The narrative that the Spartans were an elite fighting force is many historian's favorite thing to debunk: * a seven part series ([I](https://acoup.blog/2019/08/16/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-i-spartan-school/), [II](https://acoup.blog/2019/08/23/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-ii-spartan-equality/), [III](https://acoup.blog/2019/08/29/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-iii-spartan-women/), [IV](https://acoup.blog/2019/09/05/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-iv-spartan-wealth/), [V](https://acoup.blog/2019/09/12/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-v-spartan-government/), [VI](https://acoup.blog/2019/09/20/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-vi-spartan-battle/), [VII](https://acoup.blog/2019/09/27/collections-this-isnt-sparta-part-vii-spartan-ends/)) comparing the popular legacy of Sparta (embodied in films like _300_) with the historical ancient state. * via [ancient world magazine](https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/spartans-war-myth-vs-reality/)