Levy Hoplites can stand against pretty much anything, so long they're facing the right direction. They are an early game saver. I once did a migration which I gave all my holdings to Eperios and Makedonia, and traded for Taras. Just using Levies and Spartans, I managed to sack Barbaropolis within 15 turns. The battles were epic, the losses were great, but the sheer steadfastness of hellenic ethos and their burning hatred of the barbaroi granted me 3 herioc victories and nailing their last FM when Barbaropolis was taken...