>Despite Sparta’s reputation for superior fighting, Spartan armies were as likely to lose battles as to win them, especially against peer opponents such as othe

>Despite Sparta’s reputation for superior fighting, Spartan armies were as likely to lose battles as to win them, especially against peer opponents such as other Greek city-states. This shows a misunderstanding of how military power and war works, particularly in the ancient world. It's not a football game, where the best team will dominate everyone else. It's about fear and intimidation as much as fighting. If you have a force that is capable of creating 50/50 odds against any given opponent, that is a very formidable enemy.