The Agoge

Starting age 7..until age 20

Boys in ancient Sparta were trained under a rigorous and austere system known as the Agoge, designed to produce highly disciplined and skilled warriors, emphasizing obedience, endurance, and courage. From a young age, typically starting at seven, Spartan boys were taken from their families and entered into this state-sponsored education and training program that lasted until they were about 20 years old.

1. Physical Training: This was a core component of the Agoge, designed to strengthen their bodies and prepare them for the hardships of war. Activities included wrestling, gymnastics, and endurance exercises. Boys were often encouraged to compete against one another to foster a spirit of competition and excellence.
2. Military Training: Boys were taught the arts of warfare, including the use of weapons like the spear and sword, tactics, and formation fighting, essential for the phalanx formation that the Spartan army was famous for. They participated in mock battles and were educated in survival skills, learning to endure hunger, pain, and fatigue.
3. Social Conditioning: The Agoge also emphasized social integration within the Spartan society, instilling values such as loyalty to the Spartan state, obedience to authority, and the importance of the collective over the individual. Boys were organized into groups (agelai), fostering bonds that would be crucial in battle.
4. Mental Toughness: Spartan education aimed to toughen the boys mentally as well as physically. They were subjected to strict discipline, given minimal clothing and food to accustom them to scarcity, and encouraged to devise strategies to steal what they needed without getting caught, to develop cunning and resourcefulness.
5. The Krypteia: As part of their training, some boys were selected for the Krypteia, a secret police force tasked with policing the helot population (Spartan serfs) and eliminating any perceived threats. This duty involved stealth, espionage, and even assassination, further honing their skills in warfare and subterfuge.

Upon completion of the Agoge, these young men became full citizens and soldiers of Sparta, expected to continue serving in the military and contributing to Spartan society. The Agoge was central to Spartan identity, producing warriors renowned for their discipline, resilience, and martial prowess.