 Mothers bidding farewell to their sons would encourage them to come back with their shields, often saying goodbyes like ""Son, either with this or on this"" (Ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς), meaning they should return only in victory, a controlled retreat, or death, their body being carried on the shield.Spartan hoplites were often depicted bearing a transverse horsehair crest on their helmet, which was possibly used to identify officers.In the Archaic period, Spartans were armored with flanged bronze cuirasses, leg greaves, and a helmet, often of the Corinthian type.