Monday, November 29, 2010

Agapitoi mou filoι hairete (Αγαπητοί μου φίλοι χαίρετε)
   My Dear Friends Hello,
This is my first attempt at an Ancient Spartan Blog so please forgive any misspellings of the Greek language that may pop up.  (I have enough trouble with the English language let alone Greek, lol.)
My name is Jim (doc) and my reenactment name is Aristodemus. I have an ancient Greek living history group called the Spartan and Amazon Warriors.  http://www.spartanandamazonwarriors.com/.   We're based in Western Penn., and we have members spread out over an additional 5 States;  Texas, Tenn., Md., Arizona, Ohio and 3 Countries.  UK, Aus, and Greece.
   The purpose of this group is to show the public how it really was in Ancient Greece, not the horrible way Hollywood has portrayed it as in the movie "300."  Although I have to admit there were some great effects in that movie and they did get the ending correct.  (The Spartans died to the last man at Thermopylae.)
    From here on out I will take the liberty to use "S.A.W." instead of Spartan and Amazon Warriors.  Typing is not easy for me, especially when using one finger.  So all I need is to get a blister on that finger and I'm up that old creek without a paddle, ha ha.
  ABOUT THE GROUP:
John T, on left, yours truly, on right
    S.A.W, have members from all walks of life. Metal workers, teachers, engineers, cad design drafter, etc.  We march in local parades, Greek Festivals and we love demonstrations.  We have even been asked to take part in the History Channel's episode of Ancient Greek Spartans.  Our first parade was in Baltimore, Md a few years ago when a very good friend of mine, John T. (http://www.300spartanwarriors.com/) put out a call for some other reenactors to take part in Baltimore's Greek parade.  Just as it was in ancient times, different Greek city states (or as in this case, different reenactors) answered the call.  Ever since then, both John's group and mine have slowly grown in size as well as in friendship.
   Last year at the Baltimore's parade we broke a national standing record for having the biggest, Authentic Greek Phalanx ever in the U.S.  Cool, Huh?  We will never miss the chance to march in Baltimore's parade and I invite you to get ahold of me if you're interested becoming a member (yes it's free but you do have to have your own panoply) and marching with us at Baltimore's parade in 2011. 
    I've noticed that within the last couple of years more folks of all ages have gotten the bug to become ancient Greek reenactors.  The best part is they're getting their panoply correct the first time out.  I think because of the economy (cost can be really high for the wrong panoply and then you have to spend more to get it right, so you might as well do it right the first time and save).  Also in just doing minor research, they realize how "wrong" the comic book version of the 300 was/is.
Web Sites like mine, http://www.spartanandamazonwarriors.com/
and John's, http://300spartanwarriors.com/ always try to answer and explain the "proper material" vs "the cheap imitation" questions that people ask.
(added Dec 1st, 2010)
I received this "Spartan Oath" taken just before the Plataia battle, from a friend of mine in Greece yesterday. Adonis, from the Hoplite group called the Κορύβαντες - Koryvantes. 

Koryvantes and Ares Anax


I WILL NOT CONSIDER LIFE MORE PRECIOUS THAN FREEDOM
NOR WILL I ABANDON OUR LEADERS NEITHER ALIVE NOT DEAD
AND FROM OUR ALLIES TOO THOSE WHO FELL IN BATTLE, ALL SHALL I BURY
AND FOR WE PREVAIL IN WAR AGAINST THE BARBARIANS FROM THE CITIES THAT FOUGHT FOR GREECE, NONE SHALL I DESTROY
THOSE THAT PREFERRED TO SIDE WITH THE BARBARIAN I WILL MAKE
TRIBUTARIES TO PYTHIAN APOLLO
AND FROM OUR SACRED PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED AND DESTROYED BY THE BARBARIANS NONE SHALL I REBUILD BUT I WILL LET THEM AS THEY ARE, SO THAT NEXT GENERATIONS SEE MONUMENTS OF BARBARIAN’S  SACRILEGE
I do believe that this oath is still good today as it was over 2000 years ago, don't you?
I thank the Koryvantes, Adonis and  Dienekes for sending the pics and the oath to me.  On the next blog that I write (approx 1 month),  I'll have pictures of their newly made Linothorax which looks really nice. BTW, I almost forgot, To wish them a HUGE congratulations for winning the The "Grand Prize for Archery Demonstration" of 4th W.T.A.F. 2010, S. Korea.  The groups name is The Hellenic Horseback Archery Team "CENTAURS KASSAI"!  CONGRATULATIONS brothers in arms!
  I've noticed from being involved with this Ancient Greek Reenactment programs that we ALL ARE A "BAND OF BROTHERS"!  No matter how spread out through out the world we are, we care about each others daily personal life.  Good or bad, down and out, we always seem to "be there" for each others support.  Can't help but think how close the camaraderie was like over 2,000 years ago for the Spartans who live, fought and died together.   I lost my Father (92) in May and the response was overwhelming from fellow Spartans over the world.
  I think the phrase is Αληθινός στο πνεύμα του means; "True to his Spirit" and certainly the modern Spartan reenactor has it!
  To Be continued:.....


IN THE MEANTIME...If you haven't had a chance to read these books, make it a point to do so!
"Gates Of Fire" - Steven Pressfield;  "The Olympian" - Gene Kraay;  "The Battle Of Marathon" - Peter Krentz;  "Marathon" - Richard A Billows


The Spartan Warriors in Baltimore, Md. 2010