The Sacred Band of Thebes was a war-band of 300 elite Theban shock troops and hoplites trained in the Theban Cadmea and founded by Gorgidas in accord with the model described by Plato in his 'Symposia.' Gorgidas spread the age-weighted pairs of lovers and beloveds among the regular Theban Army. When Pelopidas took command of the Sacred Band of Thebes, he not only trained them together, but kept them together in a unit. Fighting as a unit under Pelopidas and executing his visionary strategies and tactics while acting as his personal guard, they distinguished themselves in combat repeatedly for as long as Pelopidas led them. Upon Pelopidas's death in combat, his good friend and fellow Boeotarch Epaminondas took over command of the Sacred Band of Thebes. As a key element in his battle plans and his personal guard they further distinguished themselves, helping the Theban Hegemony become preeminent. [ - ]

The Sacred Band of Thebes was a war-band of 300 elite Theban shock troops and hoplites trained... [ + ]