Science of Conflict Tactics of the Greeks-Spartan armour
The Spartan soldier was protected by a bronze breast-plate, shield, helmet and shin-guards to protect the legs, as pictured below.
The shield was used to great effect. So valuable was a soldier's shield that each soldier was instructed to "Come back with it or on it".
The main battle formation favoured by the Spartans was the Sworn Band. These were highly mobile groups of 24 foot soldiers armed with shields, spears and swords. Soldiers formed interlocking formations with their shields where each front line soldier had his right side protected by the shield of the soldier next to him, as pictured on the right.