Spartans in Greek Mythology

The Battle of Thermopylae, fought in 480 BCE, is one of the most iconic confrontations in ancient history, symbolizing the struggle between the Greek city-states and the invading Persian Empire led by Xerxes I.

This battle has been immortalized in literature and art as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and the values of courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie.

King Leonidas I of Sparta led a small force of Greek soldiers, including his 300 personal guards, against the massive Persian army. The Greeks held the narrow pass of Thermopylae for three days, blocking the Persian advance and significantly weakening the enemy forces.

Despite their eventual defeat, the Spartans’ sacrifice and bravery have become legendary, inspiring countless works of literature and art, from ancient tragedies to modern films.
The battle’s significance extends beyond its immediate military outcomes. It has played a crucial role in shaping Western historical consciousness, exemplifying the virtues of courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie.

The heroic narrative of Thermopylae has evolved over time, with oral traditions and historical accounts often blending fact and myth.

In Greek mythology, the Spartans were known for their military might and rigid discipline, which were essential to ensure the military strength of their state and maintain social order.

Spartan children underwent a rigorous and severe education known as agôgè, preparing them for their roles as elite soldiers.

The Battle of Thermopylae is not the only significant event in Greek mythology involving Spartans. They also played a key role in the Trojan War, with King Menelaus, husband of Helen, being a prominent figure.

Lyrics:

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!
Δίκην φέρε, δυνατὸν θεὸν, πατέρα θνητῶν καὶ θεῶν!
Κεραυνῷ σου λάμψον, ἀγῶνας καὶ νίκης ἡμῖν δῶρον!

Ἰσχὺς ἀνέμων, ἐν οὐρανῷ σου, θεὸς ἐνδόξων!
Ἀστραπὴν ἀσπίδα, φωτὸς ἄρχοντα, κράτος ἔχων!
Σοφίᾳ ἄρχε, ἀδικίας καταπολέμησε, ζωῆς ὁδηγός!
Εὐλογίᾳ μᾶς, μεγάλε Ζεῦ, νίκης καὶ γαλήνης χορηγός!

Κρᾶτος μέγα, ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ λάμψον, Ῥέα τοῦ Κρόνου υἱὲ θερμένε!
Ριζοθέτης καὶ οὐρανοῦ χαράκτης, δίδου ἡμῖν κράτος καὶ δόξαν!
Οἱ πολέμιοι ἡμῶν, καταιγίδι κλίνησον, πυρὶ θεϊκῷ καταβαλόντες!
Ζεῦ μεγάλε, τὰ δῶρά σου ἄνει, λάμψον ἡμῖν κλέος ἀέναον!

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!
Θεὸς κυρίαρχος, κεραυνὸν μέγαν ἄγει, βοήθησον ἡμᾶς!
Σημαὶ καὶ πῦρ ἀνατέλλει, δύναμιν δίδωσι καὶ δόξαν

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραῦνος μέγας, ἡμῖν βοήθει
Ἐν νέφεσιν βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον μας
Ἰαχήστε, ἣ πλῆθος, τὸν μέγαν Δία πατέραν
Λάμψον, τὰς νύκτας φωτίζων, στραφτὸν κλέος οὗτος
Νόος τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὀυρᾶν μέγα φώς, μεγάλε Ζεῦ, ἐλθέτω μας!
Κρᾶτος βροντῶν καὶ κεραυνῶν, σώτερ πάσης γῆς καὶ ἀέρος!
Βασιλεὺς Ὀλύμπιος, θρόνον κάθησον, δίκεσίν τοις λαοῖς ἀνάθητι!
Πνεῦμα θεϊκὸν, πῦρ καὶ φῶς, καθαρὶσε ἡμῖν τὰς ψυχὰς ἁφράντως!

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!
Κλέος αἰώνιον, Ζεῦ ὑμετέρας, Πατὴρ μεγίστος!
Χείρες μὲν ἀεί, ἐν ἀνέμοις ταραχοῦσι, ἄρχει τῶν ἀστράπτων!
Πατέρων κοσμοῦ, θεμιστοπόλεις, σοφίας ὁδηγέ!

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!
Θεὸς κυρίαρχος, κεραυνὸν μέγαν ἄγει, βοήθησον ἡμᾶς!
Πρόσταξε, παντοκράτωρ, κεραυνοῦ δυνάστης, δίκασε τὰς ψυχὰς
Λῦσε τὰ δεσμά τῶν ἀδίκων, φῶς ἐν νυκτί, ἄνάσχου ὡς παλαιός
Μετὰ τῆς εὐλογίας σου, ὁδηγοῦ ἡμᾶς, καὶ σοφίαν δῶρε νέοις
Βροτῶν σκέπασμα, οὐρανοῦ στρατὸς, μεγάλας δυνάμεις ἔχων

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!
Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!

Ἄνει, φῶς ὑμετέρας, σταθερότ’ ἐν κελαινεφείᾳ
Ἀνέμων στέφανος, πῦρ κεραυνοῦ, ὁδηγέ ἡμῶν, πατέρα
Πτύξεται, Πρύτανι, τὸν ἀγῶνα, Ζεῦ παγκρατοῦντα
Σφαῖρα παλάμη, καὶ γαῖα ὁμοῦ, τοῦ δράκου ὠμοῦ κράτει
Κρᾶτος μέγα, ἔνδοξα καὶ υπερήφανα βασίλευς
Δωρητὰς δένδρων, πρασθακτήρ θεός, θρόνον σεβαστοῦ
Ζεῦ ἀέναον, πυρλεῖος μέγας, φύλακα αἰώνων
Κέλευθον ημῖν φάνου, ἰσχῦν πολύτιμον

Ζεὺς ἀνάκτωρ, κεραυνοῦ φέρτωρ, ἡμῖν ἐλέησον!
Ἐν νέφεσι βασιλεύων, τυφώντων ἄναξ, ἀκούσον!

/Lyrics