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From the age of eighteen, the Spartans were allowed to serve in the army but not on the frontline. At this age, they would apply for membership into a Syssition where they would learn regularly from older soldiers, they would also be appointed as leaders for younger boys, and they would act as role models as well as punish those under their control. At the age of twenty-three, the Spartiate became a full-time soldier, and at the age of thirty completed his time in the ''agoge''; however, he continued eating meals in the Syssition. The Spartan didn’t finish an active role in the army until the age of sixty.

From the age of eighteen, the Spartans were allowed to serve in the army but not on the frontline. At this age, they would apply for membership into a Syssition where they would learn regularly from older soldiers, they would also be appointed as leaders for younger boys, and they would act as role models as well as punish those under their control. At the age of twenty-three, the Spartiate became a full-time soldier, and at the age of thirty completed his time in the ''agoge''; however, he continued eating meals in the Syssition. The Spartan didn’t finish an active role in the army until the age of sixty.

As the Spartan soldiers endured such rigorous training, and lived as full-time soldiers, the Spartan army was looked up to by the neighboring city states as a military force. The will of the Spartans was to protect Sparta at any cost, including risk of death, as “an honorable death is preferable to a dishonorable life”. This belief was upheld in all levels of society as a famous saying of the mothers to their sons when they went to war was to return ‘with your shield, or on it’.  It was impossible to flee from battle while carrying a shield.  It meant die in battle (on it) before retreat. It was for this tenacity that the Spartans were both feared and respected. In the [[Battle of Thermopylae]], The Spartan king [[Leonidas]], led a 300-strong advance force to meet a much larger Persian force, “in order that the sight of them might encourage the other confederates to fight and prevent them from going over (to) the enemy, as they were quite capable of doing it if they knew that Sparta was hanging back”.  Often the sight of a Spartan wearing his crimson cloak was enough to inspire an ally to take up arms. The influence of the Spartan army also led to their allies serving under the Spartan commander. During the battle of Thermopylae, although each of the Greek forces had their own commander, but “Leonidas the Spartan, was in command of the whole army”.

As the Spartan soldiers endured such rigorous training, and lived as full-time soldiers, the Spartan army was looked up to by the neighboring city states as a military force. The will of the Spartans was to protect Sparta at any cost, including risk of death, as “an honorable death is preferable to a dishonorable life”. This belief was upheld in all levels of society as a famous saying of the mothers to their sons when they went to war was to return "with your shield, or on it".  It was impossible to flee from battle while carrying a shield.  It meant die in battle (on it) before retreat. It was for this tenacity that the Spartans were both feared and respected. In the [[Battle of Thermopylae]], The Spartan king [[Leonidas]], led a 300-strong advance force to meet a much larger Persian force, “in order that the sight of them might encourage the other confederates to fight and prevent them from going over (to) the enemy, as they were quite capable of doing it if they knew that Sparta was hanging back”.  Often the sight of a Spartan wearing his crimson cloak was enough to inspire an ally to take up arms. The influence of the Spartan army also led to their allies serving under the Spartan commander. During the battle of Thermopylae, although each of the Greek forces had their own commander, but “Leonidas the Spartan, was in command of the whole army”.

The army’s role to protect the state of Sparta was not constricted to fighting external threats. Sparta held control over the whole of the Eurotas valley, and enslaved the people they conquered during the Messenian wars around 713 BC. The slaves, or [[helot]]s, significantly outnumbered the Spartans, and as such there was a great sense of paranoia amongst the Spartans. Many historians have speculated whether the helots were the reason for the  

The army’s role to protect the state of Sparta was not constricted to fighting external threats. Sparta held control over the whole of the Eurotas valley, and enslaved the people they conquered during the Messenian wars around 713 BC. The slaves, or [[helot]]s, significantly outnumbered the Spartans, and as such there was a great sense of paranoia amongst the Spartans. Many historians have speculated whether the helots were the reason for the