Tristan Hughes

They're just rubbing their hands at the moment.

Well, let's go to that next big date then, if you're talking about another big battle with Spartan hegemony, which is 371 BC, the Battle of Lutra.

Just before then, we've done a whole episode about the Theban Sacred Band in the past with Dr. James Romm.

But I should also ask you guys about the story that the Sacred Band is 300 strong and it's made of 150 pairs of homosexual lovers.

Do we think that's likely?

Well, let's go on to the vassal of Lutra, because this feels like the big date we need to talk about.

Who would like to talk through?

And this is Epaminondas, he's at the forefront.

As they put it.

Is that what they say?

Do they actually say that?

And do you think that's the origins of the, you know, cut the head of the snake, crush the head of the snake actually originates from here?

That is the origin.

Agiselaus, the king of Sparta who had been involved in causing this to happen, he's actually not the Spartan king who gets sent in the army.

Obviously, he doesn't do the job.

He failed.

Oh, okay.

Thank you for clarifying.

Psychologically, how massive is the Spartan defeat at Lutra to its power in the story of Sparta's decline through these decades?

Do the Thebans pounce on this?