Torso of a Spartan hoplite, found at Sparta and identified as a memorial statue to Leonidas, Sparta Museum. Found in the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos. From shortly after 480 BCE. A Hoplite was a heavily armed ancient Greek foot soldier whose function was to fight in close formation. Heavy armour gave him stronger protection: he wore a metal helmet, breastplate, and greaves; on his left forearm he carried a shield. As well as a sword he also carried a two metre long thrusting spear. The compactness and weight of the massed hoplite phalanx breaking through enemy ranks won battles, not for them the individual brilliance of aristocratic champions. While the phalanx formation was unwieldy, the equipment heavy, and pursuit difficult, Greek hoplites were the best fighters in the Mediterranean world and in great demand as mercenaries in Lydia, Babylonia, and Egypt.