Did the Spartans have archers?

Question

I just saw the movie 300, and it made me intrested in reasurching sparta more. I whanted to know if the spartans did use archers at any point in there history to defend a fortified area. as far as i can tell they used no arrows against the persian, or any conflict for that matter, is this really the case?

Answer 1

yes they did, as did everyone else in Greece. However, they focused on physical combat as it is much more honorable to kill a man face to face.
Archers were almost considered "second-class" people and as being sneaky. But, they could not dismiss the importance of having archers.
So, yes Sparta and the rest of Greece did use archers, but heroics and stories were told of the hoplites, not the "weak" archers

Answer 2

From what I have read the Spartans did not use archers although I am sure some of the other Greek units did. The Spartans were known for their innovation of the shield by putting their arms through a leather strap before grabbing the grip which made it much more flexible aND movable in warfare. Their Spears were lethal on both sides and the tight formations they used allowed them to have the first row go high on the enemy and the 2nd line to go high inflicting great damage. They also had amazing Head armor for the time which their adversary's did not . They wore full chest armor. They were also the first units to train like special forces units do today. They did carry double sided broad swords which were there secondary weapons when either their spears broke or combat became close quarters. The Spartan warrior started training when they were children and were the best of the best and lived by the code of having an honorable death in battle. When the 300 went to fight the Persians all the men who were chosen were the best a warriors of the 7000 and only those who had male children to keep on their bloodlines alive were chosen to go. I hope this helped . TC messtograves

Answer 3

I don't think, at least, the Spartiates (full spartan citizens) used bows and arrows. They believed that battles should be fought with spears and swords. Which is kinda funny because they prayed to Apollo who is the Sun and Archer god. Now that doesn't mean that some of there helots who came to battle had bows but in all likely hood they didn't have them.

Answer 4

I just saw the movie too, and thats exactly what I was thinking when I left the theater. the short sword and the spear are great weapons, and their infantry was amazing alltogether, but some cavalry and archers would have really been useful.