"TESTIMONIALS", "TOUR DATES" & NEWS ARTICLES
"TESTIMONIALS"

"The 'go to' site for all us Helleno-Amazonia-philes.  Terrific!"
(Steven Pressfield, author of "Gates of Fire" and "Last of the
Amazons.")

"Doc's "Spartan & Amazon Warriors" site is a slick look at a
Greek reenactment group from Western Pennsylvania.  The
site even has some great Spartan recipes and a clear
summary of the ancient Olympic games."
( Gene Kraay,author of "The Olympian")

"Spartans and Amazon Warriors is an interesting and
informative site, that also has a sense of humour!"
(Cristina,UK)

"This is a site full of excellent information given in a way
friendly to the beginner enthusiast of any age."
(Giannis,Greece)

"Great pictures and content shown in a dynamic way,
guaranteed to keep you intrigued."  (George T,  Aus.)

"A great site dealing with the fiercest warriors of ancient
Greek history and mythology."  (John T, "300 Spartan
Warriors")

"Jim (Doc), communicated his website to us most recently
and in a Democratic Hoplite world, we all voted this to be one
humorous and light-hearted website."  (Mark, Hoplites of
Athena)

"Please let our American Spartan brothers in arms know that
your English cousins think that your website is Laconic with
its humour and really cool."   (Spartan-Society,UK Scott aka
Xenophon

"The Ancient Hoplitikon of Melbourne is a supporter of
Jim's(aka doc) work in the pursuit of Hoplite re-enactment.  
Building friendships and networking with the Hoplite
Fraternity has galvanized all Hoplite re-enactment groups for
future endeavors, to form a brotherhood of Hoplites.  Jim,
keep up the good work !"  (Cheer's Athanasios Porporis  
Founder "AHM")

Spartans and Amazon Warriors is not only to inform and
bringing in some humor in our great hobby. It's also a page to
connect the Greek Reenactors worldwide, therefor I like it a
lot.   (Best regards, Kurt  www.hetairoi)

Dear Co-Hoplite Aristodemus, we are monitoring your site all
the way from here in Greece and you have our support!! Keep
up the good work and you can count on our shields if need
anything!!! Agesistratos, Chieftain of "Spartiatikes Mores"

Spartans and Amazonians rejoice! The Alopekus Phratry of the
Spartan Warband finds favor with this website! Well written,
entertaining and an oracle of Greco Hellenistic information !
Well done!
Agamedes, Tyrant of Northshield. SCA

This website is like a one-stop shop for all things HOPLITE!  
It's a great place for anyone having an interest in ancient
Greek history.   As a re-enactor, I've found it very useful,
because this site has all of the components you'll need to
make it all work for you.
Jim Carrozza (Art For Art sake)
Up Coming Appearances:

MARCH 21st, 2010, Baltimore, Md.
2:00PM or 1400hours


Wednesday March 18th, 2009
"WEEKEND WARRIORS"

Spartan re-enactors willing to pay Steep price for historical accuracy
It started with a Corinthian helmet.

Jim “Doc” Stamps, a retired high school music teacher From western Pennsylvania,
paid $250 for that.   Then, he Thought, a nice aspis (shield) would look nice hanging
Beside the helmet.  One year and more than $1,700 later, the 59-year-old Stamps will
be equipped head to toe in historically precise Spartan warrior gear when he makes
his public debut March 29 at the Greek Independence Day parade in Baltimore,Md.
There he’ll join 15 other Greek warrior enthusiasts from re-enactment groups from all
over the East Coast.  The price tag for his new hobby, Stamps admits, is enough to
make his wife a little crazy, but she has the last laugh on his Web site
(SpartanAndAmazonWarriors.com).

Next to a photo of himself, he writes:  “My wife always tells me I look better with the
helmet on.”

Stamps is part of a growing army of Greek warrior enthusiasts all around the world.
The Hellenic Voice sent email's to several groups seeking comments for this article
and got Responses from three states and two foreign countries –

Many of the re-enactors traced their Interest in the Greek warriors to an early age.
John Trikeriotis, a 49-year-old financial consultant, who is organizing the
Gathering in Baltimore, was 6 years old when he saw “The 300 Spartans”(1962).

Athanasios Porporis, 44, of Melbourne, Australia, as a boy, drew and painted ancient
Greek hoplites, or Armored soldiers.

And Scott “aka Xenophon” Seal, 47, Of Warwickshire, England, became fascinated
With ancient Greece and the Spartan way of life through his father and a tutor; the
interest was cemented during an education cruise to Crete, Rhodes and Athens at the
age of 12.  But it took events in midlife to reignite their imaginations.

For Chris Pangalos, 46, a former U.S. Marine sergeant, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y..,
and now from Charlotte, N.C, it was seeing a Harley-Davidson motorcycle decorated
with Viking designs win a prize at a bike Rally.  He had his bike custom painted in
a Spartan Warrior theme – at a cost of $4,000. “Then I began collecting a full Panoply of
authentic ancient Greek Armor, weapons and clothing.”  He also has spent thousands
of dollars On equipment, being a stickler for Authenticity. “As the old saying goes,
‘Good ain’t cheap and cheap ain’t Good.’ ” He says.

Correcting Hollywood’s portrayal, the inspiration for any and all interest In Ancient
Greek warriors, of course, Is rooted in the Battle of Thermopylae.  In 480 B.C. When
Persian King Xerxes Invaded Greece with his massive army,  King Leonidas of Sparta
and his band of 300 warriors made the invaders pay  dearly in lives before being killed
themselves.  The battle, though a defeat,  Inspired the Greeks, who a year later, in 479
BC, under Pausanias of Sparta, Soundly defeated a force of more than 100,000
Persians at the battle of Plataea and turned back the invaders.

But Hollywood hasn’t always gotten The facts right, mostly notably the film “300”
(2006) based on the graphic Novel by Frank Miller. “The only thing they got right was
That everybody dies,” says Stamps, the teacher.

Trikeriotis, of Baltimore, was invited to an advance screening of the film due to some
promotional work he did on their behalf.

“After seeing, their historically inaccurate depiction of the Greek and Persian warriors
on screen, I felt an obligation,”He said, to “portray the Hellenes in the most accurate
way possible.” He has spent “thousands upon thousands,” not only on his own $3,000
Worth of panoply but also in extra equipment for colleagues in his group.

For the purpose of education, he says, it’s been “a very small price to pay, as
Thousands of students and adults have Observed my representation of what we
believe King Leonidas of Sparta would Have worn during the Battle of Thermopylae.”
While bashing Hollywood portrayals,  The re-enactors heaped praised on Author
Steven Pressfield, for his portrayal Of the Spartans in the historical novel “Gates of
Fire.”

Pangalos, the former Marine, read it and was “struck by similarities between ancient
Spartan warriors and modern day Marines.”   Seals, a former soldier in the British
Army with the Parachute Regiment and Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, believes “the
modern day paratroopers carry on this Spartan tradition.”

Stamps points out that the Greek warrior’s equipment came to 70 to 75 pounds, the
same weight carried by a modern day soldier, though the firepower has increased
dramatically.   ‘Warrior camaraderie’ While their ranks are still few –groups
represented in this article range from four to 13 members – the Greek warrior
re-enactors say the best part of their hobby is the camaraderie.   And
when the call goes out, as it did for the Baltimore parade, groups in western
Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York – like ancient Greek city states –
responded by sending troops.
Stamps, who will wear his 70-plus pounds of equipment March 29 for the first time,
jokes that he’s given his comrades instructions in case he doesn't’t make it the length
of the parade route:
“Hopefully, I’m not going to pass out,” he says. “But I told my friends, if I
fall and a guy wants to do mouth to mouth, don’t let him. Use your spear.”

However, he added, “If a goddess comes let her pass.”

"EITHER COME BACK WITH THE SHIELD OR ON IT"

" To some of us it's hobby, To others it's a passion but whatever the Individual reason
might be, we all do it with Pride and also to honor the
Brave 300 and other Greeks who gave up their lives at Thermopylae in 480BC so we
Can have Democracy today!
Doc (aka Aristodemus)

doc
CHRIS
Warriors Of
Greece
N.C.
JOHN
300 Spartan
Warriors
MD.
DOC
Spartan &
Amazon Warriors
PA.