The Theban Sacred Band: Defenders of Greek Freedom
In this 3-session class, you will learn about the history and significance of the Theban Sacred Band, an elite fighting unit made up of 150 pairs of male companions who freed Greece from Spartan domination and died defending Greek freedom.
David Balfour
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
What's included
3 live meetings
3 in-class hoursClass Experience
This highly interactive presentation will explore the dramatic history of the Theban Sacred Band, an elite fighting unit made up of 150 pairs of male companions. In the 4th-century B.C.E., the Sacred Band was instrumental in ending the long period of oppressive Spartan domination in Greece, freeing 200,000 Greeks from brutal servitude under the Spartans, and raising Thebes to the position of the most powerful city in Greece, before making a valiant final stand in defense of Greek freedom at Chaeronea in 338 B.C.E. Emphasis will be placed upon the nature of the Sacred Band and the reasons for their success, the Theban generals who led them, and the crucial battles of Tegyra, Leuctra, Mantinea, and Chaeronea. The instructor will utilize power points containing videos and numerous images designed to stimulate student thinking and participation.
Learning Goals
In this class, you will learn about:
• the history and significance of the Theban Sacred Band
• the nature of ancient Greek warfare
• the military and political history of Greece in the 4th century B.C.E.
• great Theban generals such as Gorgidas, Pelopidas, and Epaminondas
• critical battles including Tegyra, Leuctra, Mantinea, and Chaeronea
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The Sacred Band was a fighting unit made up of 150 pairs of male lovers. The class will include a brief discussion of Greek sexual mores as they relate to the Sacred Band as well as a brief assessment of the Sacred Band's place in LGBTQ+ history.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Suggested Reading:
Buckler, John. The Theban Hegemony, 371-362 B.C. Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1980.
Cartledge, Paul. Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece. London: Picador, 2020.
Cole, Myke. The Bronze Lie: Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy. Oxford: Osprey, 2021.
Romm, James. The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting to Save Greek Freedom. New York: Scribner, 2021.
Joined October, 2020
5.0
1reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am a progessional historian specializing in ancient and medieval history. I have 40+ years of experience teaching at the college and high school levels. I have done considerable research on the Theban Sacred Band, including on-site research in Greece, and I have published two articles on the topic.Reviews
Live Group Class
$5
weekly1x per week, 3 weeks
60 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
3-12 learners per class
