreat. The life of a Spartan was very valuable, and it would take decades to replace a single soldier. Instead it meant "Come back organized, or die", for the first thing that you did when you started fleeing in panic was to drop your cumbersome shield. You could retreat and thereby lose, but you had to retreat in an organized force, not as a scattered mob of honor less cowards. If you dishonored yourself by dropping your shield in panic, it was better you did not return at all.

[@InvictaHistory]

Point taken, the actual meaning/context was overly simplified for the purposes of the video

[@GeluTavi]

In a sense the video's interpretation wasn't too far off. If you retreat in an orderly fashion that usually means you will fight again (if you flee without your weapons, not so much), I guess it does lead to the misconception that they always stood their ground no matter what..

[@michaelfranciotti3900]

The shield was a symbol of unity. Unlike a helmet, which only protects the wearer, the shield also protected the man to the left, and their main fighting formation, the phalanx, was designed around the shield. Losing your helmet or even your spear was acceptable, but losing your shield was very dishonorable as it allowed you to fight as a team and protect your brothers.

[@basilkast]

TeroHal look up the word "ripsaspis" (ρίψασπις) which literally means : one that dropped his shield. Still in use in modern Greek to describe a quitter.

[@asnard2346]

It may have had connotations of "victory or death" though the basic meaning is don't lose the shield because dropping the shield(presumably in order to be able to run faster) was considered the sign of a *coward* (very stigmatising thing in Sparta). It was a heroic death to be brought back dead on your shield after your comrades had fought hard to retrieve your fallen body and give it an honourable burial back home, and it was probably OK to return home defeated with your shield, but if you came back without your shield(which you probably had inherited from your father and he from his father and which was now the enemy's trophy) it would raise suspisions that you had shown cowardice during the battle and likely tried to run. (Plus shields are expensive items and we don't have money for a new one LOL)

[@kevinnorwood8782]

You actually left out a line said by Leonidas at Thermopylae: At some point, Leonidas said of Xerxes army, "Xerxes has plenty of men, but he has no soldiers." This may have been what prompted Xerxes to send out his Immortals.

[@HrHaakon]

How would Xerces have heard him?

[@hugodirkschneider998]

@@HrHaakon he had the script

[@UkrainianPaulie]

You are quoting a graphic novel then a BS movie? You are educated.

[@psevdhome]

I am not aware that it is attributed to any particular Spartan, but the line is at least in Herodotos' retelling of events. He says something like: "after having fought an entire day, with the Persians gaining little ground and the Spartans losing no men, while the Persians losses were heavy, the Spartans realised that though the Persians had many peoples fighting for them they had brought few men." I don't have the original in English so I can't find the exact quote at this time.

[@nonamenoname7249]

Actually he send the immortals after they couldn't penetrate the the Spartan's formation but they didn't have success with the immortals either . They lost after a lot of waves of enemies

[@JohnDoe-on6ru]

"As far as this can reach" -"So like 7 feet? Ever think about expanding?"

[@frostghost75_6]

“Sure thing“ (throws the spear)

[@SteveSmith-ty8ko]

*stab*

[@WhatIsThatThingDoing]

Well, this little thread certainly captures the essence of their speeches. Good work!

[@maelstrom2313]

@@WhatIsThatThingDoing "Good work" would have sufficed.

[@raddragon1373]

@@maelstrom2313 Good

[@glennnolasco2475]

Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta: "ARREEEESSSS" "ATHEEENNAAAAAA" "DEIMOOOOOOSSSS" "ZEUUUIIUIISSSSS" "BOI"

[@electroz5987]

b o i, my favourite god

[@andhikabayu8479]

I dunno why, I can hear them in 2 different sounds...

[@hawk66100]

The gates of Hades have NEVER held me!!!!!!!!!

[@namishusband818]

You forgot "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIA"

[@gjack4230]

The BEST one-liner was when Philip II asked "Do you want me to enter your lands as friend or foe?"...BADASS response..."Neither".

[@HenriqueErzinger]

That's not badass... Sounds cool, but they knew that if he went they were dead. They were eventually defeated and occupied by some random macedonian during Alexander reign, for trying to attack while the king was away laying waste to Persia while massively outnumbered and far from home. Both Phillip and Alexander each were WAY more badass and accomplished than anyone that was ever born in Sparta in it's long history of more bark than bite, even if they way of life and culture was indeed based on war.

[@hardwirecars]

maybe to you but to a spartan death on the battlefield was the only way to live. I like it personally i would rather die standing fighting to my last breath rather than kneeling in slavery.

[@__mindflayer__]

George Jackson Philip II: Am I a joke to you?

[@dereenaldoambun9158]

Die with pride is better than surrender with shame.

[@youwase]

@@HenriqueErzinger After the Peloponisian war Sparta lost many soldiers and had many inside problems. The rest greeks feared that they will become like the Athenians and opress them, so they made them have smaller army and most of it to become mercenerys. That was the dawnfall of sparta. If Sparta was at its glory im not so sure Macedonians would be able to beat them.

[@WightTsar]

*Then we will fight in the shade.*

[@saeedvazirian]

you know that didnt actually happen, right?

[@real_orestis_georgiou]

Sepehr Voshmgir It did. It is from historical sources.

[@dr.stevebrule4029]

Sepehr Voshmgir It did happen dummy. Haven't you seen 300?

[@blahblah3775]

Sepehr Voshmgir it did. just the dramatic aspect of how they fought/the number of soldiers fighting was false in regards to the 300 comic/movie.

[@ennisdelmar807]

It's well documented that the spartan soldiers had a sick dance battle vs the immortals.

[@sergueiignacinskybenitovic3025]

The Spartans knew how to piss off their enemies in a few words.

[@justicekreider2978]

The Spartans also had the most badass looking helmets

[@josephdavis8976]

Corinthian in design. A COPY.

[@goldenfang9633]

You will be ultimately disappointed when you see what their helmets truly were.

[@bluehornet197]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 no they didn't lol there helmets were pretty basic the Greeks didn't have badass helmets they didn't care for design but the practicality I suggest you watch a documentary about the Spartans the helmets we're pretty ordinary looking

[@hellohello7158]

@@goldenfang9633 What do their helmets really look like?

[@goldenfang9633]

@@hellohello7158 just.. imagine them wearing cones. Or check drawings/ ancient pot drawings. You will find them basic and practical

[@garcalej]

My favorite Laconic remark was made by a Spartan general after the battle of Salamis in 480 BC. The Greeks had captured the Persian general's camp, and seeing all riches in gold, silver, and silks that their adversary had brought with him, was heard to remark: "See what fools these were, who live like this, yet came to rob us of our poverty." Only time I've ever agreed with a Spartan.

[@eth.nat.network4248]

Is it because the spartans were racial nationalists?

[@tonyaxis3063]

@@eth.nat.network4248, they didn't get paid at all.

[@nieczerwony]

@@tonyaxis3063 Yes they were not paid and at some stage they banned money to prevent accumulation of wealth as IT was corrupting nad bad for people.

[@wiseguy01]

​@uncletigger you realize that modern concepts of race and national identity did not exist during their time, right? Back in the days before the modern race based system you were simply identified with whatever region you were from and not your skin color. In many ancient civilizations, individuals with widely varying physical appearances became full members of a society by growing up within that society or by adopting that society's cultural norms. Classical civilizations such as Rome and China tended to invest the most importance in familial or tribal affiliation than in an individual's physical "appearance". Modern concepts of race and nationalism do not apply to pre colonial era societies as those are heavily influenced by modern ideas of race and nation states. A Spartan would not have considered some Norse barbarian to be the same race as themselves and felt no nationalism toward Greece as a whole.

[@sunginmoon505]

@@nieczerwony so they tried communism and it kinda worked?

[@j.gonzalez2543]

There is a comeback that I really like. Spartan's swords were shorter compared to other greek sword. At some point someone asked a spartan "why is your sword so short?" and the spartan just said "It's long enough to reach your hearth".

[@karolosL2P1337]

That was the point. It to be short but long enough to throw a jab from over their shield

[@thomasmcgormley9100]

It was a Spartan warrior to an Athenian soldier. It was also heart not hearth

[@xandercorp6175]

@@thomasmcgormley9100 Although "long enough to reach your hearth" is its own kind of threatening boast, isn't it?

[@randomappalachian4635]

Are the Spartans as good as we think they are? One word answer. Yes.

[@colejames423]

Not even close. They are romanticized to all hell

[@sampledpuppet5023]

@@colejames423 you are a boring person to talk to aren't you?

[@colejames423]

Sampledpuppet 50 pretty much yeah

[@WillTheCheeseGod]

*Laughs in Theban*

[@Jason-me1bs]

Cole James They are without doubt in a league of their own and in my opinion underrated. What they had to tolerate was absolutely ridiculous and as a result they have had no equal. To think or say otherwise is foolish. In order to match or beat them you would need to live and train like them and for most of us this is just not possible. Their downfall is that they held their standards so religiously that it was their undoing in the end. Had they allowed wider breeding, less death during the Agoge and given every child born a chance to prove themselves then the world could have been a very different place. They did lots of things right in their society but also lots of things terribly wrong. However, overrated they are not. A 12 x 8 Spartan Phalanx (96 warriors) defeating through superior strength and endurance a Phlanx of 50 x 50 (2500) is just unbelievable! They split it right down the middle and then went to work.

[@creditsunknown7974]

You forgot one, its when a newborn isnt strong enought "*YEET*"

[@bluehornet197]

🤣🤣🤣 yea they kinda did the whole yeetus fetus deletus

[@haaslegato]

its a mercy.

[@CEBph5997]

It's kind of a Mercy Kill because they don't want the Weak to be in a world of Pain and Hell.

[@theunholycrusader517]

Rom did almost the same

[@orestesmitas]

This was Athenian propaganda!

[@traedonharris2853]

when I have a child I'm going to name him Sparta so that every time i have to introduce him I can yell "THIS IS SPARTA!!"

[@thebatman330]

Wow nice

[@mikeant1336]

Sparta is a women's name, by the way.

[@unphazed_]

Like you're even going to get a child. Lol jke, but i recommend another name because your child will sound too awesome

[@brovahkiin4302]

Traedon Harris I will name my sons Leon (after Leonidas) and Alexander (that one's obvious). Already made that clear to my gf^^

[@mrstrdknmabalz1412]

Traedon Harris well, i'm gonna name my children blasphemy & madness

[@Brubarov]

"Dig it out for yousrelves" killed me. This is a very good idea as a series, please continue!

[@tylerdragon00]

Brubarov killed the ambassadors too

[@MarfSantangelo]

Good thing Mongols were very far from being a thing during those times.

[@Armdfg]

@@MarfSantangelo LOL!!! I can't imagine what would've come out of that! Mongol "don't touch my ambassadors" vs spartan "f.u. mentality"

[@eliad6543]

@@Armdfg "FU mentality" is a great description for Sparta xD

[@wankawanka3053]

@@MarfSantangelo that can be said about the british too😅

[@mysteryjunkie9808]

You left out the first message sent from and to Phillip. Phillip:”Shall I come to Sparta as friend or foe” Spartans:”Neither”

[@thePankakeManne]

Hands down, I think this has been my favorite of all the laconicisms I've ever heard.

[@cryora]

"Prepare your breakfasts and eat hearty, for tonight, we dine in hell!!"

[@bluehornet197]

The Spartans never said that lol down quote a historically inaccurate movie the Spartans were Greeks they wouldn't have said Hell as Hell wasn't a concept in there beliefs Christianity hadn't touched that part of the world yet if by some miraculous chance they did say that Leonidas would have said "prepare your breakfast and eat hearty for tonight we done in Hades"

[@cryora]

@@bluehornet197 PG version: For tonight, we dine in HECK!

[@bluehornet197]

@@cryora G version "Prepare your breakfasts and eat hearty for tonight we dine down below"

[@davidisaacson5993]

@@bluehornet197 Who assumes that they will go to hell/hades while leading a good moral life? As he did. It was dine with our fathers.

[@bluehornet197]

@@davidisaacson5993 you do know the Spartans would rape there own women to steal them from there husbands and strangle slaves as a means to prove they were a man and also lets not forget the entire throwing babies off a cliff I am very sure all those are "good" values for a society lol if you think any of that means they were "good" people then you need to reevaluate your morals

[@UnoriginallyInclined]

Alexander never attempted a conquest, but afterwards sent treasure to Delphi with the message "Alexander, son of Philip, and the Greeks (except the Lacedaemonians) dedicate these spoils, taken from the Persians who dwell in Asia"

[@gerardjagroo]

I remember a Roman General laying siege to a city in Spain. The Spanish boasted "we have enough food in the city to last us ten years!" to which the Roman replied "then we'll take your city in the eleventh!" Such was the determination of the Romans that the Spanish commander surrendered the city immediately. Edit: to all the people saying a)Spain did not exist at the time or b) it was Etruscan or Gallic city that the Romans besieged, you are probably right as it's been at least 15 years since I read this stuff and I may have misremembered bits of the story. _That said y'all missed the point I was trying to make by getting all hung up on details. The Romans were bloody determined even in the teeth of severe adversity_

[@BurnRoddy]

The Romans never conquered Spain. They founded it. First Hispania and later on Lusitania.

[@fionnmoules7620]

BurnRoddy they were probaly sieging a carthagian settlement in spain or a Greek colony

[@tcc5750]

They were laying siege to a Gaulish city (France) not a Spanish city. Hispania was romanized very easily and early on.

[@mancamiatipoola]

Oh, snap! Immortal detected!

[@rockyblacksmith]

The romans won more wars with the pick than with the sword.

[@Ghost-fv4pk]

Persian: My Arm! Spartan: it's not your arm anymore

[@raddragon1373]

Disarmed

[@stam2k293]

Communism:it's our arm

[@mavericklucas594]

You *KNOW* you're scary when Alexander the Great isn't willing to fight you

[@larryclese]

A the G was about 300 years after the glory of Sparta. They were not a power at that time, and his going around them was because they were of Greece that had already submitted to Macedonian hegemony.

[@monicajudge7222]

In my classics classes we were also told another interpretation of the "with it or on it" quote, being more about bravery. The idea was don't come home without your shield, because to do so, means you broke rank and fled the battle, and were a coward. So the message wasn't victory or death, but more that cowardice was not an option, as a coward would shame the whole family and lead to their lands being seized by the state, and wives and children becoming homeless.

[@vasileiospapazoglou2362]

Η ταν η επί τας. That means with it or on it. They meant the shield you will come back with your shield as a winner or above your shield and dead.

[@bluehornet197]

Idk what the fuck you were taught in history class but thats completely wrong the meaning is in the words "with it or on it" means you either come home victorious or you come home dead upon your shield its not that deep and it wasn't a bravery thing Spartans had bravery drilled into them at a very very young age and they were taught the greatest achievement one could achieve in his life was to die in battle for dying in battle was declared a glorious death which brings honour upon your family

[@robinschmalbrock5357]

@@bluehornet197 That quote is, in my opinion at least, all about victory, as I don't think you'd have the opportunity to collect the corpses of your fallen soldiers and their equipment if you lost the battle during that time.

[@bluehornet197]

@@robinschmalbrock5357 well that's exactly that you "opinion" I told you exactly what it means and historians CREDIBLE historians have said it's meaning is LITERAL meaning come back with your shield or come back dead upon it Historians agree with that now unless you are a credible historian your opinion is just plain wrong again that's coming from actual historians who have gone to University and have dedicated there lives to the pursuit of knowledge in the pages of history and you do realise that each side did let each other gather and collect the dead in order to clear the battlefield and it was rarely an army would fight to every last man so yes they would have been able to collect there dead don't be so naive and think you know better than a historian I highly suggest you watch the documentary "Last Stand Of The 300" by the history channel and oh look the historians on that documentary even say "come back with your shield or come back dead upon it" I do believe the quote is when the historian is talking about that famous spartan quote now again unless you are an actual historian you can either accept it was a LITERAL meaning or you can continue to argue and argue against historic fact which would mean your both ignorant and very arrogant now I suggest you watch that documentary before you come back at me with your counter argument

[@robinschmalbrock5357]

@@bluehornet197 If you consider the situation of the Spartans than a retreat if you can't win and thereby avoiding unnecessary losses can be considered as winning. Apart from that I forgot something when I wrote my previous comment, so I am aware that it is incorrect.

[@SuperOverlord94]

Shame you didn't include one of my favorites. It takes place between an Athenian and the Spartan diplomat Antalcidas. Athenian: We have often driven you from the Cephisus (a river that flows through the Athenian plain) Antalcidas: But we have never driven you from the Eurotas (a river that flows near Sparta)

[@TheDalitis8]

That is also awesome.

[@DOCSTAUR]

Athenians :we have many dead Spartans out of our walls Spartans : we have none Athenian out of ours

[@jacktattis]

But it was Athens that survived to greatness while Sparta ended up a poor little village Once they lost their hold on the slaves they were finished

[@hermit1620]

The greatest insult from a Spartan to a betrayal, "may you live forever"

[@sirpuss5887]

It’s not propaganda. Babylon, Persian Empire, etc. spoke very highly of Sparta and Spartans alike. When your enemies speak and give high praise, it’s not longer “Propaganda”

[@Ilamarea]

Often it is. Ceasar is thought to embellish the ferocity of his Gallic enemies to add to his own glory.

[@raddragon1373]

@@Ilamarea Genius

[@SomeUserk]

@@Ilamarea praising your enemy works as a propaganda only when you win. But when you lose the usual propaganda is that your enemy does not win by strength but by luck or cheating. So in the context of persia, if they want to produce propaganda - it would be to discredit Spartans. If they praise spartans, then persians are simply being a good loser. Of course they dont actually lose to sparta but they dont conquer sparta either.

[@justinius2170]

THIS

[@wankawanka3053]

I mean the greeks were not unified so propaganda about other city states that were enemies doesn't make sense

[@Kapuist1]

Great animations and all... but especially great writing + voice acting.

[@Kapuist1]

5:11 - However... dafuq is up with his legs lawl

[@tauceti8341]

looks like a leg to me, you can see his shin guard and the shading on his thigh...

[@Kapuist1]

You're totally right. Thought the shin guards were like... shadows?

[@orangedude8013]

Roasted

[@InvictaHistory]

mad shade man

[@matthewolsen103]

Invicta did they fight in it?

[@LordAndFailure]

SING THE DOOM SONG!!!

[@TartarusPyro]

3:12 btw When the ancient Greeks used the word "βλώσκω" which has an indefinite "έμολον" and a share of indefinite "μολών" it meant coming or going somewhere, but first I found the psychic reserves, that is the courage of the soul. So, when Leonidas responded to Xerxes' claim with the Μολών λαβέ, it didn't just mean "come take it", but it meant "find the courage first and then come" come and get them".on the one hand he animated his warriors and on the other he sent the message to Xerxes to understand what army awaits him and with what morals. come and get them in ancient greek is like this ty take care from a greek

[@nuts661]

and greeks just like everybody else are on a wave

[@gengis737]

Thanks for the explanation. So translation to English would be more "Let you come and take it"

[@TartarusPyro]

it has secret messages find the courage first and then come" come and get them on the one hand he animated his warriors and on the other he sent the message to Xerxes to understand what army awaits him and with what morals.

[@TartarusPyro]

@@gengis737 come and take it if you dare

[@alexb9969]

But wasn't 'Molon labe' written in the Doric alphabet? Might be quite a stupid question, I've gone through the Ionic alphabet and my experience with Ancient Greek is fairly limited (as of now at least xd). So the expression could be difficult to translate in a larger more common Greek way

[@Elgar337]

Some important knowledge to understand "with it or on it": Shields were heavy back then. If you wanted to flee from combat, you had to drop your shield. Men who dropped their shields and ran were branded as "Ρίψασπις, Ripsaspis", which means "shield dropper". Also, dead soldiers were carried back to their family on their shields, as a ritual.

[@343bola4]

Top 10 spartan roasts.

[@ZanOGAL]

NaeNae all day they didnt even need to make a diss track

[@Marcelo-ol7lf]

In Plato's dialogue "Protagoras", Socrates talks about spartans and their wisdom He even said that they cultivated more philosophy than athletics.

[@user-pf3zb7lv9b]

Phillip II: (threatning message) Spartans: I F Phillip II: [ visible fear ]

[@herpydepth1204]

I remember reading that Spartan men were specifically trained in the art of essentially dealing out one-liners. I don’t really know if that’s true but I love the idea of it

[@veterankasrkin7416]

Spartans. Made for battle and breed for war.

[@DarkSolace33]

Angry Marine Angry Marines. Bred for war and for anger.

[@veterankasrkin7416]

Actually My Lord, bred for anger and profanity.

[@DarkSolace33]

Angry Marine Well at least you have some courtesy as well.

[@aegis115]

Primarch Roboute Guilliman Hello Papa Blueberry, how's things?

[@fancy_hulk]

+Angry Marine Not for anger only?

[@depressingmcnugget3207]

*"IF"* probably the best comeback in that time

[@filthyfrenchy]

Imagine saying something thousands of years ago and it still being heard.

[@swe9139]

Thank you invicta I needed this

[@InvictaHistory]

Glad you enjoyed. The next video in this series will switch over to Deadliest Moments and will discuss the serial killers of the past! Stay tuned : )

[@swe9139]

Invicta if your going to do ma ombré videos like this take the history of the German tribes and the battle of testudoberg forest / arminius

[@bitchlasagna2665]

Swe "I needed this"

[@nicolasfantin6341]

The one to Philip made me laugh so hard, i didnt knew that one! awesome video, and Devin did a great job narrating!! can´t wait for the next one now!

[@chrisd2051]

Also the one where the Spartan king said "These are fine quarters, for women." I could just imagine one of the guys in the other city's entourage saying the Ancient Greek equivalent to "Oh shit!"

[@LazyMe420]

Spartan women in actuality had a lot more wealth and influence than men, owning more than 40% of the land. Also..Philip could easily defeat the Spartans at his time. The Macedonians were the toughest, most evolved military force of the ancient times, incorporating genius tactics and strategies that were never seen before. Even their weapons were superior. The only reason Sparta was left alone by the Macedonians is because it wasn't a real treat to them while also being a threat to the rest of the Greeks (who in actuality hated them, even if Spartans were Greeks themselves) and a reason to stay united under Philips' and later Alexanders' rule.

[@LazyMe420]

I mean...Alexander had conquered half of the known world, had a massive army of battle-hardened soldiers who fought battle after battle for more than 10 years. They could even drop elephants to their knees and outsmarted armies double or triple their size many times ffs. I don't think that ~1000 Spartans with basic training that have probably never seen battle would be much trouble for him lol.

[@michaelhenry3234]

+LazyMe420 Just because the women were politically and socioeconomically more powerful doesn't mean they were thought of as any different than the women. Women didn't fight wars, and to a spartan society, that makes the rebuttal sensible. And yeah, the Spartans wouldn't stand a chance. But perhaps the "if" was made in acknowledgment to their geopolitical power? The fact that Philip didn't invade because of the benefit of them scaring the other states probably wasn't lost on the Spartans.

[@LazyMe420]

Michael Henry Well, I have to disagree. Time after time history has shown us that social and economical powers are not things to glance over, in fact they're what makes or breaks a society, literally society's core. To say that women who hold such powers were viewed the same way as any other women around at the time is just naive man. Men fought wars because they were expendable, kings came and went, many of them even died poor, the women on the other hand became richer and richer as the time passed, that's how their system worked. It was not uncommon for a king to ''lower'' himself in front of a powerful woman just to get a loan lol. It also wasn't uncommon for women to heavily influence politics..and by heavily influence II don't mean vote or anything stupid like that, but control. Money is power my friend, always was, always will be.

[@rainredfox]

"IF" damn that is savage

[@TheeDarthVader66]

Xerxes: "i will see to it that you are erased from the history books!" Leonidas: " well thats fine by me Xerxes..... Because i can't read!" Only the real ones will get this one

[@michaelwalton4017]

"I fart in your general direction!"

[@frankfedison5203]

"I wave my private parts at your auntie!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@paxonite-7bd5]

"Your mothers was an hamster and your father smelled like elder berries!"

[@cheesestyx945]

"Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!"

[@TheSeanoops]

Silly pig dogs.

[@marcobaek1378]

*french laugh * french laugh * french laugh

[@eleftheriosvenizelos4662]

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[@XristosArgyropoulos]

Υπάρχει ενα νησί στο αιγαίο πελαγος που το εχει γραμμενο το μολων λαβε και το βλεπουν οι τουρκοι, BADASS!!!

[@saeedvazirian]

And we did...

[@PEANUTBUDR]

I google translated Molon Labe and it came back as nothing. I typed in Molon Lave and then it came back as "Come and get it".

[@user-sd8ec5jv2z]

BallisticJestr Beta in Greek sounds like a V. The combination of M and B in Greek gets you an actual B sound.

[@asnard2346]

BallisticJestr excuse me what exactly did you type? You can't type Greek using the english alphabet. Google Translate won't recognise so-called "greeklish" writing. Unless what you mean is that you tried to type something like "μολὼν λαμπέ" which would be hilarious. Anyway the word _molṑn_ doesn't mean anything in modern greek since the verb μολώσκω/βλώσκω is not used at all today. Only "λαβέ" exists(kinda) except that it is stressed differently (on the penultimate) and is rather archaic(mostly a word that a priest would use as in "λάβετε φάγετε..." but not so much in regurar speech where πάρε is usually preferred) I don't know how GoogleTranslate was able to translate it since it has no option for Ancient Greek and in Modern Greek the phrase is pretty much unintelligible (thus a greek joke I heard some time ago which went like "Then Xerxes demanded that they surrender the weapons, so Leonidas *with what little Persian he knew responded 'molón lavé'* " (LOL) Τhe phrase is usually translated in modern Greek as "έλα να τα πάρεις"(basically "come to take them") though I think that a more (grammatically)accurate rendering would be "ελθών/ερχόμενος πάρτα" (participle + imperative) even though the "τα"("them") is not included in the phrase itself. "Λαβέ" itself can just as easily mean "take it" or "take her" or "take me", etc but in this case the _them/τα_ is inferred by the context since it refers to the "hopla"(neuter, plural of _hoplon_ ) in the sentence «πάλιν δὲ τοῦ Ξέρξου γράψαντος *‘πέμψον τὰ ὅπλα,’* ἀντέγραψε *‘μολὼν λαβέ.’* » (Plutarch. "Moralia", Apophthegmata Laconica, Leonidas son of Anaxandridas, XI) By the way "Βουλγαροκτόνος1014" is wrong about the pronounciation of Beta. It definitely wasn't a "V" in ancient Greek. And also M(N) + "V"(fricative) does not equal "B"(stop) in Modern Greek either. If it did then Greeks should be pronouncing _λαμβάνω_ as "lambáno" but instead they say "lamváno". I guess what he may have wanted to say is that there are some words like for example the word _γαμβρός_ (which means "brother-in-law" or "son-in-law" or "groom" in a wedding) which are actually pronounced in Modern Greek with a stop [b] sound rather than a fricative [v] sound. But because of modern orthographic conventions the Beta(β) in these words is replaced by a Pi(π) so the word has to be written as "γαμπρός" in order to correspond to the pronounciation. Of course it's still not exactly the same as in Ancient Greek because in ModernGreek the Gamma(Γ,γ) has also become a fricative(except when it is preceeded by a Nu(expressed as a "γ") on which occasion it does actually become a stop like in ancient Greek)

[@noteimporta2880]

Spartans were always provoking a fight with their intelligent choice of words, this shows the highest confidence in one's ability to fight and their commitment to that fighting lifestyle . It also show's how educated they were, i personally think they were the smartest of all the world at this point in time and even up to date now. In those times the whole world was in their own different wars and sparta chose not to be a victim to all the greek states' policies and sanctions. You have to become the fiercest warriors in all of greece (and the world) to tell the other countries " you can't tell us what to do, but you can try to make us if you dare", in politics and diplomacy.

[@torrace12]

i think they where not provoking anyone, but rater just being naturally so much toughter then their enemies that the enemie felt inferior

[@lancemannly]

Yeah it's really impressive how much time you can devote to combat training when all of your food and labor are grown and performed by slaves

[@oz_jones]

@@lancemannly ah yes, most of human history involves slavery. How astute of you to point this out

[@med.ismailmouline7094]

Spartans radiate such *CHAD* energy. Damn im impressed. A like.

[@Peasant_of_Pontus]

Phillip or Alexander never invaded Sparta because it was a useful boogeyman to keep the greek city states in line.

[@janeza382]

Macedonians and Spartans had Doric ties while Athens had Aetolian and rest from Africa(Egypt,Ethiopia) and Middle east (Anatolia,Lebanon,Armenia)Ionian.

[@tylerdurden3722]

@Calamity yap...In the early days, many Greeks were pirates, especially Eobeans who pirated in the eastern Mediterranean. The pirates set up new bases of operation in places like Cilicia, etc. The Egyptians and other victims recognised their fighting skill and hired them as mercenaries. Those mercenaries settled in some of those places, like Egypt. Colonization became a thing for Greeks to solve overpopulation, relocating outcasts, criminals or refugees.

[@rererewewewe6083]

Cope

[@GuruJudge21]

That's part of it, but it's more likely that they didn't want to divide their attention or strength away from the Persians. I have no doubt that the Macedonians would have beaten the Spartans, who at that point were a shadow of their former glory anyway, but it would have cost them, it would have further alienated them from the Greeks, it might have inspired rebellion in other city-states, it would have taken more effort to subdue the Spartans than just ignoring them, and the fact that ancient battles were always risky and even a small loss would have tarnished their reputation.

[@jacktattis]

Philip did invade but fearing a blood bath to his troops he did NOT take Sparta itself.

[@iancalandro3592]

"How far do Sparta's borders stretch?" *thrusts spear in the air* "As far as this can reach!" so... not very far.

[@joelquinn5347]

but everywhere he wishes to go :)

[@mancamiatipoola]

Which, considering the knowledge about how big the world was, at the time, was pretty accurate. No bolstering there. Considering the size of the Greek peninsula, Sparta was a pretty small province.

[@dionwoollaston5717]

Ian Calandro far enough to pierce your heart

[@mathiasJUSTsvendsen]

The spartan could pretty much throw the spear in enemy lines and claim it as theirs, if it would hit

[@DannySullivanMusic]

Exactly what I was thinking lol

[@kristiawanindriyanto5765]

In all, some 7,000 Greek hoplites and skirmishers would comprise the defenders at the Hot Gates. Though they comprised only 300 out of that force of 7,000, the Spartans and their king took command over the whole. One of the allied commanders, a Phocian, questioned the Spartan’s right to leadership when their contribution to the coalition was so small. Leonidas asked, “How many soldiers did you bring, friend?” The Phocian replied, “We came with 1,000”. Leonidas then asked him what he did for a living under normal circumstances. The Phocian, replied, “I am a potter”. Leonidas turned to another Phocian standing beside his command. “What do you do, friend”? I am a farmer, this one answered. Leonidas asked each of the Phocians standing nearby, and each gave a similar answer to the first: they each had a “civilian” occupation. The Spartan king finally gestured towards his men, busy oiling their armor and sharpening their weapons. “Well”, Leonidas pointed out, “I bring 300 soldiers”Every Spartan was a soldier, a professional, every day of the year, in war or peace.

[@jamesteegardner2273]

I love the part 1 to the Philip II message. He made vague threats and then asked if he should come as a friend or a foe. "Neither" was the Spartan reply. So savage!

[@jonesirl8584]

*Zipp* Time to open Rome 2 again

[@davidthompson1129]

I hear the RTW music in the background and subconsciously get's ready for a pike phalanx

[@user-zx8cz8kq3l]

Yes, Strategos!

[@davidbarfield3489]

Spartans regularly made comments on how the Egyptians- smelled.

[@socracle2774]

There is some irony here with how fanatical Athens was with Egyptian culture during the reign of Alexander lmao

[@davidbarfield3489]

Socracle Spartans weren’t Athenians.

[@socracle2774]

@@davidbarfield3489 yes... are you aware of the rivalry between them?

[@davidbarfield3489]

Socracle Yes... I’m a History Professor😁

[@houcret1548]

Awesome vid!

[@rotraven]

"There's 2 kinds of spears my friend. Those that come in through the front gate. Those that come in through a giant wooden horse." - Odysseus

[@firas9102]

This is really really cool!!!!

[@InvictaHistory]

Glad you enjoyed! The moments series is meant to look at history from a variety of angles that are usually ignored. I think people will really appreciate this fresh look

[@nikolanojic6861]

I think i do appreciate it :D

[@furq2m8]

If memory serves, it was towards the end of Sparta that this occurred, most of the soldiers were not in fact true Spartans, they were helots.

[@thetproject2266]

@@furq2m8 no helots were something like slaves (not exactly but something like that ) they dont have the right to cary a weapon..fun fact a young spartan boy had to kill a helot to pass the exams of a real warrior😂😂

[@Simon-iy7mt]

That was thoroughly enjoyable.

[@justintimeagain2341]

I love how you used Rome Total War music for this video. A nice touch.

[@YFNGamer1]

They invented the roast.

[@itshitime]

chuck norris is said to be afraid of spartans

[@a.morphous66]

A Spartan is the only thing in existence that he cannot and under no circumstances will roundhouse kick.

[@hidrant981]

thunder2.0 he started sparta man

[@spartaman2137]

lol

[@thomasbarton1050]

what about the legend 27?

[@NITROJACKALOPE]

Thomas Barton IS a spartan.

[@coachprescott72]

Epic! Thanks

[@ThePresidentsMan]

Another correction: With it or on it refers to the shield. One of the rules of war amongst Greeks was that if an opponent threw down their shield, it meant surrender and you shouldn't kill them. So it basically means that coming back without the shield i.e. having surrendered in battle to save your life, was not an option.