Spartan Mora regiments at Battle of Plataea

[PMBardunias]

the Athenians at least thought this was all a little too co-incidental, the Spartans were thought a very conservative and religious people.

Perhaps a good analogy, and one that aapealed even to the ancients, is between Sparta and Israel. Modern Israel is obviously a religeous state. Its reason for being and definition of who qualifies for citizenship is religious based. They have a plethora os state holidays all of which are strictly followed. But most isrealis are completely secular in thier private beliefs. There is a core of ultra-religious groups who function to ensure that everyone else at least seem to follow the religious precepts- through guilt as much as legislation. My guess is that the same was true in Sparta based on what I percieve as often cynical use of oracles and festivals.

Agesilaos II could possibly be the closest thing Sparta ever produced approaching a pan-Hellenic uber-leader

Enter Paralus- stage left...

As with many aspects of the Spartan mirage - I think this dyarchic imperative as military arbiter was nominal at best even if it really existed in practical reality. One of the reasons for the continuence of the two houses was to prevent one or other becoming too powerful - and since the Agiads and Eurypontids were usually at odds with each other - if a king was final arbiter; which one was it and who selected him?

This is true, but there are many monarchies where Kings had the last word technically, but were elected by a lower body. Kings in renaissance Poland and even Holy Roman Emporers. Weren't the 5 Ephors attached to the king in the field specifically to act as a break on his power? It might be instructive to compare the poer of the King with the power of the Nauarchs, who held a simlar command.