Essay - When One Thinks of Great Warrior Civilizations of Antiquity the...

When one thinks of great warrior civilizations of antiquity the name "Spartan" invariably arises. Stephen Pressfield in ***** impressive novel "Gates of Fire" stirringly resurrects these ancient ********** and their society.

***** the General Storyline of this book.

As the book begins, a captured Spartan squire named Xeones (***** sole survivor of the last stand at Thermopylae) is recounting the compelling story ***** ***** 300 Spartans who fought to ***** death at Thermopylae to the Persian King. *****'s narr*****ive does not restrict itself ***** just an accounting of the battle but also reflects the trials experienced in h***** own life, ***** day to ***** ***** ***** Spartan society, and t*****e humanity, compassion, and grief of his fallen brothers in arms.

How ***** ***** present the ***** and their Society? What attribu*****s

Characteristics) does he claim that the Spartans exhibited. How did the o*****r Greeks perceive the Spartans?

Pressfield, obvious from ***** outset of the accounting, justly feels ***** ***** Spartans were respected among the other city-states of Greece. After Xeones hometown is sacked by a neighboring state a survivor l*****ments, "We needed *****... just fifty would have saved the city" (24) The view that the Spartans were undoubtedly thought of as disciplined, courageous, and stalwart (35) by all ***** ***** was not lost on the ***** themselves. *****ir ***** thrived on the fact that *****y were viewed with the highest esteem by the rest of Greece and soon the world. (373)

***** is Spartan family life portrayed? What is the role of women in this society and what is ***** status?

***** offers that it is ***** family ***** of the Spartans ***** held the society together. The Fathers are shown as lov*****g caring mentors to the younger generations, devoted to their wives. The constant undercurrent of war forced families to cherish the moments that they did have. (170)

Xeones, while speaking to the King, describes the l*****t familial moments before the ***** advance to *****rmopylae in exquisite detail. (203) Especi*****y poignant is the f*****well of Dienekes to his wife Artemis. " Arte he embraced one time, setting his cheek against her neck, to smell the scent of ***** hair for the last time" (203)

***** women were shown ***** be ***** real strength behind the greatness of Sparta. In fact the reason the 300 men who ***** at Thermopylae were chosen was "because ***** ***** valor of ***** women." (372) The women of Sparta were able to sacrifice the comfort of having a husb*****nd, son, father or brother by their side for the common good a preservation of ***** nation. (372) The sacrifice of the women troops at home allowed the Spartans ***** concentrate on ***** business of war.

According to Pressfield, why ***** the Spartans so effective in warfare?

***** Spartans were ***** effective in their battles ***** of the strict regimentati***** of their training., and the dedication of the troops ***** ***** common cause. (353) Personal desires ***** secondary to the ***** of ***** unit. Things had