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SacredBandofThebes
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheSacredBandofThebes(AncientGreek:,HiersLkhos)wasatroopofpickedsoldiers,
consistingof150pairsofmaleloverswhichformedtheeliteforceoftheThebanarmyinthe4thcenturyBC.
ItspredominancebeganwithitscrucialroleintheBattleofLeuctrain371BC.ItwasannihilatedbyPhilipII
ofMacedonintheBattleofChaeroneain338BC.

Contents
1 Formation
2 Composition
3 Militaryhistory
3.1 InvasionsofAgesilausII
3.2 BattleofTegyra
3.3 BattleofLeuctra
3.4 BattleofChaeronea
4 Archeology
4.1 LionofChaeronea
4.2 TrophyoftheBattleofLeuktra
5 Historicity
6 Seealso
7 Notes
8 References

Formation
TheearliestsurvivingrecordoftheSacredBandbyname
wasin324BCintheorationAgainstDemosthenesbythe
AthenianlogographerDinarchus.HementionstheSacred
BandasbeingledbythegeneralPelopidasand,alongside
EpaminondaswhocommandedthearmyofThebes
(Boeotia),wereresponsibleforthedefeatoftheSpartansat
thedecisiveBattleofLeuctra(371BC).[2][3]

Plutarch(46120AD),anativeofthevillageofChaeronea,
isthesourceofthemostsubstantialsurvivingaccountof
theSacredBand.[4][5]HerecordsthattheSacredBandwas
originallyformedbytheboeotarchGorgidas,shortlyafter TheruinsofancientThebancitadelofCadmea
theexpulsionoftheSpartangarrisonoccupyingtheTheban
citadelbruhCadmea.[6]The2ndcenturyADMacedonian
authorPolyaenusinhisStratagemsinWaralsorecordsGorgidasasthe
Andiftherewere
founderoftheSacredBand.[7]However,DioChrysostom(c.40120AD), onlysomewayof
HieronymusofRhodes(c.290230BC),andAthenaeusofNaucratis(c.200 contrivingthatastate
[2][8][9] oranarmyshouldbe
AD)creditEpaminondasinstead. madeupoflovers
andtheirbeloved,
TheexactdateoftheSacredBand'screationandwhetheritwascreatedbefore theywouldbethe
oraftertheSymposiumofPlato(c.424347BC)andthesimilarlytitled verybestgovernors
SymposiumbyhisrivalXenophon(c.430354BC),hasalsolongbeen oftheirowncity,
debated.ThegenerallyaccepteddateoftheSacredBand'screationisbetween abstainingfromall
dishonour,and
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379and378BC.[10]Priortothis,therewerereferencestoeliteThebanforces emulatingone
anotherinhonour
alsonumbering300.Herodotus(c.484425BC)andThucydides(c.460395 andwhenfightingat
BC)bothrecordaneliteforceof300ThebansalliedwiththePersianswho eachother'sside,
wereannihilatedbyAtheniansintheBattleofPlataea(479BC).Herodotus althoughamere
describesthemas"thefirstandthefinest"()among handful,theywould
Thebans.Diodorusalsorecords300pickedmen()presentin overcometheworld.
Forwhatloverwould
theBattleofDelium(424BC),composedofhenochoi(, notchooseratherto
"charioteers")andparabtai(,"thosewhowalkbeside").Though beseenbyall
noneofthesementiontheSacredBandbyname,thesemayhavereferredto mankindthanbyhis
theSacredBandoratleastitsprecursors.[6][11]ThehistorianJohnKinloch beloved,eitherwhen
abandoninghispost
AndersonbelievesthattheSacredBandwasindeedpresentinDelium,and orthrowingawayhis
thatGorgidasdidnotfoundit,butmerelyreformedit.[12] arms?Hewouldbe
readytodiea
IntheolddebatesurroundingXenophon'sandPlato'sworks,theSacredBand thousanddeaths
hasfiguredprominentlyasapossiblewayofdatingwhichofthetwowrote ratherthanendure
this.Orwhowould
theirversionofSymposiumfirst.Xenophon'sSocratesinhisSymposium deserthisbelovedor
disapprovinglymentionsthepracticeofplacingloversbesideeachotherin failhiminthehour
battleinthecitystatesofThebesandElis,arguingthatwhilethepracticewas ofdanger?
acceptabletothem,itwasshamefulforAthenians(bothPlatoandXenophon
wereAthenians).AccordingtotheBritishclassicalscholarSirKenneth Plato,Symposium[1]
Dover,thiswasaclearallusiontotheSacredBand,reflectingXenophon's
contemporaryawarenessoftheThebanpractice,albeitanachronisticasthedramaticdateoftheworkitselfisc.
421BC.[13][14][15]However,itisthespeechofthecharacterPhaedrusinPlato'sSymposiumreferringtoan
"armyoflovers"thatismostfamouslyconnectedwiththeSacredBand.[1][15][16]DoverarguesPlatowrotehis
SymposiumfirstsincePlato'sPhaedrususeslanguagethatimpliesthattheorganizationdoesnotyetexist.He
acknowledges,however,thatPlatomayhavesimplyputthehypothesisinthemouthofPhaedrusaccordingto
thesupposedearlierdramaticdateofthework(c.401BC).ItonlyshowsthatPlatowasmoremindfulofhis
chronologyinhisSymposiumthanXenophon,andprovesthathewasactuallyquiteawareoftheSacredBand
inhistime.[14]

Composition
AccordingtoPlutarch,the300handpickedmenwerechosenbyGorgidaspurelyforabilityandmerit,
regardlessofsocialclass.[17]Itwascomposedof150malecouples,[15]eachpairconsistingofanoldererasts
(,"lover")andayoungerermenos(,"beloved").[18]AthenaeusofNaucratisalsorecordsthe
SacredBandasbeingcomposedof"loversandtheirfavorites,thusindicatingthedignityofthegodErosinthat
theyembraceagloriousdeathinpreferencetoadishonorableandreprehensiblelife"[9]whilePolyaenus
describestheSacredBandasbeingcomposedofmen"devotedtoeachotherbymutualobligationsoflove".[7]
Theoriginofthe"sacred"appellationoftheSacredBandisunexplainedbyDinarchusandotherhistorians.But
PlutarchclaimsthatitwasduetoanexchangeofsacredvowsbetweenloverandbelovedattheshrineofIolaus
(oneoftheloversofHercules)atThebes.HealsotangentiallymentionsPlato'scharacterizationoftheloveras
a"friendinspiredofGod".[17][18]

TheSacredBandwasstationedinCadmeaasastandingforce,likelyasdefenseagainstfutureattemptsby
foreignforcestotakethecitadel.[6][19][20]Itwasoccasionallyreferredtoasthe"CityBand"(),
duetotheirmilitarytrainingandhousingbeingprovidedattheexpenseoftheBoeotianpolis.[6][18]Their
regulartrainingincludedwrestlinganddance.ThehistorianJamesG.DeVotopointsoutthatGorgidas
previouslyservedasahipparch(cavalryofficer),thereforeequestriantrainingwasalsolikelyprovided.[17]The
exactagesoftheunit'smembersarenotrecordedinancienttestimonies.However,comparingthemwiththe

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SpartaneliteunitHippeis()[note1]andtheAthenianepheboi()recruits,DeVotoestimatesthat
traineeswereinductedasfullmemberstotheSacredBandattheagesof20to21,[17]whereupontheywere
givenafullsetofarmorbytheirerastai.[21]Theylikelyendedtheirserviceatage30.[17]

Militaryhistory
AccordingtoPlutarch,Gorgidasoriginallydistributedthe
membersoftheSacredBandamongthefrontranksofthe
phalanxesofregularinfantry.[22]In375BC,thecommandof
thebandwastransferredtotheyoungerboeotarchPelopidas,
oneoftheoriginalThebanexileswhohadledtheforceswho
recapturedCadmea.[18][19]UnderPelopidas,theSacredBand
wasunitedasasingleunitofshocktroops.Theirmain
functionwastocrippletheenemybyengagingandkilling
theirbestmenandleadersinbattle.[16][17]

InvasionsofAgesilausII

TheSacredBandfirstsawactionin378BC,atthebeginning
oftheBoeotianWar.Itwasduringthefamousstandoff
betweentheAthenianmercenarycommander(andlater
strategos)Chabrias(d.357BC)andtheSpartanKing MapofancientGreeceshowingtherelative
[17]
AgesilausII(444BC360BC). Priortothecreationofthe positionsofthemajorregionsofBoeotia(ledby
SacredBandunderGorgidas,theAthenianshadhelpedthe Thebes),Laconia(ledbySparta),andAttica(led
ThebanexilesretakecontrolofThebesandthecitadelof byAthens)
CadmeafromSparta.ThiswasfollowedbyAthensopenly
enteringintoanalliancewithThebesagainstSparta.Inthe
summerof378BC,AgesilausledaSpartanexpeditionagainstThebesfromtheBoeotiancityofThespiae(then
stillalliedtoSparta).[23]

TheSpartanforceswereheldupforseveraldaysbyThebanforcesmanningtheearthenstockadesatthe
perimeterofThebanterritory.TheSpartanseventuallybreachedthefortificationsandenteredtheTheban
countryside,devastatingtheThebanfieldsintheirwake.ThoughtheAthenianshadbythistimejoinedthe
Thebanforces,theywerestilloutnumberedbytheSpartans.Withthefallofthestockades,theywereleftwith
twochoices,eithertoretreatbacktothedefensiblewallsofThebesortoholdtheirgroundandfacethe
Spartansintheopen.Theychosethelatterandarrayedtheirforcesalongthecrestofalowslopinghill,
oppositetheSpartanforces.GorgidasandtheSacredBandoccupiedthefrontranksoftheThebanforcesonthe
right,whileChabriasandanexperiencedforceofmercenaryhoplitesoccupiedthefrontranksoftheAthenian
forcesontheleft.[23]

AgesilausfirstsentoutskirmisherstotestthecombinedThebanandAthenianlines.[24]Thesewereeasily
dispatchedbytheThebanandAthenianforces,probablybytheirmorenumerouscavalry.Agesilausthen
commandedtheentireSpartanarmytoadvance.HemayhavehopedthatthesightofthemassedSpartanforces
resolutelymovingforwardwouldbeenoughtointimidatetheThebanandAthenianforcesintobreakingranks.
ThesametactichadworkedforAgesilausagainstArgiveforcesintheBattleofCoronea(394BC).[23]

ItwasduringthistimethatChabriasgavehismostfamouscommand.Withscarcely200m(660ft)separating
thetwoarmies,AgesilauswasexpectingtheThebanandAthenianforcestochargeatanymoment.[23]Instead,
Chabriasorderedhismentostandatease.[25]Inunison,hismercenaryhoplitesimmediatelyassumedthe
restingposturewiththespearremainingpointingupwardsinsteadoftowardstheenemy,andtheshield
proppedagainsttheleftkneeinsteadofbeinghoistedattheshoulders.[7][26]Gorgidas,onseeingthis,also

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commandedtheSacredBandtofollowsuit,whichtheydidwiththesamemilitarydrillprecisionand
confidence.[12][23]TheaudacityofthemaneuverandthedisciplineoftheexecutionwassuchthatAgesilaus
haltedtheadvance.[12][27]SeeingthathisattemptstoprovoketheThebanandAthenianforcestofightonlower
groundwereunsuccessful,AgesilauseventuallythoughtitwisertowithdrawhisforcesbacktoThespiae.[7][24]

ShortlyafterthestandoffinThebes,AgesilausdisbandedhisarmyinThespiaeandreturnedtoPeloponnesos
throughMegara.[17][28]HeleftthegeneralPhoebidasashisharmost(militarygovernor)atThespiae,[29]the
samegeneralresponsiblefortheSpartanseizureofthecitadelofCadmeain382BC.[30][31][32]Phoebidasbegan
makingvariousraidsintoThebanterritoryusingtheSpartansunderhiscommandandThespian
conscripts.[28][33]Theseforaysbecamesodestructivethatbytheendofthesummer,theThebanswentoutin
forceagainstThespiaeunderthecommandofGorgidas.[23]PhoebidasengagedtheadvancingThebanarmy
withhispeltasts.TheharryingofthelightinfantryapparentlyprovedtoomuchfortheThebansandtheystarted
toretreat.Phoebidas,hopingforarout,rashlypursedthemclosely.However,theThebanforcessuddenly
turnedaroundandchargedPhoebidas'forces.PhoebidaswaskilledbytheThebancavalry.[34]Hispeltastsbroke
ranksandfledbacktoThespiaepursuedbyThebanforces.[17][23]AsidefromPolyaenus,noneoftheseaccounts
mentiontheSacredBandbyname,butgiventhattheywereunderthecommandofGorgidas,theyarelikelyto
havebeenpartofThebanforcesinvolved.[17]

Notlongafterwards,AgesilausmountedasecondexpeditionagainstThebes.Afteraseriesofskirmisheswhich
hewonwithsomedifficulty,hewasforcedagaintowithdrawwhentheThebanarmycameoutfullforceashe
approachedthecity.DiodorusobservesatthispointthattheThebansthereafterfacedtheSpartanswith
confidence.[24]Gorgidasdisappearsfromhistorybetween377and375,duringwhichthecommandofthe
SacredBandwasapparentlytransferredtoPelopidas.[17][note2]

BattleofTegyra

AsasingleunitunderPelopidas,thefirstrecordedvictoryof
theSacredBandwasattheBattleofTegyra(375BC).It
occurredneartheBoeotiancityofOrchomenus,thenstillan
allyofSparta.HearingreportsthattheSpartangarrisonin
OrchomenushadleftforLocris,Pelopidasquicklysetout
withtheSacredBandandafewcavalry,hopingtocaptureit
intheirabsence.Theyapproachedthecitythroughthe
northeasternroutesincethewatersofLakeCopaiswereat
theirfullestduringthatseason.[18][33]Uponreachingthecity,
theylearnedthatanewmorahadbeensentfromSpartato
reinforceOrchomenus.Unwillingtoengagethenewgarrison,
PelopidasdecidedtoretreatbacktoThebes,retracingtheir MapofancientBoeotiashowingthelocationof
northeasternroutealongLakeCopais.However,theyonly thecityofOrchomenus
reachedasfarastheshrineofApolloofTegyrabefore
encounteringthereturningSpartanforcesfromLocris.[35]

TheSpartanswerecomposedoftwomorailedbythepolemarchoiGorgoleonandTheopompus.[36][note3]They
outnumberedtheThebansatleasttwotoone.[35]AccordingtoPlutarch,uponseeingtheSpartans,oneof
ThebansallegedlytoldPelopidas"Wearefallenintoourenemy'shands"towhichPelopidasreplied,"Andwhy
nottheyintoours?"Hethenorderedhiscavalrytorideupfromtherearandchargewhilehereformedthe
SacredBandintoanabnormallydenseformation,hopingtoatleastcutthroughthenumericallysuperior
Spartanlines.TheSpartansadvanced,confidentintheirnumbers,onlytohavetheirleaderskilledimmediately
intheopeningclashes.Leaderlessandencounteringforcesequalindisciplineandtrainingforthefirsttimein
theSacredBand,theSpartansfalteredandopenedtheirranks,expectingtheThebanstopassthroughand
escape.Instead,PelopidassurprisedthembyusingtheopeningtoflanktheSpartans.[37]TheSpartanswere

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completelyrouted,withconsiderablelossoflife.[18][38]TheThebansdidn'tpursuethefleeingsurvivors,
mindfuloftheremainingSpartanmorastationedinOrchomenuslessthan5km(3.1mi)away.Theystripped
thedeadandsetupatropaion(,acommemorativetrophyleftatthesiteofabattlevictory)before
continuingontoThebes.[17]Havingproventheirworth,PelopidaskepttheSacredBandasaseparatetactical
unitinallsubsequentbattles.[6][18]

AnaccountofthebattlewasmentionedbothbyDiodorusandPlutarch,bothbasedheavilyonthereportby
Ephorus.[39]XenophonconspicuouslyomitsanymentionoftheThebanvictoryinhisHellenica,[33]thoughthis
hastraditionallybeenascribedtoXenophon'sstrongantiThebanandproSpartansentiments.[40][41]Anobscure
allusiontoOrchomenusinHellenica,however,impliesthatXenophonwasawareoftheSpartandefeat.[33]

Theexactnumberofthebelligerentsoneachsidevariesbyaccount.DiodorusputsthenumberofThebansat
500againsttheSpartans'1,000(eachmoraconsistingof500men),apparentlybasingitonEphorus'original
figures.PlutarchputsthenumberoftheThebansat300,andacknowledgesthreesourcesforthenumberof
Spartans:1000bytheaccountofEphorus1,400byCallisthenes(c.360328BC)or1,800byPolybius(c.
200118BC).Someofthesenumbersmayhavebeenexaggeratedduetotheoverallsignificanceofthe
battle.[39][40]Thebattle,whileminor,wasremarkableforbeingthefirsttimeaSpartanforcehadbeendefeated
inpitchedbattle,dispellingthemythofSpartaninvincibility.[6]ItleftadeepimpressioninGreeceandboosted
themoraleamongBoeotians,foreshadowingthelaterBattleofLeuctra.[30][35][40]InPlutarch'sownwords:

ForinallthegreatwarstherehadeverbeenagainstGreeksorbarbarians,theSpartanswerenever
beforebeatenbyasmallercompanythantheirownnor,indeed,inasetbattle,whentheirnumber
wasequal.Hencetheircouragewasthoughtirresistible,andtheirhighreputebeforethebattle
madeaconquestalreadyofenemies,whothoughtthemselvesnomatchforthemenofSpartaeven
onequalterms.ButthisbattlefirsttaughttheotherGreeks,thatnotonlyEurotas,orthecountry
betweenBabyceandCnacion,[note4]breedsmenofcourageandresolutionbutthatwherethe
youthareashamedofbaseness,andreadytoventureinagoodcause,wheretheyflydisgracemore
thandanger,there,whereveritbe,arefoundthebravestandmostformidableopponents.

Plutarch,Pelopidas17[18]

Shortlyafterthis,theAtheniansinitiatedtheCommonPeaceof375BC(,KoineEirene)among
Greekcitystates.AccordingtoXenophon,theywerealarmedatthegrowingpowerofThebesandwearyof
fendingoffSpartanfleetsaloneastheThebanswerenotcontributinganymoneytomaintainingtheAthenian
fleet.[6]Howeverthisbrokedownsoonafterin374BC,whenAthensandSpartaresumedhostilitiesover
Korkyra(modernCorfu).[30]Duringthistimeperiod,AthensalsograduallybecamehostiletoThebes.[17]While
AthensandSpartawerebusyfightingeachother,Thebesresumedhercampaignsagainsttheautonomouspro
SpartanBoeotianpoleis.ThespiaeandTanagraweresubjugatedandformallybecamepartofthereestablished
democraticBoeotianconfederacy.[35]In373BC,ThebansunderthecommandoftheboeotarchNeocles
attackedandrazeditstraditionalrival,theBoeotiancityofPlataea.[42]ThePlataeancitizenswereallowedto
leavealive,buttheywerereducedtobeingrefugeesandsoughtsanctuaryinAthens.[24][43]OftheproSpartan
Boeotianpoleis,onlyOrchomenusremained.[35]

Bythistime,ThebeshadalsostartedattackingPhocianpoleisalliedtoSparta.[44]Pelopidasisagainmentioned
asthecommanderoftheabortiveThebansiegeofthePhociancityofElateia(c.372BC).Inresponsetothe
Thebanarmyoutsidethecity'swalls,thePhociangeneralOnomarchusbroughtoutalltheinhabitantsofthe
city(includingtheelderly,women,andchildren)andlockedthegates.Hethenplacedthenoncombatants
directlybehindthedefendersofElateia.Onseeingthis,Pelopidaswithdrewhisforces,recognizingthatthe
Phocianswouldfighttothedeathtoprotecttheirlovedones.[7][17]

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By371BC,therewasanotherattempttorevivetheKing'sPeacetocurbtheriseofThebes.Itwasinitiatedby
eithertheAtheniansorthePersians(perhapsatthepromptingoftheSpartans).TheSpartansalsosentalarge
forceledbyKingCleombrotusI(Spartanshavetwokingssimultaneously)toPhocis,readytoinvadeBoeotiaif
theThebansrefusetoattendthepeaceconferenceoracceptitsterms.[44][note5]

BattleofLeuctra

Epaminondas'refusaltoacceptthetermsofthepeaceconferenceof371BCexcludedThebesfromthepeace
treatyprovidedSpartawiththeexcusetodeclarewar.[44]

ShortlythereafterthearmyofCleombrotuswasorderedtoinvadeBoeotia.[45]Cleombrotus'armycrossedthe
PhocianBoeotianborderintoChaeroneathenhalted,perhapshopingthattheThebansmightchangetheirmind.
TheThebanshoweverwerecommittedtoafight.Cleombrotusthenmovedinland,followingtheeastwardroad
towardsThebes,untilhereachedtheBoeotianvillageofLeuctra(modernLefktra,Plataies)nearthe
southwesternendoftheThebanplain.TheretheyweremetbythemainThebanarmy.[46]Thetwoarmies
pitchedtheircampsoppositeeachotherontwolowridgesrespectively.Thebattlegroundbetweenthemwas
about900m(3,000ft)wide.[47]

TheSpartanarmynumberedatabout10,000hoplites,1,000
lightinfantry,and1,000cavalry.[48]However,onlyabout
700hoplitesoftheSpartanarmywerecomposedof
spartiates(Spartancitizens),therestwereconscripted
troopsfromSpartansubjectstates(theperioeci)forcedto
fight.[49][note6]Theywerearrayedtraditionally,inwhichthe
hopliteswereformedintophalanxesabouteighttotwelve
mendeep.[47][50]Cleombrotuspositionedhimselfandthe
spartiatehoplites(includingtheeliteroyalguardof300
Hippeis)intheSpartanrightwing,thetraditionalposition
ofhonorinGreekarmies.[51]Cleombrotus'onlytactical
innovationwastheplacingofhiscavalryinfrontofhis
AreconstructionoftheBattleofLeuctra.The troops.[46]
Thebanforcesareinblue,whiletheSpartanforces
areinred.TheSacredBandunderPelopidasisthe TheThebanarmywereoutnumberedbytheSpartans,being
smallerphalanxatthebottomrightcorner,beside composedofonlyabout6,000hoplites(includingthe
thelargestconcentrationofinfantryintheTheban SacredBand),1,500lightinfantry,and1,000cavalry.[48]
leftwing. AnticipatingthestandardSpartantacticofflankingenemy
armieswiththeirrightwing,Epaminondasconcentratedhis
forcesonhisownleftwing,directlyoppositethestrongestspartiatephalanxledbyCleombrotus.Here,the
massedThebanphalanxwasarrayedintoahighlyunconventionaldepthoffiftymen.[50]TherestoftheTheban
lineswerereducedtodepthsofonlyfourtoatmosteightmenbecauseofthis.[51]Epaminondasalsocopied
CleombrotusbyplacinghiscavalryinfrontoftheThebanlines.[48]TheoriginalpositionoftheSacredBand
beingledbyPelopidasisunknown.[51]SomemilitaryhistoriansbelieveEpaminondasplacedPelopidasandthe
SacredBandbehindthemainhoplitephalanx,[50]othersbelieveheputitinfrontofthemainhoplitephalanx
andbehindthecavalry,[51]whileothersputitonthefrontleftcornerofthemainhoplitephalanx(themost
likely).[41][48]Eitherway,theSacredBandisdefinitelyknowntobeontheleftwing,closetothemainTheban
forcesanddetachedenoughtobeabletomaneuverfreely.[51][52]

Thebattleopenedwithacavalrychargeonbotharmies.TheSpartancavalrywasquicklydefeatedbythe
superiorThebancavalryandwaschasedbacktoitsownside.Itsdisorderlyretreatdisruptedthebattlelinesof
theSpartanheavyinfantryandbecauseoftheresultingchaosandtheduststirredup,theSpartanswereunable
toobservethehighlyunusualadvanceoftheThebanarmyuntiltheverylastmoment.[45]Epaminondashad
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orderedhistroopstoadvancediagonally,suchthattheleftwingofthe
Thebanarmy(withitsconcentrationofforces)wouldimpactwiththe
rightwingoftheSpartanarmywellbeforetheotherweaker
phalanxes.[46]ThefurthestrightwingoftheThebanphalanxwaseven
retreatingtomakethispossible.[47]Thisisthefirstrecordedinstanceof
themilitaryformationlaterknownastheobliqueorder.[53][note7]The
Thebancavalryalsohelpedbycontinuingtocarryoutintermittent
attacksalongtheSpartanbattlelines,holdingtheiradvanceback.[36]

BythetimetheSpartansrealizedthatsomethingunusualwas
happening,itwasalreadytoolate.ShortlybeforetheThebanleftwing
contacted,theSpartanshastilystretchedouttheirrightwinginan
attempttooutflankandengulftherapidlyapproachingThebans.This
wasatraditionaltactic,andoncetheThebanswereinrange,the
stretchedwingwouldthenbebroughtbackinanencirclingmovement.
Actingunderhisowninitiative,PelopidasquicklyledtheSacredBand
aheadoftheThebanleftwingtointercepttheSpartanmaneuverbefore
itcouldbecompleted.[41][note8]TheysucceededinfixingtheSpartansin
placeuntiltherestoftheThebanheavyinfantryfinallysmashedintothe
Spartanrightwing.ThesheernumberofThebansoverwhelmedthe
Spartanrightwingquickly.ThenumberofSpartancasualtiesamounted
toabout1,000dead,amongthosewere400spartiatesandtheirown Astatueoftheboeotarch
king.AlthoughsomeSpartanswereinfavorofresumingthebattlein Epaminondas,whowaswidelyhailed
ordertorecoverthebodiesoftheirdead,thealliedperioeciofthe forhisbrilliantandrevolutionary
Spartanleftwingwerelessthanwillingtocontinuefighting(indeed tacticsintheBattleofLeuctra.
someofthemwerequitepleasedattheturnofevents).Theremaining
polemarchoieventuallydecidedtorequestatruce,whichtheThebans
readilygranted.TheSpartandeadwerereturnedandatropaionwassetuponthebattlefieldbytheThebansto
commemoratetheirvictory.[46]

AccordingtoPausanias(c.2ndcenturyAD),theBattleofLeuctrawasthemostdecisivebattleeverfoughtby
GreeksagainstGreeks.LeuctraestablishedThebanindependencefromSpartanruleandlaidthegroundwork
fortheexpansionofThebanpower,butpossiblyalsoforPhilipII'seventualvictory.

BattleofChaeronea

DefeatcameattheBattleofChaeronea(338BC),thedecisivecontestinwhichPhilipIIofMacedon,withhis
sonAlexander,extinguishedThebanhegemony.[17]ThebattleistheculminationofPhilip'scampaigninto
centralGreeceinpreparationforawaragainstPersia.ItwasfoughtbetweentheMacedoniansandtheirallies
andanallianceofGreekcitystatesledbyAthensandThebes.Diodorusrecordsthatthenumbersinvolvedfor
thetwoarmiesweremoreorlessequal,bothhavingaround30,000menand2,000cavalry.[54]

ThetraditionalhopliteinfantrywasnomatchforthenovellongspearedMacedonianphalanx:theThebanarmy
anditsalliesbrokeandfled,buttheSacredBand,althoughsurroundedandoverwhelmed,refusedtosurrender.
TheThebansoftheSacredBandheldtheirgroundandPlutarchrecordsthatall300fellwheretheystood
besidetheirlastcommander,Theagenes.TheirdefeatatthebattlewasasignificantvictoryforPhilip,since
untilthen,theSacredBandwasregardedasinvinciblethroughoutallofAncientGreece.Plutarchrecordsthat
PhilipII,onencounteringthecorpses"heapedoneuponanother",understandingwhotheywere,weptand
exclaimed,

Perishanymanwhosuspectsthatthesemeneitherdidorsufferedanythingunseemly.

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Plutarch,Pelopidas18[18]

Thoughthesignificanceofthebattlewaswelldocumentedbyancientscholars,thereislittlesurviving
informationonthedeploymentofthearmiesinvolved.Mostmodernscholars(includingN.G.L.Hammond
andGeorgeCawkwell)creditAlexanderashavingledacavalrywing.[54]JamesG.DeVoto,likewise,saysin
TheThebanSacredBandthatAlexanderhaddeployedhiscavalrybehindtheMacedonianhoplites,apparently
permitting"aThebanbreakthroughinordertoeffectacavalryassaultwhilehishoplitesregrouped."[17]Other
historianshoweverarguethatAlexanderactuallycommandedhoplitesarmedwithsarissas,ratherthancavalry,
especiallysincePlutarchalsomentionsthattheSacredBandfellto"lancesoftheMacedonianphalanx".
PlutarchandDiodorusbothcreditAlexanderasbeingthefirsttoengagetheSacredBand.[54]

Archeology
LionofChaeronea

PausaniasinhisDescriptionofGreecementionsthattheThebanshad
erectedagiganticstatueofalionnearthevillageofChaeronea,
surmountingthepolyandrion(,commontomb)ofthe
ThebanskilledinbattleagainstPhilip.[55]TheGreekhistorianStrabo(c.
64BC24AD)alsomentions"tombsofthosewhofellinthebattle"
erectedatpublicexpenseinChaeronea.[56]

In1818,aBritisharchitectnamedGeorgeLedwellTaylorspenta
summerinGreecewithtwofriendsatLivadeia.OnJune3,theydecided
togohorsebackridingtothenearbyvillageofChaeroneausing
Pausanias'DescriptionofGreeceasaguidebook.Twohoursawayfrom
thevillage,Taylor'shorsemomentarilystumbledonapieceofmarble
juttingfromtheground.Lookingbackattherock,hewasstruckbyits
appearanceofbeingsculptedandcalledfortheirpartytostop.They
dismountedanddugatitwiththeirridingwhips,ascertainingthatitwas
indeedsculpture.Theyenlistedthehelpofsomenearbyfarmersuntil
theyfinallyuncoveredthemassiveheadofastonelionwhichthey
TheLionofChaeroneaasitappeared
recognizedasthesamelionmentionedbyPausanias.Partsofthestatue
circa1914(notepersoninforeground
hadbrokenoffandagooddealofitstillremainedburied.They
forscale).Itwaserectedbythe
immediatelyreportedtheirdiscoverywhentheyreturnedto
Thebansinmemoryoftheirdead
Athens.[57][58]However,duringtheGreekWarofIndependence(1821 afterthebattleofChaeronea.
1832),aGreekgeneraldamagedthemonumentbyorderingthatthe
pedestalbesmashed,perhapslookingfortreasure.Hefoundnothingbut
spearsandshields,someofwhichwithnamesstillinscribedinthem.[16][59]Asaresultoftheincident,the
originaldesignofthepedestalisnowunknown.[60]Offersinthelate19thcenturybytheBritisharcheologist
CecilHarcourtSmithtofundtherestorationofLionofChaeroneawasinitiallyrefusedbytheGreeks.[61]In
1902,however,permissionwasgrantedandthemonumentwaspiecedbacktogetherwithfundingbytheOrder
ofChaeronea.[16]Thelion,whichstandsabout12.5ft(3.8m)high,wasmountedonareconstructedpedestal
about10ft(3.0m)high.[59]

Inthelate19thcentury,excavationsinthearearevealedthatthemonumentstoodattheedgeofaquadrangular
enclosure.[59]Theskeletonsof254menlaidoutinsevenrowswerefoundburiedwithinit.[16]Atumulusnear
themonumentwasalsotentativelyidentifiedasthesiteoftheMacedonianpolyandrionwheretheMacedonian
deadwerecremated.Excavationofthetumulusbetween1902and1903bythearcheologistGeorgios
Soteriadesconfirmedthis.Atthecenterofthemound,about22ft(6.7m)deep,wasalayerofashes,charred
logs,andbonesabout0.75m(2.5ft)thick.Recoveredamongthesewerevasesandcoinsdatedtothe4th

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centuryBC.Swordsandremarkablylonglanceheadsmeasuringabout
15in(38cm)werealsodiscovered,whichSoteriadesidentifiedasthe
Macedoniansarissas.[62][63][64]

Theskeletonswithintheenclosureofthelionmonumentaregenerally
acceptedtobetheremainsoftheSacredBand,[64][65]asthenumber
givenbyPlutarchwasprobablyanapproximation.[note9]However,
historianslikeNicholasGeoffreyLemprireHammond,KarlJulius
Beloch,andVincenzoCostanzidonotbelievethatthelionmonument
marksthelocationoftheSacredBanddead.Hammondclaimsitwasthe
placewherePhilipturnedhisarmyaroundduringtheBattleof
ChaeroneaandbelievesthatitcontainsthemembersoftheMacedonian
rightflankwhoperished.Hearguesthatit'shighlyimprobablethatthe
ThebanswouldbeabletocommemoratetheirdeadwithinPhilip's
lifetimewithsuchamassiveandobviouslyexpensivemonument.[62]

ThehistorianWilliamKendrickPritchettcriticizesHammond'srationale
as"subjective"andcountersitwithapassagefromHistoriarum
PhilippicarumLibriXLIVofthe3rdcenturyADRomanhistorian TheLionofChaeroneain2009.
Justin.InadditiontoPausaniasandStrabo,Justinalsoclearlysaysthat Excavationofthequadrangular
PhilipforcedtheThebanstopayfortheprivilegeofburying(not enclosurebroughttolight254
cremating)theirdead.Therefore,thecrematedremainsarelikelytobe skeletons,laidoutinsevenrows.
Macedonian,whiletheremainsaroundthelionweretheSacredBand.
Philip,afterall,wasknownforhisabilitytoinflictunnecessarycrueltywhenitservedagreaterpurpose.He
furtherpointsoutthatquestioningthehonestyofPausaniasisunwarranted,asanywellinformedGreekthen
wouldprobablyknowtheascriptionofthemonumentevencenturiesafterthebattle.Especiallygiventhat
Pausanias'knowledgeoftopographywerenotsecondhandandhistestimonywasechoedindependentlyby
otherancientsourceslikeStraboandJustin.[62][65]Indeed,Pausanias'DescriptionofGreecehasproventobean
accurateandimportantguidetomodernarcheologistsinrediscoveringthelocationsofotherancientGreek
monumentsandbuildings.[66][67][68]

TrophyoftheBattleofLeuktra

AfterthedefeatofCleombrotus'forcesintheBattleofLeuktra,atropaionwassetuponthebattlefieldbythe
Thebanstocommemoratetheirvictory.[46]Thetropaionwaslaterreplacedbyapermanentmonument,an
unprecedentedmovebytheThebansastropaiaweredesignedtobeephemeral.Theoriginalappearanceofthe
monumentisattestedbycontemporarycoinsoftheperiodandshowedthatittooktheformofatreetrunk
mounteduponacylindricalpedestalcarvedwithmetopes,triglyphs,andaseriesofstoneshields.Onthetree
trunkitselfisaffixedtheshields,weapons,andarmorofthedefeatedSpartans.Thebaseofthemonumentstill
survivestothisday.[69][70]

Historicity
ThehistoricityoftheSacredBandislargelyacceptedbyhistoriansitisdetailedinthewritingsofnumerous
classicalauthors,especiallyPlutarch.NotedclassicalhistorianslikeJohnKinlochAndersonandGeorge
CawkwellacceptPlutarch'sLifeofPelopidas,whichcontainsthemostdetailedaccountoftheSacredBand,as
ahighlyreliableaccountoftheevents,incontrasttoXenophon'spatchytreatmentofThebanhistory.[12][71]
OthernotedclassicalscholarslikeFrankWilliamWalbankandFelixJacobyhavealsodefendedCallisthenes'
descriptionsoflandbattlesinthepast.WalbankcommentedthathisdepictionsoftheBattleoftheEurymedon,
Gaugamela,andTegyra(allsurvivingthroughPlutarch)arequiteadequate.WhileJacoby,respondingtoclaims
thatCallistheneswasunreliableinaccountsoflandbattlesincontrasttoXenophon,pointedoutthat
CallisthenesdidaccuratelydescribethedetailsontheBattleofTegyra.Hesummarizedhisopinionof

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Callisthenes'accountwith"Sieistpanegyrischgehalten,abersachlich
nichtunrichtig.[Itisclaimedtobepanegyrical,butitisnotfactually
incorrect.]"[33]ThisisechoedbythehistoriansJohnBucklerandHans
Beckwhoconcludethat"Insum,Plutarch'sdescriptionofthebattleof
TegyradoesjusticebothtotheterrainofPolygyraandtothe
informationgleanedfromhisfourthcenturysources.Thereisnothing
implausibleorunusualinPlutarch'saccount,andeveryreasonto
consideritoneofthebestofhisbattlepieces."Theyalsohadthesame
opinionofhisaccountonLeuctra,dismissingassertionsthathis
accountswereconfusedorrhetorical.[41]
Plutarch'sLives(pictured:the1727
editionoftheEnglishtranslationby ThehistorianGordonS.Shrimptonfurtherprovidesanexplanationfor
AndrDacier)isthemainsourcefor Xenophon'ssilenceonmuchofThebanhistory.Henotesthatallthe
themostsubstantialsurvivingaccountsurvivingcontemporaryaccountsofThebesduringtheperiodofTheban
oftheSacredBand.Itisbelievedto hegemonybetween371and341BCwereoftenhighlycriticalwith
bemostlybasedontheworksofthe theirfailuresridiculedandtheiraccomplishmentsusuallybeing
SacredBandcontemporaries downplayedoromittedaltogether.Forinstance,theAthenianIsocrates
CallisthenesandEphorus. (436338BC)inhisPlataicus(whichdetailsthedestructionofPlataea
Unfortunatelytheworksofthelatter bytheThebans),makesnomentionoftheThebanvictoryinLeuctra,
twohavebeenlosttohistory. andharshlyrevilesThebesthroughout.HislaterworkArchidamus
mentionLeuctrabriefly,andonlytocriticizeThebansasbeing
incompetentandincapableofcapitalizingontheirrisetopower.The
samesentimentsareechoedbytheAtheniansDemosthenes(384322BC)andAntisthenes(c.445365BC).
Xenophon,anotherAthenian,istheonlycontemporarywhogrudginglynotessomeThebanaccomplishments,
andeventhen,neverindepthandwithnumerousomissions.HisonlymentionsofPelopidasandEpaminondas
byname,forexample,wereverybriefandshednolightontheirpreviousaccomplishments.[2]Indeed,the
historiansBruceLaForseandJohnBucklerhavenotedthatthecharacterandaccomplishmentsofEpaminondas
weresounassailablethatthereisnoknownhostileaccountofhiminancientsources.Themostunfriendly
writerslikeXenophonandIsocratescoulddowasomithisaccomplishmentsintheirworkaltogether.[72]

Shrimptonbelievesthattheapparentindifferenceofearlierauthorswasduetothegeneralhatredbyother
GreeksagainsttheThebanswhohadmedized(i.e.alliedwiththePersians)inthesecondPersianinvasionin
480BCandagainin368BC.Athenians,inparticular,heldaspecialcontemptforThebesduetothelatter's
actionsinthePeloponnesianWaraswellastheThebans'destructionofPlataeain373BC,andherinvasionof
theAthenianalliedBoeotiancityofOropusin366BC.Demosthenesrecordsthissentimentveryclearlyina
disclaimerinhisspeechOntheNavy(354BC):"Itisdifficulttospeaktoyouabout[Thebans],becauseyou
havesuchaheartydislikeofthemthatyouwouldnotcaretohearanygoodofthem,evenifitweretrue."[2][73]

Thissentimentchangedin339BC,whenThebesabruptlyseveredheralliancewithPhilipII(afterbeing
convincedbyaspeechfromDemosthenes)andjoinedtheAthenianledPanHellenicallianceagainst
Macedonia.TheresultbeingtheannihilationoftheSacredBandinChaeroneaandthedestructionofthecityof
Thebesitselfin335BCbytheMacedonians.Inlightoftheseactions,Athenianseventuallychangedtheir
opinionsonThebes,nowregardingherinsympatheticlightasafallenally.Itwasduringthisperiodthatmuch
oftheaccountsfavorabletoThebanswereatlastwritten.WorksbyauthorslikeAnaximenesofLampsacus,
Aristoxenus,Callisthenes,Daimachus,Dinarchus,andEphorusarebelievedtohavebeenwrittenbetween330
and310BC.ExceptforDinarchus,almostallofthemhavebeenlosttohistoryorsurviveonlyinfragments.
AmongthemareEphorusandCallistheneswhowerecontemporariesoftheThebanhegemonyandtheSacred
Band.[2]Theworksofthelattertwo,however,survivedlongenoughforlaterauthorslikePlutarch,Diodorus,
andPolyaenustobasetheirworkson.[12][41][44]

ThehistoricityoftheSacredBandwaschallengedin2002bytheclassicalscholarDavidD.Leitaohewas
especiallycriticaloftheaccountsoftheSacredBandthatdescribesitasbeingcomposedoflovers,and
believedthattheSacredBand'sroleinthebattlesofTegyra,Leuctra,andChaeroneawereallexaggerated.[11]

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ThehistorianWilliamArmstrongPercyIII,however,arguesthatLeitaofailstoadmitthattheSacredBandrests
on"authoritylessshakythanmanythingsacceptedfromancienthistoriography."[10]

Seealso
HomosexualityinancientGreece CaledonianThebansRFC,anEdinburghgay
SacredBandofCarthage rugbyclubnamedafterthem
Homosexualityinthemilitariesofancient Armyoflovers,aSwedishpopbandnamed
Greece afterthem
SacredBand(1821)Greekbattalioninthe TheSacredBandofStepsons
Greekwarofindependence
SacredBand(WorldWarII)Greekspecial
forcesunitinWorldWarII
CaledonianThebansRFC,anEdinburghgay
Notes
1.Hippeis,literallymeaning"cavalry",isalsothe 6.PaulCartledgeandotherhistoriansbelievethatthe
genericnameforGreekeliteunitsbetween300to exceedinglytinyproportionofspartiatesdominatinga
1000men.Althoughtheyinitiallyfoughtas forceofabout10,000alliedtroops(notallofthem
horsemen,duringthe4thcenturyBCtheyprimarily fullyloyal)mayhavecontributedtothedefeat.The
foughtashopliteheavyinfantry.Comparewith numberofspartiateshavebeenfallingcatastrophically
Knight.(DeVoto,1992) foroveracentury,numberingatperhapsnotmore
2.ThehistorianLouisCromptonpresumesthat than1,500bythetimeoftheBattleofLeuctra.Atthe
Gorgidasdiedinaskirmishin378BC.(Crompton, BattleofNemea(394BC),forexample,spartiates
2006) stillconstituted6,000hoplitesofanarmy19,000
3.ThehistorianP.J.Stylianoubelievesthatonlyone strong.(Cartledge,2002)
Spartanmorawasdefeatedinthebattle,andthat 7.SeealsotheGermanmilitarytacticSchwerpunkt.
accountsoftwomoraiisaresultoftheinadvertent 8.SomehistoriansbelievethatEpaminondasexplicitly
inclusionofthesecondmorainOrchomenuswhich orderedPelopidastointercepttheSpartanrightwing.
mighthavemovedouttointerceptPelopidasafterhe (Chrissanthos,2008Gabriel,2001)Othersbelieve
defeatedthefirstone,thoughtheynevermetinbattle. thatthisactionwaspreplanned(perhapseven
(Stylianou,1998) rehearsed)andindependentlyperformedaspartofthe
4.PlaceswheretheSpartanAssemblymet. SacredBand'sroleinthebattle.(Jones,2000)
5.OtherhistoriansbelievethatCleombrotuswasalready 9.Otherhistorianswhoacceptthefigureof300as
inPhocisduringthisperiod,havingbeensentearlier literal,insteadassumethat46membersoftheSacred
in375BCtoreinforceitduringtheearlyTheban Bandsurvived.(Ashley,2004)
attacks.(Rhodes,2006)
6.PaulCartledgeandotherhistoriansbelievethatthe
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