A citizen-soldier of the cities of ancient Greece. Each man had to provide his own formidable armour (Greek, hopla)—2.7 m (9-feet) spear, short sword, large round shield, breastplate, and greaves (shin-pads). They fought in the close-packed phalanx formation, and were extremely effective when operating in the plains of Greece. However, over rough terrain they were vulnerable to fast-moving light infantry. The professional hoplites of Sparta were pre-eminent in classical times until their defeat by the Thebans in 371 bc.