What Constitutes a Spartan in Steven Pressfields' "Gates of Fire"

1632 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Battle of thermopylae significance

Steven Pressfields: Gates of fire is based on a true story of how three hundred courageous warrior Spartans led by their king Leonidas and 700 Thespaian allies held off an army of over one million Persian infantrymen on a narrow pass in Thermopylae Greece in 480 B.C. for seven days. The Spartan Warriors were highly disciplined, physically and mentally tough soldiers that were dedicated to their country and way of life. The three hundred Spartan’s left home one day leaving their families behind, on a suicide mission to buy time for their countrymen to organize forces. Their sacrifice was unparalleled and their dedication and battle skill struck fear in the hearts and minds of their enemy. What constitutes a Spartan? According to Steven Pressfield in his book gates of fire a Spartan is synonymous with the term warrior. The Spartan warriors as depict in this novel were true men. Audacious, fearless warriors, dedicated to the safety of their families and the Spartan way of life. Spartan Soldiers were born to die for family and country. What made these soldiers different from all the rest in the world was not only there unsurpassed skill but their loyalty to their country, family and peers. Leonidas states while briefing the eighty remaining Spartans on the seventh day of battle: why men fight, “forget country. Forget King. Forget wife and children and freedom. Forget every concept, however noble, that you may imagine you fight here today. Act for this alone: for the man who stands at your shoulder” (Pressfield, S. 1998). That statement is insight on how the Spartans way of life was established based on their values and loyalty to comrades at arms. These warriors were the elite of Greece; as valor was shown on the pass of Thermopyl... ... middle of paper ... ...roops to the rear to replenish Greece. Greeks had viewed Thermopylae as a critical moral and culture lesson to be learned. That free men fought willingly with pride and valor against those that were forced. Who do you think had more fear? Freedom won in the end. It was always the will to train and fight and develop proper skills that kept this Army on track. The Spartans had a great leader that boosted there pride and motivation throughout the conflict. Spartans knew how to be real men, fathers, husbands and warriors. They fought for their family, country and comrades in arms. Most importantly, they fought for what they believed in. No enemy has ever enslaved their children and raped their women and as long as brave men fight like on that ridgeline then freedom will always be alive. Works Cited Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire. New York: Bantam Books, 1998.

Show More
Related

  • The Heroism, Divine Support, and Greek Unity Displayed in the Persian Wars

    2236 Words  | 5 Pages

    "You Are There- A novel set in ancient Greece revisits a key battle between Sparta and Persia". The New York Times Book Review, Nov. 1, 1998 Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermpoylae. New York: Doubleday

    Read More

  • “To face the blood and the slaughter” Spartan Society and Values according to Tyrtaeus and Xenophon

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    To look at this epistemologically, there is an understanding that almost every aspect involved in this culture was derived for the good of the polis. This seemed to be a very proud and arrogant people. A city with no walls, and in almost certainty, only natural born were allowed to earn citizenship. To even be called a Spartan meant years of fighting, service and status. Tyrtaeus states this argument best in the last line of his work. “Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.” These writings are great resources for Spartan’s war enhanced values and societal customs, but lack in evidence of governmental affairs and religion.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Steven Pressfield's Gates Of Fire

    1739 Words  | 4 Pages

    As citizens of the United States of America, we are often blind to not only the current traditions of foreign nations, but also the historical traditions of early civilizations. For instance, many have heard of the Greek city-state Sparta; however, do they truly understand the impact of Spartan civilization in history? Sparta is quite unique in its structure and development, and its history offers valuable insight to early Greek civilization. In his novel Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield works diligently to uncover the realities of life in Sparta during the Persian Wars. Though the novel is a work of fiction, Gates of Fire is astoundingly accurate in its historical detail, and offers readers the opportunity to have a greater comprehension and

    Read More

  • Spartan Society Essay

    1200 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hellenic culture in the Spartan community was that of a humble elite. True Spartan culture is well captured in Xenophon’s work, Spartan Society, as he wrote of how this elitist society viewed not only themselves, but the other countries around them. This work shines light into the three-part worldview of the ancient, Hellenic Spartans of: humanism, idealism, and rationalism. As Xenophon begins to write over the whole of the Spartan society it can be seen how the Spartans lived out the worldview of this Hellenistic society. This living out of the worldview recorded in Xenophon’s, Spartan Society, illustrates their worldview through the noting of Lycurgus’ accomplishments and the contrast of the “other.”

    Read More

  • Analysis Of 'The Warrior Ethos'

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Things are now different in our American culture, but in the core of the test for your manhood it is inherently the same. For example, young men and women who join the US Military have to undergo their own “agoge” which would be boot camp/basic training, the most rigorous of these would be the United States Marine Corps Boot Camp, the Marines go through the most grueling time of their life during their agoge.Which in turn gives them the ultimate sense of pride in who they are because of the hardship Marines face during their agoge they tend to emulate the Spartans, not only for their warrior pride but in their moral values.Other things the Spartans valued, respect for elders and more senior military members have also transferred over to our culture in the form of modern military respect and

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Battle of Thermopylae

    1519 Words  | 4 Pages

    Xerxes and his army landed on the Greek shores of Thermopylae sometime in the summer of 480 BC. The Persian army numbered somewhere around 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers from across the Persian Empire, most of which were slaves forced to join after they had been conquered (Robinson). Their plan was to march into the heart of Greece through the Thermopylae pass, the only path through the mountains. It was here that King Leonidas thought he had the best chance to stop the Persian advance into Greece. The pass was a narrow path between the mountains, which the massive Persian force would be funneled into and have to face the Greeks one-on-one. The Greek army consisted of 300 Spartans and about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers from across Greece. Leonidas planned to use his soldiers’ better fighting skills to defeat, or at least hold off, Xerxes’ forces until the remainder of the Greek Army could arrive.

    Read More

  • Sparta: Infrastructure, Social Structure, and Superstructure

    1515 Words  | 4 Pages

    Like most Greek states of the Archaic and Classical Era, the Spartan city-state was a militaristic one. Sparta, however, took the idea to its extreme. In order to become the best soldiers, Spartan citizens had to dedicate their entire lives to the occupation. In fact to be a soldier – a hoplite – was the full infrastructure of Spartan society. While most Greek city-states looked down on labor, physical work, and even working for profit, they still had to work for a living, produce something. “The Spartans a...

    Read More

  • Plutarch's Life Of Sparta

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, the rejection of luxury and avarice invariably results in a focus on military pursuits. Secondly, the apparent equality belies a vast slave network (common in antiquity, but the unique brutality of the Spartan kind can only bring to mind the Gulag). Lastly, intellectual sterility sets in. Sparta, intellectually, seems to be only good at cracking jibes (Athenian: “I can imitate a sparrow” Spartan: “So what, I have heard the real thing” upon approaching the walls of a city, a Spartan said, "What kind of women live here?"). Their poetry is stale and militaristic; their women are absolutely free; children are encouraged to steal; sex is made to resemble rape; parents mourn when their children return safe from war, and celebrate when they die: this is the weirdest state ever. The book “On Sparta” is a well written book as well is most of Plutarch’s

    Read More

  • Gates of Fire

    2763 Words  | 6 Pages

    Gates of Fire can also be classified as military fiction. Military fiction is “I need to get a quote for this”. The story is based off of the Spartan army. It describes the many different aspects of the army, including the training, battles, and social aspect of the military.

    Read More

  • Sparta and Athens - Explain and Contrast

    495 Words  | 1 Pages

    Sparta was a strict military city-state. The people were Dorians who conquered Laconia. This region lies in the Peloponnesus, which lied in southern Greece. The invaders turned the conquered people into state owned slaves, called helots. Since the helots greatly outnumbered their rulers, Spartans established a strict and brutal system of control. The Spartan government had two kings and a council of elders who advised the monarchs. An assembly made up of all citizens approved all major decisions. From child-hood, a Spartan prepared to be part of the military. All newborn were examined and the healthy lived and the sickly were left to die. Spartans wanted future soldiers or mothers of soldiers to be healthy. At the age of seven, boys trained for a lifetime in the Spartan military. They moved to the barracks and endured brutal and extensive training.

    Read More

  • Battle Of Thermopylae Research Paper

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Battle of Thermopylae began in 480 BC and was a product of the Greeks attempt help defend the Ionians from the Persians. This irritated the Persian Emperor, Xerxes, because he thought of Greece as a small kingdom that had no place revolting against the Persian Empire. The Athenians sympathized with the Ionians because the Persians had also tried to invade Greece on multiple occasions. The Athenians provided feeble help to the Ionians and in retaliation the Persians struck at athens (23B). Xerxes was known to be irrational with his temper, and may have thought of his invasion as retaliation for the fact that his father, Darius the Great, was defeated at the Battle of Marathon against the Greeks. His temper was so great that at Hellas Point he had the water whipped because it would not obey him (E49). One of several Greek war leaders in the Battle of Thermopylae was Leonidas, the second born son of King Anaxandridas. It was not until his half brother was killed under controversial circumstances that Leonidas rose to power (G72). Apart from misconceptions spread by the popular film “300,” the three hundred Spartans did not go into battle alone, and were accompanied by over eight hundred allies. Nevertheless, the Persians still outnumbered the Greeks ten to one, which is why it is incredible that the Greeks were able to hold them for three days before eventually losing that specific battle. Despite losing the battle in terms of soldiers and defending greece, the battle of thermopylae was somewhat successful in that it was a demonstration of the courage of greek soldiers, impressive battle tactics,

    Read More

  • Aspects of Spartan Culture

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sparta, an ancient Greek city-state, was most well-known for its militaristic lifestyle and its soldiers’ prowess in battle. Though war was an essential part of life in Sparta, many other aspects contributed to its society. Sparta’s origin, unique government, slaves, bold women, and elite warriors all shaped the legendary city-state and defined its culture.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Spartan Army And The Macedonian Army

    1730 Words  | 4 Pages

    Every Spartan male was trained to become a soldier from birth. While this was true for Sparta, the Macedonian hoplites had little to no training before war. Even with no training, they became experienced through the many battles they fought and through Alexander’s directive. Many Macedonian soldiers instead were normal citizens who were recruited to join the army and in return for their service, they would become citizens and have the right to vote and etc. To start off, the Spartan’s armor and weapons were exceptional. They had bronze helmets and armor. The armor was decently heavy but when you are made of pure muscle, bronze becomes very light on the body. Along with their armor, the famous Spartan shield was also bronze. Their weapons consisted of one long spear and a steel sword sheathed on their side for close combat. However, it was not their weapons and armor that won them limitless battles and war, in fact, it was their strategy that is known as the “phalanx” formation. Alexander and the Macedonians used a similar formation for their army, but the Spartans used this formation in a simple but very effective way for its troops. The “phalanx formation,” in general, is when soldiers form a square, standing shoulder to shoulder and protecting the soldier next to them instead of themselves. It requires soldiers to move and fight as one unit instead of breaking formation and fighting uncoordinatedly. As a result, staying in formation allowed Spartans to look after their fellow brothers more easily on the battlefield. This Spartan system had such a reputation that even King Philip did not want to go to battle with Sparta. Philip even sent Sparta a message while he was on his way to claim Athens. The message told Sparta to “submit immediately” because if he (Philip) were to win the war with Athens, Sparta would be the next Macedonian target and he would “destroy the people of Sparta and all they have.”

    Read More

  • Spartan Daily Life

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    My impression regarding the comparison of the likely daily lives of the citizens of Athens and Sparta is that they were two very different things. The differences hold true for men, women and children alike. In this discussion I have focused on the "average" person with the understanding that the roles of people of higher or lower social elevation surely led different lives.

    Read More

  • The Movie 300: The Battle Of Thermopylae

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the movie, the Spartans are shown as heavily disciplined, fearless, and almost invincible in combat. Diodorus, another prominent historian regarding the Battle of Thermopylae, describes the Spartans as "superior in valor" and leaving the pass "strewn with dead bodies" (7). Their courage is especially seen on the third day of battle as the Spartans were surrounded. In the face of certain death, they gave their lives for all of Greece and "defended themselves to the last, such as still had swords using them, and the others resisting with their hands and teeth" (Herodotus, 225). This strong fighting spirit and resolve that the Spartans show is reminiscent of elite forces that have fought throughout history, especially in the face of tremendous odds. However, the movie does slightly deviate from the historical record in an attempt to humanize the Spartans. On the second day of battle, the Spartan captain's son was killed, so he went on a rampage and had to be pulled back by the others (1:14:00). Although this most likely did not occur, many have seen loved ones fall in battle and its inclusion presents the realities of war. As the Spartans were people too, so were the Persians that were fighting them. In some portions of the battle, the movie revealed the fear that swept many

    Read More

More about What Constitutes a Spartan in Steven Pressfields' "Gates of Fire"

Open Document