The Great Spartan Sword
The one name, Sparta, has sparked off many a debate and accolade on the Greeks and the Spartan sword was a part of Greek history. Athens and Sparta, the two rival states, which fought for supremacy among the Greek city states consisted of brave warriors who were trained in classical warfare from a very young age.
Having been trained in hand to hand combat, the Spartan sword was the most effective weapon for a warrior in a phalanx. A high degree of respect and practiced skill was required for the warriors to maintain their formations in battle.
A brief and hurtful battle during the many wars like the Polynesian War, the Greco Persian Wars, the War of the Marathons, eulogized by many a poet and historian, often speak of the Spartan sword and the shield as the best weapons for the battles.
A statue of King Lyonidas I in Sparta is a great example of a warrior king, something that every Spartan was brought to do since birth, fight for their honor and respect for the country. The country was above everything else and one would either come back a champion from a war or be killed for ones own country. King Lyonidas Spartan sword held ready for battle in combat stands testimony to the Spartans significance of standing up for their rights and their country. The nation was above everything else. Aristotle had taught this in most of his writings.
Life has moved on from the fifth century BC. Modern methods of warfare have evolved and people have evolved technologically. At the press of a button man is able to destroy, annihilate a whole nation, without so much as moving an extra muscle. The age of innovation has pushed us on to new frontiers the Greeks would never have imagined. But they were the original creators of democracy, they sowed the seeds of a civilized democratic society, taught the world organized, disciplined methods of warfare. The Spartan sword remains today a symbol of a nation which raises its artistic weapon high over its head, ready for action, ready for anything to die with honor for ones country and ones fellow men.
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