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TERMINOLOGY
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Agiad
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The three hundred knights that comprise the King’s bodyguard.
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Akoniti
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Literal translation - “no-duster”, when a wrestler defeats his opponent so quickly that the bout fails to raise any dust in the arena.
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Andreia
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True courage, virtue.
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Aphobia
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Fearlessness.
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Apoge boua
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Training platoon.
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Arosis
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Literal translation - “harrowing” – the singling out of a Spartan youth for instruction by the peers of a mess; done by rapid question-and-answer requiring brevity and honesty. Humor a much-appreciated response from youth.
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Aspis
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Shield (plural “aspides”).
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Eirenes
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Drill instructors; Spartan youths who have completed their training.
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Ekklesia
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Assembly.
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Empeiria
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Experience.
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Enomotarch
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Platoon leader/commander (plural enomotarchai).
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Enomotia
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Platoon – 16 hoplites.
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Etimasen
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The act of “defaming” one’s shield by allowing it to lie on the ground face down.
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Gymnasts
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Athletic trainer.
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Gynaikagoge
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Women’s training discipline, the female equivalent of the agoge.
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Heliokekaumenos
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Literal translation - “Scorched by the Sun”. A Spartan term of derision given to feral youths. Refers to the appearance such youths get from extended exposure to the elements.
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Homoioi
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Full Spartans, Peers or Equals. First class of citizenship in Spartan society.
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Hoplon
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Shield
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Katalepsis
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Literal translation - “possession”; that derangement of the senses that comes when terror or anger usurps dominion of the mind.
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Kleroi
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Farmsteads.
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Lakedaemon
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Sparta.
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Lakedaemonian
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Spartan.
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Lambda
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The Greek letter “L”; emblazoned on the boss of Spartan shields.
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Metik
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A resident alien.
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Moira
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Fate.
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Mora
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A unit of about 1,200 men – a regiment.
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Mothax
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A non-citizen or bastard Spartan still in agoge training.
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Oktonyktia
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Training period of eight nights, designed to push the Spartan warriors to the limits of their endurance.
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Othismos
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Initial battlefield collision, when opposing phalanxes meet.
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Oudenos chorion
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The no-man’s land (between opposing armies).
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Palaistra
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The training ground.
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Parastates Pais
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A sort of sparring partner for youths enrolled in the agoge.
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Parataxis
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A pitched battle.
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Perioikoi
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Gentlemen-Rankers. Second-class Spartans of less than full citizenship.
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Pharmakon
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Medicine
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Phobologia
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The science of fear.
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Philosophia
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Wisdom.
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Phobos
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Fear. That which defeats Sparta’s enemies.
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Phobokyklos
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Loop of fear.
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Phobosynakteres
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Fear accumulators – areas of the body where fear will collect, and from where fear can be removed.
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Polemarch
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Company/battalion commander.
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Polemike techne
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Literal translation - “skill at arms”
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Polis
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The spiritual identity of the city-state, the state.
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Promachoi
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Front rankers in a phalanx.
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Pseudoandreia
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False courage.
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Salpinx
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Pipes used to direct the troops upon the battlefield.
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Skiritai
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Lakedaemonian (Spartan ) rangers.
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Strategos autokrater
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Supreme military commander.
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Skytalides |
“Tickets”; twig bracelets inscribed with each Spartan warrior’s name and broken before a battle. Retrieved by the survivors after the battle and used to identify those who have been slain. Can be compared to modern-day "Dogtags".
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Stichoi
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Files – as in squads.
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Thermopylae
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Literal translation - “Hot Gates”
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Traumatiai
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Lit “the traumatized”; those wounded in battle.
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Xiphos
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Greek short sword.
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Xyele
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Sickle-like weapon carried by Spartan boys.
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