In the 11th century BC, the city-state of Sparta emerged in Laconia (Greece). The legislation of Lycurgus in the 9th century turned Sparta into a strong military state, which acquired hegemony over the Peloponnese and even dominance in all of Ancient Greece, up until the period of the Greco-Persian Wars of 499-449 BC.
In Sparta, all full citizens had to undergo military training and improve their military skills throughout their lives. The basic combat formation of the Spartans was the phalanx. The phalanx formed a dense row with overlapping shields. The Spartans could quickly rebuild and form mobile formations for a surprise attack. The Spartans were trained in countermarch techniques, which allowed them to quickly reorient the phalanx in any direction.
In 480 BC, during the invasion of the Persian army of Xerxes, the Battle of Thermopylae took place, in which the Spartans and their allies under the command of King Leonidas (a total of about 7,000 people) held off the Persian army, which was 10 times larger than their own, for a long time. In the end, thanks to their overwhelming numerical superiority, the Persians were able to overcome the resistance of the Greeks. The last defenders of Thermopylae - King Leonidas and all his soldiers (about 300 people) died, embodying in practice the ideals of the Spartans. The final victory of the Spartans and their allies in the Battle of Plataea (479 BC) put an end to the Persian invasions and saved Greece from enslavement.
The main weapon of the Spartan hoplites was a spear with an iron leaf-shaped tip, which could reach 2-3 m in length. Usually during battle it was held at shoulder level, and on the march it was carried at the ready. The hoplite was also armed with a short (60 cm) sword made of iron with bronze overlays. The sword was used for both chopping and stabbing blows. It was carried in a scabbard hanging over the shoulder. For protection, the hoplite used a large shield (aspis), made of wood with a bronze coating and a leather lining on the inside. The shield depicts a boar's head. The image of gods and sacred animals on the hoplite shields was typical for all Greek city-states, including Sparta. In the first half of the 5th century BC. there was no specific heraldic system (like, for example, in the Middle Ages), according to which drawings were tied to one family or an entire clan and served as their property, in Ancient Greece. For example, at Thermopylae, on the shields of the Spartans, contrary to popular belief, there was no standardized emblem in the form of a lambda. The Spartans began to depict the letter "Λ" (the first letter of the word Lacedaemon, the official name of the state of Sparta) much later, during the Peloponnesian Wars.
The hoplite's head is protected by a bronze Corinthian helmet with a transverse comb made of horsehair, which could be painted in bright colors. Bronze armor, consisting of chest and back parts, fastened with loops. Under the armor is a red tunic. On the legs are cast bronze greaves (knemids).
Scale: 1/32 (54 mm)
Material: tin alloy, steel, acrylic paints
Text update 04/15/2022
