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Description
“With it or on it”

Most people are more familiar with the longer “Come back with this shield or on it,” but in everyday use, it was shortened to just five words as a woman handed his shield to a departing soldier.

In battle, if soldiers had a disorderly or cowardly retreat, they dropped the heaviest piece of equipment they had, their shield. No Spartan woman would welcome home a coward. In place of cowardice, a soldier struck down doing his duty would be carried home with his shield serving as a stretcher.

A Spartan could only come back holding his shield in victory or die in the attempt.

P.S. This is the only thing I have against Odyssey. No true Spartan fights without his shield. If a Spartan loses his helmet or weapon, he isn't punished. But if his shield was gone then he would be punished severely. A Spartan shield is important to protect his brothers beside him and to ensure that the battle line doesn't fall.

Description
“With it or on it”

Most people are more familiar with the longer “Come back with this shield or on it,” but in everyday use, it was shortened to just five words as a woman handed his shield to a departing soldier.

In battle, if soldiers had a disorderly or cowardly retreat, they dropped the heaviest piece of equipment they had, their shield. No Spartan woman would welcome home a coward. In place of cowardice, a soldier struck down doing his duty would be carried home with his shield serving as a stretcher.

A Spartan could only come back holding his shield in victory or die in the attempt.

P.S. This is the only thing I have against Odyssey. No true Spartan fights without his shield. If a Spartan loses his helmet or weapon, he isn't punished. But if his shield was gone then he would be punished severely. A Spartan shield is important to protect his brothers beside him and to ensure that the battle line doesn't fall.