The food of the Spartans, as well as the way of life, was different from what was in the rest of Greece. Sparta was a militarized state, and the whole life of the Spartan people was subject to laws that equalized citizens in everything, and deprived them of any comfort.
The Spartans had laws that ordered them not to have anything superfluous both in housing and in food. To prevent the Spartans from getting used to delicious homemade food, they were obliged to dine only at a common table, in the so-called "lunch clubs". The Spartans handed over the necessary food to a common cauldron, such a "dinner club", so that later they could dine together. This food system was invented and introduced in practice by King Lycurgus. He did this to maintain equality among citizens, and the ability to control the way of life of the Spartans. In a small team, where everything is in sight, the life of each individual person largely depends on the opinions of the people who surround him.
Eating at a common table did not give the Spartans a taste for luxury. The neighbors on the table vigilantly watched who was eating, and laughed at those who did not like their rough and disgusting food. Perhaps the most popular food in Sparta was "black soup", which even the very last Greek poor would not eat. It was prepared from pork with lentils, garlic, vinegar and salt. Despite the fact that it was very nutritious, it tasted just disgusting, and it was a real test to eat it. And on weekdays and holidays, the diet was always the same: rough food, no frills.
But when the time came for battles and battles, the Spartans dressed in their best outfits and went into battle with songs to the music. It was a real holiday for them. In battle, the Spartans never retreated and did not surrender, but with defeat, everyone died. But this happened extremely rarely, because it was not for nothing that the Spartans were considered the best warriors in all of Greece.
