<Dd> Aristotle, Politics, book 1: ὁ ἄνθρωπος φύσει πολιτικὸν ζῷον </Dd> <P> (h) ē </P> <Dl> <Dt> ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς </Dt> <Dd> Ḕ tā̀n ḕ epì tâs </Dd> <Dd> "Either (with) it (your shield), or on it" </Dd> <Dd> Meaning "either you will win the battle, or you will die and then be carried back home on your shield". </Dd> <Dd> It was said by Spartan mothers to their sons before they went out to battle to remind them of their bravery and duty to Sparta and Greece . </Dd> </Dl> <Dt> ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς </Dt>

Greek for come back with your shield or on it