Why "Sparta"?

Sparta was the most powerful city-state in ancient Greece. Sparta was a highly cultured city, with her own architects, renowned musicians, dancers and singers. Sparta was also famous for having forty six Olympic winners out of eighty one total victors. Later, the great city became best known for its military superiority and recognized as the leader of the Greek world. Even though at war and in sports they were by far the best in Greece, often it was not necessary to resort to force. When the other Greek cities needed help from Sparta, they would not send for money or for armies, but only for a single Spartan commander, to whose direction everyone immediately submitted, because Spartans were respected for their justice and wisdom. The goddess of wisdom Athena was one of the patron deities in Sparta along with   Artemis, who was the goddess of wild animals, protector of women and children.

From the age of seven, Spartan boys were engaged in a training that was often harsh, but effective. Aside from combat practice, they were taught swimming, running, jumping, wrestling and, above all, gymnastics. For, in Greece, rhythmical movement was considered good training not for the body alone, but also for the character.

Women in Sparta were considered the most beautiful in all of Greece, while at the same time they were known to be as tough in spirit and body as the men. The first Olympic women athletes were from Sparta, and Spartans were the only ones to maintain a vigorous program of girls gymnastics.

In 480 B.C. the Persian army under King Xerxes, numbering over 600,000 men, marched in to invade and enslave Greece. In a desperate delaying action, a picked force of three hundred Spartans led by their King Leonidas was dispatched to the pass of Thermopylae, where, it was hoped, the elite force willing to sacrifice their lives could keep back, at least for a few days, the invading army. When Xerxes offered to spare the lives of Leonidas and his Spartans if they would lay down their arms, Leonidas replied, "Come and get them!" This is the classic example of courage and valor, when the spirit of brave men overcame insuperable odds. Three hundred Spartans held off the Persian multitudes for seven days, before being at last overwhelmed. The Spartans died to the last man, but their sacrifice mobilized the Greeks and inspired them to fight back. In the last battle to decide the war the Persians had to stand against 5000 Spartan warriors. Having already seen what a mere 300 could do, their will was broken and they ran before the lines were even engaged.