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The '''Spartan women''' and girls were trained almost as severley as the men and boys.  Largely separated by gender from an early age, they were expected to raise strong sons until they were taken for military training at a young age and they were expected to make a home in austere conditions.  While they were not trained and did not fight for battle, they were expected to be strong just like the men.

'''Spartan Women''' and girls, like the men of [[Sparta]], underwent rigorous training.  Largely separated by gender from an early age, they were expected to raise strong sons fit to be taken for military training at a young age, and they were expected to make a home in austere conditions.  While they were not trained for combat, they were expected to be strong just like the men.

When a Spartan soldier went into [[battle]] his mother would hand him his [[shield]] and say "Come back with your shield or on it." She meant to come home victorious with it on his arm or come home laying on it, dead.  The only way to flee from a battle was to drop the shield, a condition that no Spartan was ever expected to undertake.

According to [[Roman]] historian [[Plutarch]], when a Spartan soldier went into [[battle]] his mother would hand him his [[shield]] and say "Come back with your shield or on it." She meant to come home victorious with it on his arm or come home laying on it, dead.  The only way to flee from a battle was to drop the shield, a condition that no Spartan was ever expected to undertake.<ref>The Greeks http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/8c_p1.html</ref>

== See Also ==

== See Also ==

* [[Spartan Soldiers]]

* [[Spartan Soldiers]]

[[category:Ancient Greece]]

[[category:Ancient Greece]]