Any new spartan unit in the making?

[fallen851]

I think the Spartans did. I don't think the objective was to have them look terrifying only in front of their allies and subordinates in the camp. They were meant to terrify the opposition.

Great. They did not wear them in combat, they do not have arm holes, so they would have to "peel" the cloak back in combat, meaning it would get in their way and fight them everytime they did anything. Secondly the wind wouldn't do them (or the people behind them) any favors.

They used the cloaks as blankets at night and for protection from the weather. They did not wear them in combat.

As John Warry reports on page 47 of Warfare in the Classical World: "The red cloak seen in the illustration was the charateristic Spartan uniform. It was discarded in battle."

And on page 52 he states: "The enveloping cloak could also serve as a blanket, but it was not worn in battle."

Twice he quite clearly states the cloak was not worn in battle. I remember reading some other sources repeating the above, I'll find them if necessary, but I thought this was established...

Sadly it seems the sterotypical image of the Spartan has many people here fooled (much like the sterotypical image of King Arthur with 13th century armor).