Greek · No. 027

Young Spartan Hoplite

Inspired by: The hoplites of Sparta, the heavy infantry of ancient Greece, and the Spartan military upbringing, the agoge.

Young Spartan Hoplite
Come back with your shield, or on it.
Rarity
Common
Category
Monster
ATK
1300
DEF
1400
Level
4
Type
Warrior
Element
Earth
Constellations
Sun · Hammer

The myth

This card depicts not a mythic character but real history. The hoplite was the heavy infantryman of the Greek cities, with a spear, a bronze helmet and the great round shield, the aspis or hoplon, which also protected the comrade beside him in the phalanx. In Sparta, boys left their families at about seven for the agoge, a harsh training that prepared them for war. Plutarch attributes to Spartan women the farewell: come back with your shield or on it, meaning victorious or dead, never in flight.

Why it has this power

A Common level-4 card with 1300 ATK and 1400 DEF: the slightly higher defense comes from the shield, which protects as much as the hoplite's spear wounds. An Earth Warrior, firm on the ground of the phalanx, he bears the Sun and Hammer constellations. He is a material of the Rite of Athena's Birth, goddess of cities and strategy.

Did you know

Losing one's shield was the greatest shame for a Spartan, because dropping it left the comrade beside him exposed.

Connections

  • In Nikos the Young Hoplite's deck
  • In Kassandra, Daughter of the Oracle's deck
  • In Aristeia, Champion of Olympus's deck

Where to get it

  • Comes in every duelist's starter deck.
  • Campaign drop: Nikos the Young Hoplite (Aegean of Heroes) — grade B: 14% · grade C: 13% · grade D: 13%
  • Daily Offering: 0% per pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Welcome Pack: 0.97% per pack (Common 70% per card)
  • Traveler's Pack: 0.88% per pack · 5.2% in the themed pack (Common 64% per card)
  • Bronze Reliquary: 0.86% per pack · 5.1% in the themed pack (Common 62% per card)
  • Silver Reliquary: 0.67% per pack · 4% in the themed pack (Common 49% per card)
  • Golden Reliquary: 0.46% per pack · 2.7% in the themed pack (Common 33% per card)
  • Daily Showcase: Shows up on about 0.69% of days · 150 gold
  • Craft with card dust: 40 dust
  • Crossing of Myths: Can be offered as a reward during a crossing (the card stays in the crossing deck).

Sources

  1. Hoplite: The Key Infantry Soldier of Ancient Greece (World History Encyclopedia) — Mark Cartwright
  2. Sparta (World History Encyclopedia) — Mark Cartwright
  3. The Greek Phalanx (World History Encyclopedia) — Joshua J. Mark