Women in Sparta

Question 1

Aristotle, Politics

Answer 1

• Greek philosopher -> not a Spartan but of the time (350B.C.)
• Athenian view -> different values, bias
• ‘freedom of Spartan women is detrimental both to the purpose of the constitution and to the happiness of the state’
• ‘position of women is badly managed’
• ‘they live decadently and luxuriously with every sort of self-indulgence’
• ‘two-fifths of the whole are of the country is owned by women’
• ‘women inherit estates’, ‘large dowries’

Question 2

Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 14-15

Context

Answer 2

• Lycurgus -> legendary law-giver of Sparta

* Plutarch -> Greek scholar and writer -> writing about AD 100 -> Greek in Roman Empire

Question 3

Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 14-15

Quotes

Answer 3

• ‘running, wrestling, casting the discus and hurling the javelin’
• ‘strong bodies and mature better’
• ‘women themselves might withstand childbearing because of their strength, and struggle successfully and easily with the pains of child-birth’
• ‘frees them from softness and delicacy and all effeminacy’
• ‘go naked in processions’
• ‘dance and sing when the young men were present to watch’
• ‘mocked and teased good-naturedly’

Question 4

Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 14-15

Quotes 2

Answer 4

• ‘sing the praises of those who had shown themselves worthy’
• ‘inspired the young men with great ambition and enthusiasm’
• ‘[the nudity] was accompanied by modesty, and there was no wanton behaviour, rather, it produced in them habits of simplicity and a strong desire for health and beauty of body’
• ‘a taste of noble thoughts’
• ‘they felt that they too had a place in the arena of bravery and ambition’
• ‘forcibly taken by men’
• ‘when they were in full bloom’
• ‘visited his bride by stealth and with every precaution’

Question 5

Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus 14-15

Quotes 3

Answer 5

• ‘full of dread and fear lest any of her household should be aware of his visits’
• ‘his bride also planning and conspiring with him that they might have stolen meetings’
• ‘fathers before they had seen their own wives by daylight’
• ‘developer self-restraint and moderation’
• ‘united husbands and wives when their bodies were full of energy and their affections new and fresh’
• ‘bored by unrestricted access to each other’
• ‘left behind in their hearts some lingering spark of longing and delight

Question 6

Figure of a running Spartan girl

Answer 6

• early classical -> about 520-500 B.C.
• celebratory
• young woman
• shows cleavage
• shows bare arms
• above the knee - seen as provocative to Athenians
• athletic

Limitations:
• where was it found?
• what was it for?
• value?