The Spartans sure talked a lot of shit considering they lost the wars with the Macedonians.
by Bossuser2
The Spartans sure talked a lot of shit considering they lost the wars with the Macedonians.
by Bossuser2
10 Comments
A prominent example of a laconism involving [Philip II of Macedon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Macedon) was reported by the historian [Plutarch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch). After invading southern Greece and receiving the submission of other key [city-states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City-state), Philip turned his attention to Sparta and asked menacingly whether he should come as friend or foe. The reply was “Neither.”[^([3])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_phrase#cite_note-3)
Losing patience, he sent the message:
>If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out.
The Spartan [ephors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephor) again replied with a single word:
>If.
Philip proceeded to invade Laconia, devastate much of it, and eject the Spartans from various parts.
When you think about it, sparta is basically Piccolo.
spartans were never about being unbeatable, they simply never surrendered. There are many examples were spartan armies were annihilated but that’s the thing, you had to kill every last one of them.
Isn’t it kinda spoilerish?
Kind of inaccurate. It’s not like the Spartiates just kowtowed to Philip and did whatever he wanted. And they did win victories against Macedonian armies, juts not against Philip or Alexander. They’d last another 200 years before finally going out fighting against a coalition of Rome, Macedon (kind of), the Achaean League, the Aetolian League, Pergamon, and Rhodes.
Sparta was the only Greek city state that resisted Macedonian conquest when everywhere else folded. This is like saying Ethiopia is the true loser of the scramble for Africa because it lost a lot of men and resources resisting colonization.
Low-effort anti-laconian bait.
Actually after that reply they just… sent the army to Italy to fight for their old colony Tarento against the italics?? Leaving Philip mildly confused
The same year of the battle of Chaeronea the king Archidamus III died fighting in Italy in the battle of Manduria
All this great macho men, ready to fight, only for them to go on the war, lose too much warriors and don’t have anyone to do basic things, work on farms etc., becaming an easy target
I keep saying this, Sparta is the Greek city-state equivalent of a dude who peaked in high school and has been coasting on that reputation ever since.
*What people remember*
Philip: If I have to come over there, you’ll regret it.
Spartans: IF
*What usually gets ignored*
Sparta gets curbstomped and turned into a theme park.