e to function. Discipline was a necessity to keep the group working together and obeying their commanders in the heat of battle. The success of this educational process can be noted in Herodotus' Historia, when the reputation of the Spartans battlefield superiority reaches Xerxes, king of Persia, by word of mouth from Demaratos, The conversation is as follows,
             The same goes for the Spartans. One-against-one, they are as good as anyone in the world. But when they fight in a body, they are the best of all. For though they are free men, they are not entirely free. They accept Law as their master. And they respect this master more than your subjects respect you. Whatever he commands, they do. And his command never changes. It forbids them to flee in battle, whatever the number of foes. He requires them to stand firm-to conquer or die.
             Another tactic that prepared the boys for battle was depriving them of m
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