01-11-2010, 04:31 PM
Quote:Those who trained with hoplomachus extensively were more skilled than average Spartiate for sure,those who did not train enough didn't.
It's that easy. If you say virtually all other Greeks trained hard with hoplomachus than ok. But if not - than the "as any other" part seems like an overstatement.That is the whole point.
No need ot overthink this, the quotation reflects an impression, like: women doctors are as good as male doctors. Is it true? I don't know, probably the top doctors are still male. But if you pick a woman and a man to be doctors, we could not decide which would eventually be better with any accuracy.
Another problem that I mentioned above is the different population scale between Spartiates and other poleis citizens. This even posed a challenge to Sparta's superiority in group fighitng. When the argives field 1,000 picked men who are specially trained hoplites, this elite unit equals a substantial percentage of the Spartiates that would have been fielded at any time. Even small elite units of 300 were a problem when Spartiate numbers fell.
Paul M. Bardunias
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
