Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “An army marches on its stomach.” The phrase captures a truth as relevant in ancient times as it is today: feeding an army has always been crucial to maintaining soldiers’ health, morale, and combat effectiveness.
The Importance of Logistics in Ancient Warfare
When we imagine the wars of ancient Greece, we often think of the famed hoplites in the heat of battle. But the outcome of a campaign often hinged not on the clash of weapons, but on logistics—the movement of people and supplies, and most importantly, securing food at every stage of the journey.
As Professor David Charters explains, “Though hoplites were expected to carry their own food and wine, the weight of their armor meant they could only bring so much.” As a result, ancient armies often relied heavily on the local landscape for sustenance—timing their campaigns to coincide with ripe grain fields and lush pastures.
How Soldiers Got Their Food
Soldiers used a variety of methods to feed themselves: foraging for wild greens, hunting, buying provisions in local markets, or even looting villages. Their diet consisted mainly of grains, legumes, olives, onions, garlic, and cheese.
In his Anabasis, Xenophon describes a fellow soldier returning with sacks full of supplies: “barley flour, wine, olives, garlic, onions.” This vivid account gives us a clear glimpse into the everyday diet of soldiers on campaign.
A Warrior’s Treat: From Itrion to Pasteli
Although their meals were often humble, soldiers with a sweet tooth had a treat to look forward to. Homer, in both the Iliad and Odyssey, mentions itrion—a sweet made of honey and sesame seeds, used to give energy to the warriors of the Trojan War. This ancient energy bar remained popular for centuries and survives in Greek tradition today as pasteli.
The Spartans’ Famous “Black Broth”
The Spartans, known for their austere lifestyle, had a signature dish: melas zomos—black broth. At their communal messes, they would eat this soup made from pork and blood, served with bread called maza. To outsiders, the taste was notoriously unappealing. One visitor from southern Italy famously joked, “Now I understand why Spartans go so eagerly to their deaths—at least they won’t have to eat black broth again!”
Conclusion
The daily life of ancient Greek soldiers was shaped not only by the glory of battle but also by the harsh realities of survival. Their diet was often simple, yet there were occasional moments of enjoyment—especially with traditional sweets that have stood the test of time. History reminds us that success in war depends not just on bravery, but also on the strength… of the stomach.
