What the description of Sphacteria has to tell us

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

It is possible that some soldiers fought in felt caps. Even if not all of them but a high percentage of the men in Sphacteria were fighting in felt piloi this would be enough for Thucydides to say their helmets didn't protect them from arrows.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to find and post here the sculpture I had in mind but you can go in Osprey The Greek Hoplite p58(and then see plate F). This hoplite is typically and fully armed. He has a shield,a sword and a spear. And a helmet. Only it is squeezed by his fingers. Interestingly it is from Megara and dates to 420-410bc.
Another vase with the exact same kit for a soldier

These two soldiers are wearing piloi that could be soft. They're not completely cymetrical...

Additionally,though it's early and this is not a pilos,it is however a charging hoplite in full kit but a soft (phrygian) cap(thanks to Paul B for the photo)


One thing I would like to point out is the Spartans didn indeed act like their ancestors in one sence. Thucydides says that even after the Messenians came from the rear and as he characteristicly says "to compare the small with the big" they were in the same position as in Thermopylae, they were in very difficult situation,but they didn't break. He says that Demosthenes and Kleon realized that if the Spartans were pushed even slightly back,they would be totally masacred. So they called back their troops because they wanted to take the survivors captives. It was then and after a Keryx was sent that the Spartans let down their shields and some of them waved their hands. But even then,they didn't surrender. They asked orders from their generals in land. Their own generals were dead or among the dead. Only the third in command was alive. It is indicated that if they were ordered to fight,they would do it. It is unfair to compare them,even today, to those in Thermopylae,who fought under the command of a king.
Also the answer they got is most interesting. They were actually ordered not to die. Otherwise they would have said "do what the Sparta's laws say"(which means fight to death and not retreat). Instead,they were asked not to do something shamefull. Obviously even at that time the "Spartan mirage" was so strong that Sparta could still not order a surrender.
Khairete
Giannis