Ancient Sparta was an ancient state, a city-polis, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, in the Peloponnese.
The name of the province of Laconia gave the second name to the Spartan state in the ancient period of history - Lacedaemon.
In world history, Sparta is known as an example of a militarized state in which the activities of each member of society are subordinated to a single goal - to raise a strong and healthy warrior.
In the ancient period of history, in the south of the Peloponnese there were two fertile valleys - Messenia and Laconia. They were separated from each other by a difficult mountain range.
Initially, the city-state of Sparta arose in the Lakonica valley and represented a very insignificant territory - 30 X 10 km. Access to the sea was blocked by swampy terrain and nothing promised this tiny state world fame.
Everything changed after the violent conquest and annexation of the Messenia Valley and during the reign of ancient Greek philosopher and the great reformer Lycurgus.
His reforms were aimed at forming a state with a certain doctrine - to create an ideal state and eradicate such instincts as greed, selfishness, and the thirst for personal enrichment. He formulated the basic laws that concerned not only government administration, but also strictly regulated privacy every member of society.
Gradually, Sparta turned into a militarized state whose main goal was its own national security. The main task is to produce soldiers. After the conquest of Messenia, Sparta recaptured some lands from Argos and Arcadia, its neighbors in the northern Peloponnese, and adopted a policy of diplomacy backed by military superiority.
This strategy allowed Sparta to become the head of the Peloponnesian League and play the most important political role among the Greek states.
The Spartan state consisted of three social classes- Spartans or Spartiates, perieki, inhabiting conquered cities and slaves of the Spartans, helots. Complex but logically harmonious device political management The Spartan state was a slave-owning system with remnants of tribal relations preserved from primitive communal times.
It was headed by two rulers - hereditary kings. Initially, they were completely independent and did not report to anyone else or report to anyone. Later, their role in government was limited to the council of elders, the gerousia, which consisted of 28 life-elected members over 60 years of age.
Ancient state of Sparta photo
Next - a national assembly, in which all Spartans who had reached the age of 30 and had the necessary means for a citizen took part. Somewhat later, another body of government appeared - the ephorate. It consisted of five officials chosen by the general meeting. Their powers were practically unlimited, although they did not have clearly defined boundaries. Even the ruling kings had to coordinate their actions with the ephors.
The ruling class in Ancient Sparta were the Spartiates. Each had his own land plot and a certain number of helot slaves. Using material benefits, the Spartiate could not sell, donate or bequeath land or slaves. It was the property of the state. Only Spartiates could enter government bodies and vote.
The next social class is the Perieki. These were residents of the occupied territories. They were allowed to trade and engage in crafts. They had the privilege of enlisting in military service. The lowest class of helots, who were in the position of slaves, were state property and came from the enslaved inhabitants of Messenia.
warriors of Sparta photo
The state lent helots to the Spartiates to process them. land plots. During the period of the greatest prosperity of Ancient Sparta, the number of helots exceeded the ruling class by 15 times.
The education of citizens was considered a state task in Sparta. From birth to 6 years, the child was in the family, and after that he was transferred to the care of the state. From 7 to 20 years old, young men underwent very serious physical training. Simplicity and moderation in an environment full of hardships from childhood accustomed a warrior to the strict and harsh life of a warrior.
The 20-year-old boys who passed all the tests completed their studies and became warriors. Upon reaching 30 years of age, they became full members of society.
Sparta belonged to the two most fertile regions - Laconia and Messenia. Arable farming, olives, vineyards, horticultural crops. This was an advantage of Lacedaemonia over the Greek city-states. The most basic food product, bread, was grown, not imported.
Among the grain crops, barley predominated, the processed product of which was used as the main one in the diet of the inhabitants of Sparta. The wealthy Lacedaemonians used wheat flour as a supplement to the main diet in public meals. Among the general population, wild wheat, spelled, was more common.
Warriors needed good nutrition, so cattle breeding was developed in Sparta high level. Goats and pigs were raised for food, and bulls, mules, and donkeys were used as draft animals. Horses were preferred for forming mounted military units.
Sparta is a warrior state. He needs, first of all, not decorations, but weapons. Luxurious excesses were replaced by practicality. For example, instead of painted, elegant ceramics, the main task of which is to delight, the craft of making vessels that can be used on long trips reaches perfection. Using rich iron mines, the strongest "Lakonian steel" was made in Sparta.
A mandatory element of a Spartan's military equipment was a copper shield. History knows many examples when politicking and power ambitions destroyed the most durable economy and destroyed statehood, despite all its military power. The ancient ancient state of Sparta is a clear example of this.
| Historical state | |
| Sparta | |
| Λακεδαίμων
(Lacedaemon) |
|
Territory of Ancient Sparta |
|
|
XI century BC e. - 146 BC e. |
|
|---|---|
| Capital | Sparta |
| Languages) | Ancient Greek, Dorian dialect |
| Religion | Ancient Greek |
| Form of government | aristocratic, oligarchic |
| Dynasty | Agidae, Eurypontidae |
| Kings of Sparta | |
| XI century BC e. | Aristodemus |
| 9th century BC e. | Lycurgus (regent) |
| 491 - 480 BC e. | Leonidas I |
| 262 - 241 BC e. | Agis |
| 235 - 222 BC e. | Cleomenes |
| 207 - 192 BC e. | Nabis (usurper) |
| Story | |
| XI century BC e. | emergence of the city-state of Sparta |
| 9th century BC e. | introduction of the legislation of Lycurgus |
| 480 BC e. | feat of 300 Spartans at Thermopylae in the war with the Persians |
| 431 – 404 BC e. | The Peloponnesian War and the establishment of Spartan hegemony in Greece |
| 195 BC e. | Laconian War, defeat of Sparta and its annexation to the Achaean League |
| 146 BC e. | Subjugation of Sparta to Rome |
Sparta(ancient Greek Σπάρτη , lat. Sparta), or Lacedaemon(ancient Greek Λακεδαίμων , lat. Lacedaemon) is an ancient state in the region of Laconia in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, in the Eurotas Valley.
Ancient Sparta- an example of an aristocratic state, which, in order to suppress the huge mass of the forced population (helots), restrained development private property and successfully tried to maintain equality among the Spartans themselves. The organization of political power among the Spartans was typical for the period of the collapse of the tribal system: two tribal leaders (possibly as a result of the unification of the Achaean and Dorian tribes), a council of elders, and a national assembly. In the 6th century BC. e. the so-called “Lycurgian system” developed (establishment of heloty, strengthening the influence of the community of Sparta by equalizing them economically and politically and turning this community into a military camp). At the head of the state were two archagets, who were chosen every year by fortune telling by the stars. The army was subordinate to them, and they had the right to most of the spoils of war, and had the right of life and death in campaigns.
Positions and authorities:
The Achaeans from the royal family related to the Perseids arrived in the Laconian lands, where the Leleges originally lived, whose place was later taken by the Pelopids. After the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Dorians, Laconia, the least fertile and insignificant region, as a result of deception, went to the minor sons of Aristodemus, Eurysthenes and Proclus from the Heraclidean family. From them came the dynasties of the Agiads (from the name of Agis, the son of Eurysthenes) and the Euripontids (from the name of Eurypontus, the grandson of Proclus).
The main city of Laconia soon became Sparta, located near the ancient Amycles, which, like the rest of the Achaean cities, lost their political rights. Along with the dominant Dorians Spartiates, the population of the country consisted of Achaeans, among whom were periekov(ancient Greek περίοικοι ) - deprived of political rights, but personally free and entitled to own property, and helots- deprived of their land plots and turned into slaves. For a long time, Sparta did not stand out among the Doric states. Foreign Wars she communicated with neighboring cities and towns. The rise of Sparta began with the times of Lycurgus and the Messenian Wars.
With the victory in the Messenian Wars (743-723 and 685-668 BC), Sparta managed to finally conquer Messenia, after which the ancient Messenians were deprived of their land holdings and turned into helots. The fact that there was no peace within the country at that time is evidenced by the violent death of King Polydor, the expansion of the powers of the ephors, which led to the limitation of royal power, and the expulsion of the Parthenians, who, under the command of Phalanthos, founded in 707 BC. e. . However, when Sparta, after difficult wars, defeated the Arcadians, especially when shortly after 660 BC. e. forced Tegea to recognize its hegemony, and according to the agreement, which was kept on a column placed near Alphea, forced to conclude a military alliance, since then Sparta was considered in the eyes of the people the first state of Greece. The Spartans impressed their admirers by trying to overthrow the tyrants who, from the 7th century BC. e. appeared in almost all Greek states. The Spartans contributed to the expulsion of the Cypselids from and the Pisistrati from Athens, liberated Sikyon, Phocis and several islands Aegean Sea. Thus, the Spartans acquired grateful and noble supporters in different states.
For the longest time he competed with Sparta for the championship. However, when the Spartans in 550 BC. e. conquered the border region of Kynuria with the city of Thyrea, king Cleomenes around 520 BC. e. inflicted a decisive defeat on the Argives at Tiryns, and from then on Argos stayed away from all areas controlled by Sparta.
First of all, the Spartans entered into an alliance with Elis and Tegea, and then attracted the policies of the rest of the Peloponnese to their side. In the resulting Peloponnesian League, hegemony belonged to Sparta, which provided leadership in the war, and was also the center of meetings and deliberations of the Union. At the same time, it did not encroach on the independence of individual states, which retained their autonomy. Also, the allied states did not pay dues to Sparta (ancient Greek. φόρος ), there was no permanent union council, but if necessary it was convened in Sparta (ancient Greek. παρακαλειν ). Sparta did not try to extend its power to the entire Peloponnese, but the general danger during the Greco-Persian Wars pushed all states except Argos to come under the command of Sparta. With the immediate danger eliminated, the Spartans realized that they were unable to continue the war with the Persians far from their own borders, and when Pausanias and Leotychides disgraced the Spartan name, the Spartans were forced to allow Athens to take further leadership in the war, and confine themselves to the Peloponnese. Over time, rivalry between Sparta and Athens began to emerge, resulting in the First Peloponnesian War, which ended with the Thirty Years' Peace.
The growth of the power of Athens and its expansion to the west in 431 BC. e. led to the Peloponnesian War. It broke the power of Athens and led to the establishment of the hegemony of Sparta. At the same time, the foundations of Sparta began to be violated - the legislation of Lycurgus.
From the desire of non-citizens for full rights in 397 BC. e. There was an uprising of Kinadon, which was not crowned with success. Agesilaus tried to extend the established power in Greece to Asia Minor and successfully fought against the Persians until the Persians provoked the Corinthian War in 395 BC. e. After several failures, especially after the defeat in the naval battle of Cnidus (394 BC), Sparta, wanting to take advantage of the successes of the weapons of its opponents, ceded Asia Minor to the king of Antalkidov, recognized him as a mediator and judge in Greek affairs and, thus , under the pretext of the freedom of all states, secured primacy in an alliance with Persia. Only Thebes did not submit to these conditions and deprived Sparta of the benefits of a shameful peace. Athens with victory at Naxos in 376 BC. e. concluded a new alliance (see Second Athenian Naval Alliance), and Sparta in 372 BC. e. formally succumbed to hegemony. Even greater misfortune befell Sparta in the subsequent Boeotian War. Epaminondas dealt the final blow to the city with the restoration of Messenia in 369 BC. e. and the formation of Megalopolis, therefore in 365 BC. e. the Spartans were forced to allow their allies to make peace.
From this time on, Sparta quickly began to decline, and due to the impoverishment and burden of citizens with debts, the laws turned into an empty form. The alliance with the Phocaeans, to whom the Spartans sent aid but did not provide actual support, armed Philip of Macedon against them, who appeared in 334 BC. e. in the Peloponnese and approved the independence of Messenia, Argos and Arcadia, however, on the other hand, he did not pay attention to the fact that ambassadors were not sent to the Corinthian collections. In the absence of Alexander the Great, King Agis III, with the help of money received from Darius, tried to throw off the Macedonian yoke, but was defeated by Antipater at Megalopolis and was killed in battle. The fact that little by little the famous Spartan war spirit also disappeared is shown by the presence of fortifications of the city during the attacks of Demetrius Poliorcetes (296 BC) and Pyrrhus of Epirus (272 BC).
Attempt by Agis IV in 242 BC. e. work out with destruction of debt books new section land ownership and increase the number of citizens, which had dropped to 700, was unsuccessful due to the self-interest of the rich. This transformation was accomplished in 226 BC. e. Cleomenes III only after the violent destruction of the ephor. For Sparta at this time, perhaps, the new era prosperity, - Cleomenes was close to establishing his power over the Peloponnese, but the alliance of the Achaeans with Macedonia brought Antigonus Doson to the Peloponnese. Defeat at Sellasia in 222 BC. e. and then the death of Cleomenes put an end to the Heraclidian state. Antigonus, however, generously left the Spartans their independence. After the reign of minor rulers (Lycurgus, Chilo), the tyrants who enjoyed disrepute, Machanid (211-207 BC) and Nabis (206-192 BC), rose up.
Both had to yield to Philopoemen, who in 192 BC. e. included Sparta in the Achaean League, but in 189 BC. e. severely punished the rebel Spartans. Meanwhile, 195 BC. e. The Laconian War began. The complaints of the oppressed were heard by the Romans, who for a long time maintained mutual feuds until they considered it timely to conquer Greece in 146 BC. e. According to Pausanias, in the Roman period, 18 cities of Laconia belonged to the Eleutherolaconians, which Emperor Augustus liberated from the rule of Sparta.
The basis of the state system of Sparta was the principle of the unity of full-fledged citizens. To achieve this, the state strictly regulated the life and way of life of the Spartans and restrained their stratification of property. The foundations of the state system were laid by the retro (agreement) of the legendary king Lycurgus. The Spartiates were obliged to engage only in the art of war and sports. Agriculture, crafts and trade became the work of helots and perieks.
The “System of Lycurgus” transformed the military democracy of the Spartiates into an oligarchic slave-owning republic, which retained the features of the tribal system. At the head of the state there were simultaneously two kings - archagets. Their power was hereditary. The powers of the archaget were limited to military power, organization of sacrifices and participation in the council of elders.
The Gerusia (council of elders) consisted of two archagets and 28 geronts, who were elected for life by a popular assembly of noble citizens who had reached the age of 60. Gerusia performed the functions of a government agency - prepared issues for discussion at public meetings, led foreign policy, considered criminal cases of state crimes (including crimes against the archaget).
The College of Ephors (appeared in the 8th century BC) consisted of five worthy citizens who were elected for one year by the popular assembly. At first, the powers of the ephors were limited to legal proceedings in property disputes. In the 6th century BC. e their power is growing, they are displacing the Gerusii. The ephors began to convene the gerousia and the people's assembly, direct foreign policy, carry out internal government administration and legal proceedings, and control officials (including the archaget).
The people's assembly (apella) in Sparta was characterized by passivity. Full-fledged male citizens who had reached the age of 30 had the right to participate in the national assembly. At first, the national assembly was convened by the archaget, later their leadership passed to the ephor. Apella did not discuss the issues raised, but only accepted or rejected the proposed solution. Voting was carried out primitively - by shouting or the participants dispersed along different sides and the majority was determined “by eye”. The People's Assembly had legislative rights, the right to elect officials, and also resolved issues of war and peace.
Lycurgus of Sparta - the great lawgiver
Chilo - legislator, one of the Seven Sages
Aristocracy:
People:
Dependent Farmers:
The Spartan army was first mentioned in the Iliad. In the treatise " State structure Lacedaemonians" Xenophon talks in detail about how the Spartan army was organized in his time.
The Spartan's weapons consisted of a spear, a short sword, round shield, helmet, armor and leggings. The total weight of weapons reached 30 kg. A heavily armed infantryman was called a hoplite. The Spartan army also included fighters of auxiliary units, whose weapons were a light spear, a dart or a bow and arrow. The basis of the Spartan army were hoplites, numbering about 5-6 thousand people.
As for the cavalry, the so-called “horses,” although they consisted of citizens who could afford the purchase and maintenance of a horse, nevertheless fought exclusively on foot as part of the phalanx, making up a detachment of the royal guard numbering 300 people (it was precisely this detachment that died in the famous battle of Thermopylae together with King Leonidas). According to some scientists, this detachment in peacetime could perform the functions of military police, playing a major role in suppressing slave revolts and in the cryptia.
Unlike other Greek states, the Spartans did not have military formations, made up of lovers.
According to legend, flawed and physically doomed babies were thrown into a gorge from Mount Taygetos (a kind of primitive form of eugenics). However, some archaeologists note that only adult remains were found in the abyss where Spartan children were supposedly thrown, which casts doubt on the existence of such a practice in Sparta. On the other hand, the killing of children (not necessarily by throwing them from cliffs) occurred throughout Greece, including Athens.
The education of the younger generation was considered in classical Sparta (until the 4th century BC) national importance. The education system was subordinated to the task of physical development of citizen-soldiers. Among moral qualities, emphasis was placed on determination, perseverance and loyalty. From 7 to 20 years old, the sons of free citizens lived in military-type boarding schools. In addition to physical exercises and hardening, war games, music and singing were practiced. Skills were developed to clearly and short speech(“laconic” - from Laconius). All children in Sparta were considered property of the state. Severe upbringing, focused on endurance, is still called Spartan.
Sparta left its most significant legacy in military affairs. Discipline is a necessary element of any modern army.
Sparta also had a significant influence on the humanitarian spheres human life. The Spartan state is a prototype of the ideal, according to Plato, state described in his “Dialogues”. The courage of the "three hundred Spartans" at the Battle of Thermopylae has been the topic of many literary works and modern films. Word laconic, meaning a man of few words, comes from the name of the Spartan country of Laconia.
Luigi Mussini. A Spartan boy observes the effects of excessive alcohol consumption, 1850
(regent)
Ancient Sparta- an example of an aristocratic state, which, in order to suppress the discontent of the huge mass of the forced population (helots), restrained the development of private property and successfully tried to maintain equality among the Spartans themselves. The organization of political power among the Spartans was typical for the period of the collapse of the tribal system: two tribal leaders (possibly as a result of the unification of the Achaean and Dorian tribes), a council of elders, and a national assembly. In the 6th century BC. e. the so-called “Lycurgian system” developed (establishment of heloty, strengthening the influence of the community of Sparta by equalizing them economically and politically and turning this community into a military camp). At the head of the state were two archagets, who were chosen every year by fortune telling by the stars. The army was subordinate to them, and they had the right to most of the spoils of war, and had the right of life and death in campaigns.
Positions and authorities:
The Achaeans from the royal family related to the Perseids arrived in the Laconian lands, where the Leleges originally lived, whose place was later taken by the Pelopids. After the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Dorians, Laconia, the least fertile and insignificant region, as a result of deception, went to the minor sons of Aristodemus, Eurysthenes and Proclus from the Heraclidean family. From them came the dynasties of the Agiads (on behalf of Agis, the son of Eurysthenes) and the Euripontides (on behalf of Eurypontus, the grandson of Proclus).
The main city of Laconia soon became Sparta, located near the ancient Amycles, which, like the rest of the Achaean cities, lost their political rights. Along with the dominant Dorians Spartiates, the population of the country consisted of Achaeans, among whom were periekov(ancient Greek περίοικοι ) - deprived of political rights, but personally free and entitled to own property, and helots- deprived of their land plots and turned into slaves. For a long time, Sparta did not stand out among the Doric states. She waged external wars with neighboring Argive and Arcadian cities. The rise of Sparta began with the times of Lycurgus and the Messenian Wars.
The growth of the power of Athens and its expansion to the west in 431 BC. e. led to the Peloponnesian War. It broke the power of Athens and led to the establishment of the hegemony of Sparta. At the same time, the foundations of Sparta began to be violated - the legislation of Lycurgus.
From the desire of non-citizens for full rights in 397 BC. e. The Kinadon uprising occurred, but was not successful. Agesilaus tried to extend the established power in Greece to Asia Minor and successfully fought against the Persians until the Persians provoked the Corinthian War in 395 BC. e. After several failures, especially after the defeat in the naval battle of Cnidus (394 BC), Sparta, wanting to take advantage of the successes of the weapons of its opponents, ceded Asia Minor to the king of Antalkidov, recognized him as a mediator and judge in Greek affairs and, thus , under the pretext of freedom of all states, secured primacy in an alliance with Persia. Only Thebes did not submit to these conditions and deprived Sparta of the benefits of a shameful peace. Athens with victory at Naxos in 376 BC. e. concluded a new alliance (see Second Athenian Naval Alliance), and Sparta in 372 BC. e. formally succumbed to hegemony. Even greater misfortune befell Sparta in the subsequent Boeotian War. Epaminondas dealt the final blow to the city with the restoration of Messenia in 369 BC. e. and the formation of Megalopolis, therefore in 365 BC. e. the Spartans were forced to allow their allies to make peace.
From this time on, Sparta quickly began to decline, and due to the impoverishment and burden of citizens with debts, the laws turned into an empty form. The alliance with the Phocaeans, to whom the Spartans sent aid but did not provide actual support, armed Philip of Macedon against them, who appeared in 334 BC. e. in the Peloponnese and approved the independence of Messenia, Argos and Arcadia, however, on the other hand, he did not pay attention to the fact that ambassadors were not sent to the Corinthian collections. In the absence of Alexander the Great, King Agis III, with the help of money received from Darius, tried to throw off the Macedonian yoke, but was defeated by Antipater at Megalopolis and was killed in battle. The fact that little by little the famous Spartan war spirit also disappeared is shown by the presence of fortifications of the city during the attacks of Demetrius Poliorcetes (296 BC) and Pyrrhus of Epirus (272 BC).
The basis of the state system of Sparta was the principle of the unity of full-fledged citizens. To achieve this, the state strictly regulated the life and way of life of the Spartans and restrained their stratification of property. The foundations of the state system were laid by the retro (treaty) of the legendary legislator Lycurgus. The Spartiates were obliged to engage only in the art of war and sports. Agriculture, crafts and trade became the work of the helots and periecs.
The “System of Lycurgus” transformed the military democracy of the Spartiates into an oligarchic slave-owning republic, which retained the features of the tribal system. At the head of the state there were simultaneously two kings - archagets. Their power was hereditary. The powers of the archaget were limited to military power, organization of sacrifices and participation in the council of elders.
The Gerusia (council of elders) consisted of two archagets and 28 geronts, who were elected for life by a popular assembly of noble citizens who had reached the age of 60. Gerusia performed the functions of a government agency - it prepared issues for discussion at public meetings, directed foreign policy, and considered criminal cases of state crimes (including crimes against the archaget).
According to legend, flawed and physically doomed babies were thrown into a gorge from Mount Taygetos (a kind of primitive form of eugenics). However, some archaeologists note that only adult remains were found in the chasm where Spartan children were supposedly thrown, casting doubt on the existence of such a practice in Sparta. . On the other hand, the killing of children (not necessarily by throwing them off cliffs) took place throughout Greece, including Athens.
The education of the younger generation was considered in classical Sparta (until the 4th century BC) a matter of national importance. The education system was subordinated to the task of physical development of citizen-soldiers. Among moral qualities, emphasis was placed on determination, perseverance and loyalty. From 7 to 20 years old, the sons of free citizens lived in military-type boarding schools. In addition to physical exercises and hardening, war games, music and singing were practiced. The skills of clear and concise speech (“laconic” - from Laconius) were developed. All children in Sparta were considered property of the state. Severe upbringing, focused on endurance, is still called Spartan.
Sparta left its most significant legacy in military affairs. Discipline is a necessary element of any modern army.
Sparta also had a significant influence on the humanitarian spheres of human life. The Spartan state is a prototype of the ideal, according to Plato, state described in his “Dialogues”. The courage of the “three hundred Spartans” at the Battle of Thermopylae has been the theme of many literary works and modern films. Word laconic, meaning a man of few words, comes from the name of the Spartan country of Laconia.
Around the ancient Greek Sparta to this day there are many disputes and myths born popular culture. Were the Spartans really unsurpassed warriors and did not like mental work, did they really get rid of their own children, and were the customs of the Spartans really so harsh that they were forbidden to eat own homes? Let's try to figure it out.
When starting a conversation about Sparta, it would be worth noting that the self-name of this ancient Greek state was “Lakedaemon”, and its inhabitants called themselves “Lacedaemonians”. Humanity owes the appearance of the name “Sparta” not to the Hellenes, but to the Romans.
Sparta, like many ancient states, had a complex, but logical, system of social structure. In fact, society was divided into full citizens, partial citizens and dependents. In turn, each of the categories was divided into classes. Although the helots were considered slaves, they were not slaves in the sense familiar to modern people. However, “ancient” and “classical” slavery deserves separate consideration. It is also worth mentioning the special class of “hypomeions,” which included physically and mentally disabled children of citizens of Sparta. They were considered not full citizens, but were still superior to a number of other social categories. The existence of such a class in Sparta significantly reduces the viability of the theory about the killing of defective children in Sparta.
This myth took root thanks to the description of the Spartan society created by Plutarch. Thus, in one of his works, he described that weak children, by decision of the elders, were thrown into a gorge in the Taygetos mountains. Today, scientists have not come to a consensus on this issue, however, most of them are inclined to believe that such unusual tradition had no place in Sparta. One should not discount the fact that the Greek chronicles are guilty of exaggeration and embellishment of facts. Proof of which was discovered by historians after comparing the same facts and their descriptions in Greek and Roman chronicles.
Of course, in Sparta throughout its entire described history there was a very strict system of raising children, in particular boys. The education system was called agoge, which translated from Greek means “withdrawal.” In Spartan society, the children of citizens were considered public property. Since agoge itself was a rather cruel education system, it is possible that the mortality rate was indeed high. Thus, killing weak children immediately after birth is unlikely.
Another popular myth is the invincibility of the Spartan army. Of course, the Spartan army was strong enough to influence its neighbors, however, it, as we know, knew defeats. In addition, the Spartan army largely lost on many issues to the armies of other powers, including the armies of the Greek neighbors. The warriors were distinguished by excellent training and personal combat skills. They had excellent physical fitness. Moreover, the very concept of discipline in the army was adopted by neighboring peoples from the Spartans. Even the Romans admired the strength of the Spartan army, although it ultimately lost to them. At the same time, the Spartans did not know engineering, which did not allow them to effectively besiege enemy cities.
According to historians, in Spartan society discipline, courage and valor on the battlefield were highly valued, honesty and devotion, modesty and moderation were revered (however, one can doubt the latter, knowing about their feasts and orgies). And although at times the Spartan leaders were cunning and treacherous in matters of politics, this people were one of the greatest representatives of the Hellenic group.
Sparta had democracy. In any case, all the most important issues were resolved by a general meeting of citizens, at which they simply shouted over each other. Of course, not only citizens lived in Sparta, and the power, although of the people, did not belong to the entire demos.
Household The economy of the Spartans was not much different from the economy of most other Greek city-states. The same products were grown in the fields of Lacedaemon. The Spartans were engaged in cattle breeding, raising mainly sheep. For the most part, labor on the land was the lot of helots - slaves, as well as partial citizens.
In Sparta, mental work was indeed not held in high esteem, but this does not mean that Sparta did not give history a single poet or writer. Among the most famous of them are Alcman and Terpander. However, even they were distinguished by good physical fitness. And the Spartan priest-soothsayer Tisamen of Elea was even more famous for being an unsurpassed athlete. The stereotype about the cultural ignorance of the Spartans was born, probably, because both Alcman and Terpander were not natives of this city.
Social connections and foundations played a very important role in the daily life of the Spartans. There is even a theory among historians that the Spartans were forbidden to eat at home, regardless of their status and position in society. Instead, the Spartans were supposed to eat only during in public places, unique canteens of that time.
The image of the Spartans, like the image of the Wikigs, whom many represent as, certainly did not escape romanticization. Nevertheless, there is much in the Lacedaemonians that it would not be amiss to learn and to modern man, and what was included in our daily life. In particular, the word “laconic” has Greek roots and means a restrained, moderate and not verbose person. It was with this word that the Spartans were identified in the Peloponnese and beyond.
Ancient Sparta was the main economic and military rival of Athens. The city-state and its surrounding territory were located on the Peloponnese peninsula, southwest of Athens. Administratively, Sparta (also called Lacedaemon) was the capital of the province of Laconia.
The adjective "Spartan" in modern world came from energetic warriors with an iron heart and steely endurance. The inhabitants of Sparta were famous not for their arts, science or architecture, but for their brave warriors, for whom the concepts of honor, courage and strength were placed above all else. Athens at that time, with its beautiful statues and temples, was a stronghold of poetry, philosophy and politics, and thereby dominated the intellectual life of Greece. However, such dominance had to end someday.
One of the principles that guided the inhabitants of Sparta was that the life of every person, from birth to death, belongs entirely to the state. The elders of the city were given the right to decide the fate of newborns - healthy and strong were left in the city, and weak or sick children were thrown into the nearest abyss. This is how the Spartans tried to secure physical superiority over their enemies. Children who have passed natural selection", were brought up under conditions of severe discipline. At the age of 7, boys were taken from their parents and raised separately, in small groups. The strongest and bravest young men eventually became captains. The boys slept in common rooms on hard and uncomfortable beds made of reeds. The young Spartans ate simple food - soup made from pork blood, meat and vinegar, lentils and other roughage.
One day, a rich guest who came to Sparta from Sybaris decided to try the “black soup”, after which he said that now he understands why Spartan warriors give up their lives so easily. Boys were often left hungry for several days, thereby inciting them to petty theft in the market. This was not done with the intention of making the young man a skilled thief, but only to develop ingenuity and dexterity - if he was caught stealing, he was severely punished. There are legends about one young Spartan who stole a young fox from the market, and when it was time for lunch, he hid it under his clothes. To prevent the boy from being caught stealing, he endured the pain of the fox gnawing his stomach and died without making a single sound. Over time, discipline only became stricter. All adult men, between the ages of 20 and 60, were required to serve in the Spartan army. They were allowed to marry, but even after that, the Spartans continued to sleep in barracks and eat in common canteens. Warriors were not allowed to own any property, especially gold and silver. Their money looked like iron rods different sizes. Restraint extended not only to everyday life, food and clothing, but also to the speech of the Spartans. In conversation they were very laconic, limiting themselves to extremely concise and specific answers. This manner of communication in Ancient Greece was called “laconicism” after the area in which Sparta was located.
In general, as in any other culture, issues of everyday life and nutrition shed light on interesting little things in people’s lives. The Spartans, unlike residents of other Greek cities, did not attach much importance to food. In their opinion, food should not be used to satisfy, but only to saturate a warrior before battle. The Spartans dined for common table, while food for lunch was handed over to everyone in the same quantity - this is how the equality of all citizens was maintained. The neighbors at the table kept a watchful eye on each other, and if someone did not like the food, he was ridiculed and compared to the spoiled inhabitants of Athens. But when the time came for battle, the Spartans changed radically: they put on their best outfits, and marched towards death with songs and music. From birth, they were taught to perceive each day as their last, not to be afraid and not to retreat. Death in battle was desired and equated to the ideal end to the life of a real man. There were 3 classes of inhabitants in Laconia. The first, most revered, included residents of Sparta who had military training and participated in political life cities. Second class - perieki, or residents of surrounding small towns and villages. They were free, although they did not have any political rights. Engaged in trade and handicrafts, the perieki were a kind of “service personnel” for the Spartan army. Lower class - helots, were serfs, and not much different from slaves. Due to the fact that their marriages were not controlled by the state, the helots were the most numerous category of inhabitants, and were restrained from revolt only by the iron grip of their masters.
One of the peculiarities of Sparta was that the state was headed by two kings at the same time. They ruled together, serving as high priests and military leaders. Each of the kings controlled the activities of the other, which ensured the openness and fairness of government decisions. Subordinate to the kings was a "cabinet of ministers", consisting of five ethers or observers, who exercised general custody of laws and customs. Legislature consisted of a council of elders, which was headed by two kings. The most respected people were elected to the council people of Sparta who have overcome the 60-year age barrier. Army of Sparta, despite its relatively modest numbers, was well trained and disciplined. Each warrior was filled with determination to win or die - returning with a loss was unacceptable, and was an indelible shame for the rest of his life. Wives and mothers, sending their husbands and sons to war, solemnly presented them with a shield with the words: “Come back with a shield or on it.” Over time, the militant Spartans captured most of the Peloponnese, significantly expanding the boundaries of their possessions. A clash with Athens was inevitable. The rivalry reached its climax during the Peloponnesian War, and led to the fall of Athens. But the tyranny of the Spartans caused hatred among the inhabitants and mass uprisings, which led to the gradual liberalization of power. The number of specially trained warriors decreased, which allowed the inhabitants of Thebes, after about 30 years of Spartan oppression, to overthrow the rule of the invaders.
History of Sparta interesting not only from the point of view of military achievements, but also factors of political and life structure. The courage, dedication and desire for victory of the Spartan warriors were the qualities that made it possible not only to restrain the constant attacks of enemies, but also to expand the boundaries of influence. The warriors of this small state easily defeated armies of thousands and were a clear threat to their enemies. Sparta and its inhabitants, brought up on the principles of restraint and the rule of force, were the antipode of the educated and pampered Athens, which in the end led to a clash between these two civilizations.
Geometry in Ancient Greece.
Themistocles
One of the most gifted politicians Ancient Greece. Themistocles was the leader of the democratic party and one of the best generals on a pan-Greek scale. Thanks to his talents, making the right decisions and ability to correctly assess the situation, Themistocles managed to win a number of significant victories over the Persians, and also make a significant contribution to the transformation of Athens into the most powerful maritime and trading state in Greece.
Panelin sanctuary in Nemea
Systematic excavations by the American School of Classical Philology have uncovered the sanctuary of Zeus, which was founded at Nemea, a crossroads in the northeastern Peloponnese, and became the site of the Panhellenic Games - the Nemean, or Nemian.
Sithonia. Romance of travel for two
Covered in divine legends, hospitable Greece is rightfully known as an oasis of serenity, tranquility and pristine nature. Two hearts looking for romantic solitude will find it here on the Sithonia peninsula, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. In this wonderful land, where the gentle sun gently touches the skin and the turquoise waves refresh with coolness, it is so easy to feel like “celestials,” carefree and happy. On a delightful sandy beach or in a picturesque cove, on a flowery mountainside or on a spacious terrace, lovers will never leave the feeling that the idyllic beauty of Greece was created exclusively for the two of them.
Thessaloniki.Roman Agora
