“For Sparta!” a young Spartan commander shouted to his troops as the Persian hordes closed in on their defensive lines. The battle had begun. Roaring, the Persians charged at the Spartans only to be massacred. Slashing and slashing, the vastly superior Spartans massacred the Persian troops with their superior weapons and renowned training, but continued to advance. "We must retreat!" the commander shouted to his troops as the battle progressed, but his troops could not hear him over the din of the battle. As dusk approached, the Persians managed to break through the lines, forcing the Spartans into a mass rout to another line. “We must hold on a little longer otherwise Greece will fall!” shouted the Spartan commander as he speared a weak Persian through the mouth with his dory. This was the Battle of Thermopolis. So they did, 300 Spartans held Thermopolis for three days against 300,000 Persians until they were all killed, resulting in a Pyrrhic victory for the Persians. The Battle of Thermopolis is a good example of Sparta's unique military capability, still recognized today almost 2500 years ago. Although Sparta's iconic military might is usually associated with the courage, skill, and professionalism of its soldiers, one must recognize the equipment, training, and tactics of the Spartan soldier that made him superior to all other infantry in ancient times (with the exception of the Roman Legions). The first aspect to understanding Sparta's military strength was their equipment. Spartan armor was similar to that of other Greek city-states with its bronze greaves, a muscular breast plate, and a helmet with cheek plates. One notable difference was that the Spartans wore red cloaks even though they were never… middle of the paper… I went to the back of the first and cut off the spearhead, rendering the hoplites useless weapon. (anti-military) Although all Greek city-states employed the Phalanx, the Spartans never allowed anyone else to use their other tactics, which meant that their tactics never evolved while those of the other city-states did . This was one of the fundamental reasons why Sparta fell. (anti-military);(Warry 42)In conclusion, the Spartan army was a fearsome power until 200 BC due to its equipment, training, and tactics. The might of their infantry, which held Thermopolis against the numerically superior Persian force for 3 days, inspired armies around the world and amazed us today over 2500 years ago. Works Cited Warry, John. War in the classical world. London: Salamander Books ltd., 1980.“ancientmilitary” www.Ancientmilitary.com/ancient-sparta.html