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Leonidas was born around the year 530 BC and was the son of a Spartan King. Leonidashad two siblings, an older brother Dorieus and a younger brother Cleombrotus. His fatherwas beleievd to be descended from Heracles. Leonidas would be given the highest Spartan honor in the [[Battle of Thermopylae]]. '''Spartan Lifestyle'''----
The Spartan lifestyle was very different than any other [[Greek]] [[city-state]]. Instead of teaching their sons the arts of reading and writing they set up a system dedicated to producing warriors. Every male Spartan had to become a full time soldier and spent his life training and fighting. From the age of 7 they were trained for war. These boys were placed in groups of 15, the bravest of the company would be made captain. They were kept under very strict rules. The captain of the of the group would give out punishments as he saw fit. This made all Spartans tough, proud, and disciplined. By the [[Classical Period]] [[Sparta]] had become the strongest military power in all [[Greece]], and its soldiers were famous for their bravery. However, this was achieved at the expense of her cultural development. There were now no philosophers, or artists, or anything else in [[Sparta]], just soldiers.
'''Thermopylae'''
In 480 BC Persian [[King Xerxes]] was planning to carry out his father's intentions to conquer [[Greece]]. Now at this time there was a Spartan oracle which said,
''Strength against strength; for he has the power of [[Zeus]]''
''And will not be checked 'til one of these he has consumed.''
Leonidas seemed to believe that he was this king.
