Stephen Pressfield's historical novel, Gates...
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Stephen Pressfield's historical novel, Gates of Fire, tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones. The Persians capture Xeones, who is the only survivor of the battle, and force him to tell the story. Xerxes wonders how the small band of Spartans was able to hold off his army for so long. Xeones tells the story of having escaped the assault on his home by the Argive army and then coming to Sparta. Once there, he joined their army and went through the rigors of their training.
Much of the book is devoted to sharing the Spartan system of "nurture." Male children at the age of seven were deemed ready for their education and were organized into Agelai (literally flocks of animals). Once introduced to this system they lived communally within their age group and became subject to the Agoge. The Agoge was what permitted them to become a homoioi or equal. For the rest of their lives they were not obliged to work and enjoyed the freedom of citizenship. The training was brutal as they were "mentored" by those older than themselves. They studied reading and writing, engaged in mock battles, competitions, and choral dance. But the emphasis was upon strength and athleticism. After "graduation" they were slowly integrated into society by serving first as krypteia. The young Spartans served as a virtual secret police patrolling the land plots farmed by the common class or helots. Their aim was to short-circuit any rebellion. Following this service they were incorporated into the army forming a virtual "warrior class." Only then, were they permitted to marry and have children of their own.
Much of the book is devoted to sharing the Spartan system of "nurture." Male children at the age of seven were deemed ready for their education and were organized into Agelai (literally flocks of animals). Once introduced to this system they lived communally within their age group and became subject to the Agoge. The Agoge was what permitted them to become a homoioi or equal. For the rest of their lives they were not obliged to work and enjoyed the freedom of citizenship. The training was brutal as they were "mentored" by those older than themselves. They studied reading and writing, engaged in mock battles, competitions, and choral dance. But the emphasis was upon strength and athleticism. After "graduation" they were slowly integrated into society by serving first as krypteia. The young Spartans served as a virtual secret police patrolling the land plots farmed by the common class or helots. Their aim was to short-circuit any rebellion. Following this service they were incorporated into the army forming a virtual "warrior class." Only then, were they permitted to marry and have children of their own.
