Sparta Flashcards
Geographical setting
- situated in central Laconia- fertile valley of the Eurotas River
- surrounded by three mountains: Taygetus mountain, Parnon mountain range, Arcadian range
- connected to northern part of Greece by the Corinthian isthmus
Natural resources
Sparta had warm climate and light rainfall and good agriculture in Laconia
- crops: barley, wheat, grapes
- shellfish = purple dye for clothes
- bees = provided honey and wax
- graze sheep and goats for milk = cheese, skins, wool hair, fat and meat
Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
- located on West Bank of Eurotas
- consists of a walk enclosing an altar and a small temple, ritual fluffing at the altar
Important finds: clay masks, Ivory carvings, lead figurines
- inscriptions bears dedications by visitors who wine contests in honour of Artemis
- bone objects dated to the archaic period, Ivory plaques and combs (religious ceremonies/ votive offerings)
Sanctuary of Apollo at Amyklai
Important finds:
- most important festival Hyakinthos took place
- decorated with relief representations and plastic composition
- tomb altar of the local God Hyakinthos was used as the pedestal of the statue
Menelaion
Near bank of Eurotas River
Important finds:
- cistern was built to provide water supply to the shrine
- small Laconian cases, terracottas, iron objects, lead and bronze items discovered
Lycurgus
Man who established political, social and economical reforms of the Spartan society
Disagreement to his existence (man or God) laws significantly changed Spartan life
“Owe their prosperity” to Lycurgus - Plutarch
Great Rhetra
Oracle from the shrine of Apollo at Delphi that induced a series of wide reforms in Sparta
- not written down
- wanted it to be imprinted in the hearts of ppl stronger than written laws
Lycurgus reforms (part 1)
Establishment of senate
- 28men who had power equal to two royal houses of Sparta
- balanced out power between monarchy and democracy = stable gov
- ppl and rulers respected each other and were allowed to vote = more balanced power and minimised corruption
Lycurgus reforms (part 2)
Division of land and wealth = dispel inequality
- Lycurgus persuaded citizens to gather up land and redistribute it afresh
- expelled crime, arrogance, wealth and poverty
- resolved issue of money between the many destitute ppl and few wealthy ppl
Lycurgus reforms (part 3)
Common messes = better equality
- meals eaten together creates a sense of community and unity between the ppl
- significant bc rich could not spend lives at home stuffing themselves with delicacies removing gluttony and greed from society
Lycurgus reforms (part 4)
Reformation of time limit spent at war
- reduce their chances of being defeated and never gave enemy time to learn their tactics
- strong military with a history of successful campaigns
Plutarch- “the legacy of the science of gov”
Religious role of kings
- expected to sacrifice to God Apollo each month
- priests of the city
- held office as long as they maintained pleasure of the gods and were blamed if anything went wrong
Military role of kings
- supreme army commander
- personal body guard of 100 men
- Kings had unlimited power of life and death over troops of his army
- two ephors kept an eye on the Kings activities
Judicial roles of kings
Responsible for matters pertaining to public highways, legal matters regarding adoption of children
Power to decide upon the marriage partner of a heiress whose father died
Privileges of kings
- kings death public businesses cease for 10 days ppl expected to wear mourning clothes at funeral
- receive skins of animals sacrificed in religious ceremonies
- received best seats in festivals
Gerousia (Council of Elders)
Involved 28 Spartiates (over 60) and two kings
- had power over the decisions of the ecclesia
- acted as judges in criminal cases
- elected by process of acclamation
- held position for life
Ephorate (ephors)
Held office for one yr (oligarchy- rule of the few)
- 5 ppl over 30years
- controlled agoge, instructed krypteia
- dealt with foreign envoys
- could summon King for trial
- controlled public finances
- attended court hearings and judged criminal matters
- had an official residence
Ecclesia (assembly)
Democracy (rule of the ppl)
- only Spartan ppl over 30
- meet once a month during the feast of Apollo
- decided whether to go to war
- elect ephors by the loudest cheer
Spartiates
Elite class of society trained in ways of a soldier
- submit to the Spartan system of education and training
- be a member of the mess
- hold office and vote in assembly
- owned land and paid community fees
Syssition
Mess- where meals are shared
- age 20 men able to join
- created strong bonds of comradeship between members
Perioeci
Referred to as “the dwellers around”
- not allowed to take part in farming
- trained and educated
- family role extremely limited and had arranged marriages
- had legal protection could not own land or vote
- life was good bc essentially free to do as they wished and enjoyed higher status then helots
Helots
Slaves- not owned by individual masters but by the state
- no legal or political rights
- notable act of bravery could bring he lot freedom
- could own some land
Function: work and produce food
Krypteia
“secret police”
Rite of passage for young Spartan men ordered to the countryside equipped with only a dagger and basic rations
“Made their way to roads and murdered any helot whom they caught”- Plutarch
Inferiors
Other Spartans who did not fit into the category of Spartiate, perioeci or helot
Hoplite
Heavily armed spearman
- wore a thin bronze Corinthian helmet, bronze greaves to protect his legs and a bronze linen cuirass
- carried a spear and sword used for thrusting not throwing
Phalanx
Long block of soldiers often eight ranks deep
- organised in “files” so if a man fell his place could quickly be taken by one behind
Control of the helots
- military enslaved helots and seized lands
- helots had no rights and protection resented their status
- Spartan state ritually declared war on helots organised raids to control helots using terror
- army could not be away for long periods of time due to chance of helot revolt
Agoge
Education system was believed to produce obedience to authority and ability to endure pain in order to achieve victory in battle
Education of boys (part 1)
- Age 7 left home to live in barracks
- introduced to physical skills and hardships
“Education involved them going barefoot, wearing one garment the whole year, and going hungry”- Xenophon - harsh conditions allowed them to develop skills for war including learning survival techniques
Education of boys (part 2)
13-18 yo
- discipline and training became severe, predominantly physical
- Plutarch = story about how a Spartan boy once stole a fox cub his in his cloak and the animal started biting out his insides rather than revealing his theft the child collapsed and died
24-30
- eligible to be front troops
- King select 300 knights to be his personal troop
Education of boys (part 3)
30th yr
- man considered a full citizen and exercise political rights
“Took a great deal of their hair” Plutarch
- growing hair suggests physical vigour
- now allowed to dine at the mess for the rest of their life
Education of girls
Less vigorous than boys and were organised into groups
- Plutarch = education aimed at producing healthy bodies
- girls exercise with boys in sports such as running, javelin and ball games
- develop women to undergo the pains of childbearing and harden their bodies
Spartan women
- primary function: bearers of children and mothers of warriors
- higher status than other Greek women more independence and control
- great influence in the economic life of Sparta could manage estates
Main role of Spartan women
Xenophon “for Spartan women, childbearing was the most important function”
- wives and mothers of citizens
- girls exercised so that they would be a fit and healthy mother and able to produce sons capable of defending Sparta
- importance can be seen- if mother died in childbirth her name would be inscribed on her tomb
