Why do not you think that the number of spartans has a number, so do not. Spartan culture is training men to be men and warriors. They would say, "come back with the shield or on top of it" means that if you win, then come back. They are the toughest warriors in the world and they fight in the battlefield until death. War did not die until all of them died. It was as if they were warlike people. We can see their nature in '300' movie. The war was their obsession, passion and hobby.