At a time when cities grew in powerful Greece, philosophers pondered the nature of things, warlike Sparta lived its everyday life. The main occupation of the city's residents has always been preparing for attacks. The specter of war constantly hovered over Sparta. Residents did not intend to make new campaigns, they wanted peace, but at the same time, in case of danger from other cities and countries, they wanted to be prepared. All the forces of the Spartans went to defend the conquered lands: the plains of Messenia and the valley of Eurotas. Moreover, they protected these areas not from their neighbors, from whom they were taken away, but from the slaves living in these territories and always ready to revolt.
Ancient Sparta, a population of 9,000, had 200,000 helot slaves who bowed their heads to the ground but never lost hope of liberation. So, for example, in 464, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake, the helots rushed there, but not to save the lives of their masters, but to kill them. But, thanks to the foresight of King Archidamus, who built a phalanx of surviving warriors, the slaves retreated. After this, it took more than 10 years of bloody war to bring the helots back into submission.
After the subjugation of the slaves, Ancient Sparta, which had Dorian sister communities, Megara and Corinth, was involved in a war with Athens. After long battles, long battles, the warlike state won a victory over the state of thinkers and philosophers. However, this brought not only great fame, but also great trouble. The fact is that immediately after the victory, hoplites came to power in Sparta, who despised the “rabble” and recognized only their own kind. Large merchants and representatives of the lower classes did not like this very much; they constantly made attempts to change power. Therefore, the government of Sparta was forced to defend itself from the people.
Ancient Sparta, whose history contains many military victories, was first defeated in 371 by the Thebans. In this battle it was used new system formation of phalanges (“oblique formation”). During the battle, the Spartan king Cleombrotus died, and the once fearless army succumbed to panic and fled from the battlefield. But the Thebans did not stop there. They marched on Sparta and showed the Spartans their fighting power. As a result, the Thebans reconquered the Messenian plain.
We can say that after this battle, Ancient Sparta began to lose its power. Among the once “equal” Spartans, “lesser” ones began to appear. Many citizens began to sell their lands, because... found themselves in need. While men tried to maintain the military power of Sparta, women began to engage in usury. They bought lands for debts. Thus, the stratification of society began, and a wealthy aristocracy appeared. Less and less importance was given to the military training of the younger generation.
Only a hundred years later, the leaders of Sparta realized that there was no one to defend the city, and they made attempts to restore the order of former times. The land was redistributed, debts were cancelled, the ranks of the warriors were replenished with strong helots and parieks. But the aristocracy of the city was afraid of the new order, a revolution began that called on the Macedonians. So in 221, the Spartans suffered another defeat, but not at the hands of the Thebans.
Spartan education system
In a warlike state, much attention was paid to protecting the city from internal and external enemies. For this purpose, an education system was developed, consisting of 3 steps:
Education for boys from 7 to 12 years old. At this stage, the children were grouped. They played and studied. But the mentors constantly made the children fight among themselves. So they identified the strong and weak sides their wards.
From the age of 12 to 20, boys were united in groups where they were led by older boys. At this stage there were no games, all attention was paid to military training.
From the age of 20 to 30, the Spartans united in sissitia - groups that usually included about 15 people. They continued to engage in military training in their circle, but now they could start a family and do some household chores.
As you can see, Ancient Sparta paid great attention to training real warriors to defend their state.
Among the many ancient Greek states, two stood out - Laconia or Laconia (Sparta) and Attica (Athens). At their core, these were antagonistic states with social systems opposing each other.
Sparta Ancient Greece existed on southern lands Peloponnese from the 9th to the 2nd centuries BC. e. It is notable for the fact that it was ruled by two kings. They passed on their power by inheritance. However, real administrative power belonged to the elders. They were chosen from among respected Spartans who were at least 50 years old.
Sparta on the map of Greece
It was the council that decided all state affairs. As for the kings, they performed purely military functions, that is, they were commanders of the army. Moreover, when one king went on a campaign, the second remained in the city with part of the soldiers.
An example here would be the king Lycurgus, although it is not known for sure whether he was a king or simply belonged to the royal family and had enormous authority. The ancient historians Plutarch and Herodotus wrote that he was the ruler of the state, but did not specify what position this man held.
The activities of Lycurgus dated back to the first half of the 9th century BC. e. It was under him that laws were passed that did not give citizens the opportunity to enrich themselves. Therefore, in Spartan society there was no stratification of property.
All land suitable for plowing was divided into equal plots, which were called clerks. Each family received an allotment. He provided people with barley flour, wine and vegetable oil. According to the legislator, this was quite enough to lead a normal life.
Luxury was relentlessly pursued. Gold and gold coins were even withdrawn from circulation. silver coins. Crafts and trade were also banned. The sale of agricultural surpluses was prohibited. That is, under Lycurgus, everything was done to prevent people from earning too much.
The main occupation of the Spartan state was considered to be war. It was the conquered peoples who provided the conquerors with everything necessary for life. And on the land plots of the Spartans slaves worked, who were called helots.
The entire society of Sparta was divided into military units. In each of them, joint meals were practiced or sissity. People ate from a common pot and brought food from home. During the meal, the detachment commanders made sure that all portions were eaten. If someone ate poorly and without appetite, then the suspicion arose that the person had eaten heavily somewhere on the side. The offender could be expelled from the detachment or punished with a large fine.
Spartan warriors armed with spears
All the men of Sparta were warriors, and they were taught the art of war from early childhood. It was believed that a mortally wounded warrior should die silently, without even uttering a quiet groan. The Spartan phalanx, bristling with long spears, terrified all the states of Ancient Greece.
Mothers and wives, seeing off their sons and husbands to war, said: “With a shield or on a shield.” This meant that the men were expected to go home either victorious or dead. The bodies of the dead were always carried by comrades on shields. But those who ran away from the battlefield faced universal contempt and shame. Parents, wives, and their own children turned away from them.
It should be noted that the inhabitants of Laconia (Laconia) were never known for their verbosity. They expressed themselves briefly and to the point. It was from these Greek lands that such terms as “laconic speech” and “laconicism” spread.
It must be said that Sparta of Ancient Greece had a very small population. Its population over the centuries has consistently not exceeded 10 thousand people. However, this small number of people kept all the southern and middle lands of the Balkan Peninsula in fear. And such superiority was achieved through cruel customs.
When a boy was born into a family, he was examined by the elders. If the baby turned out to be too frail or sick in appearance, then he was thrown from the cliff onto sharp stones. The corpse of the unfortunate man was immediately eaten by birds of prey.
The customs of the Spartans were extremely cruel
Only healthy and strong children remained alive. Upon reaching the age of 7, boys were taken from their parents and united into small units. Iron discipline reigned in them. Future warriors were taught to endure pain, bravely endure beatings, and unquestioningly obey their mentors.
At times, children were not fed at all, and they had to earn their own food by hunting or stealing. If such a child was caught in someone’s garden, he was severely punished, but not for theft, but for the fact that he was caught.
This barracks life continued until the age of 20. After this, the young man was given a land plot, and he had the opportunity to start a family. It should be noted that Spartan girls were also trained in the art of war, but not in such harsh conditions as the boys.
Sunset of Sparta
Although the conquered peoples were afraid of the Spartans, they periodically rebelled against them. And although the conquerors had excellent military training, they were not always victorious.
An example here is the uprising in Messenia in the 7th century BC. e. It was headed by the fearless warrior Aristomenes. Under his leadership, several sensitive defeats were inflicted on the Spartan phalanx.
However, there were traitors in the ranks of the rebels. Thanks to their treason, the army of Aristomenes was defeated, and the fearless warrior himself began guerrilla warfare. One night he made his way to Sparta, entered the main sanctuary and, wanting to shame his enemies before the gods, left on the altar the weapons taken from the Spartan warriors in battle. This shame remained in the memory of people for centuries.
In the 4th century BC. e. Sparta of Ancient Greece began to gradually weaken. Other nations entered the political arena, led by smart and talented commanders. Here we can name Philip of Macedon and his famous son Alexander the Great. The inhabitants of Laconia became completely dependent on these prominent political figures of antiquity.
Then it was the turn of the Roman Republic. In 146 BC. e. The Spartans submitted to Rome. However, formally freedom was preserved, but under the complete control of the Romans. In principle, this date is considered the end of the Spartan state. It has become history, but has been preserved in people’s memory to this day.
Ancient Sparta very popular today. The Spartans are considered great warriors who could bring even the most powerful enemy to their knees. At the same time, they were smart and gave Greece a large number of philosophers and scientists. But were they as stern and stoic as the myths about Sparta impose on us? Today we will understand everything and know what it was Ancient Sparta.
Ancient Sparta “uncut”
In general, the name Sparta is not original. It was invented and spread by the ancient Romans. The Spartans themselves called themselves Lacedaemonians, and their country Lacedaemon. But it so happened that the original name did not take root in historical documents, but the name Ancient Sparta has reached the present day.
Ancient Sparta, like most states of its time, was distinguished by a rather complex social structure. All residents of Sparta were divided into three groups:
- Full citizens;
- Inferior citizens;
- Dependent.
At the same time, each of the groups was divided into subgroups. So, for example, the helots were slaves, but in the unique sense of the Spartans. They had their own families, their own villages, and even received monetary compensation for their work. But they were always tied to their plot of land and pledged to fight on the side Ancient Sparta and belonged, interestingly, not to just one person, but to all full citizens of Sparta at once. In addition to the helots, the Spartan state had hypomeions - inferior children of full citizens of Sparta. They were considered not full citizens of the state, but at the same time they were significantly higher on the social ladder of all other segments of the population, such as helots or dependents.
Let us note that the presence in the social structure of Ancient Sparta of such a class as the hypomeions quite strongly impacts the most famous legend about the Spartans, according to which they threw all defective children into the abyss immediately after birth.
The myth of the abandoned children was first mentioned by Plutarch. He wrote that weak children, at the behest of the government Ancient Sparta were thrown into one of the gorges of the Taygetov Mountains. On this moment Scientists are increasingly inclined to believe that this is just a legend that played the role of a “horror story” among contemporaries, but had no serious basis. Among other things, the Spartans themselves, who loved an isolated way of life, could spread such myths about their people.
Ancient Sparta and the army
Popular legend has it that the Spartan army was virtually invincible. It should be noted that at that time Ancient Sparta could really put on the battlefield best warriors Greece, but, as we all know very well, they often suffered defeats. Moreover, due to the isolation policy, the Spartan army was in many ways inferior to the armies of other states. The Spartans were considered excellent infantrymen, capable of defeating any enemy in the field or steppe, as well as mountain gorges, with the help of strict discipline, training and a dense phalanx. On the other side, Ancient Sparta was practically not interested in engineering, and therefore was simply not capable of waging effective wars of conquest, since there was no way to besiege big cities opponents. Trouble came to the Spartans along with the Romans. Although the ancient Romans largely admired the army of Sparta, the mobile and flexible maniples quickly dealt with the linear phalanx of Sparta, which ultimately led to the complete conquest of the Greek state by the Romans.
Every Spartan man considered it his duty to be disciplined in battle, courageous and show his valor. Modesty was highly valued, but the Spartans also loved feasts and orgies, including homosexual ones. In the late period at the decline of the state Ancient Sparta was already associated with completely different qualities - deceit and treachery.
Ancient Sparta and society
Ancient Sparta had the same political system, as most city policies of Ancient Greece - democracy. Of course, the democracy of Sparta was different from Athens. For example, if most decisions were still decided by a general meeting of citizens, then particularly important issues were discussed and considered by the Areopagus - the supreme authority consisting of elders.
The home life of the Spartans was the same as that of everyone else. Products traditional to the ancient Greeks were grown, and the Spartans raised sheep. Agricultural work was assigned to helots, dependents and inferior citizens Ancient Sparta.
People in Sparta didn’t like to strain their brains too much, but there were still thinkers and poets. Particularly outstanding were Terpander and Alkman, who, however, were also excellent athletes. Tisamen of Elea, who predicted the future, was also famous among his contemporaries as a discus thrower, and not as a priest-soothsayer. So, the physical data of a Spartan man was valued more than his mental abilities.
Had breakfast and dinner at Ancient Sparta only at collective meetings. There is an opinion that despite his high position, even the Areopagus was forced to eat with the others. This equalized the citizens and did not allow the influential Spartans to forget that they were also part of the people.
Sparta was one of the most important Greek city-states in the ancient world. The main difference was the military power of the city.
Professional and well-trained, Spartan hoplites, with their characteristic red cloaks, long hair and large shields, were the best and most feared fighters in Greece.
Warriors fought in the most important battles ancient world: in and Plataea, as well as in numerous battles with Athens and Corinth. The Spartans also distinguished themselves during two protracted and bloody battles during the Peloponnesian War.
Sparta in mythology
Myths say that the founder of Sparta was Lacedaemon, the son of. Sparta was an integral part and its main military stronghold (this role of the city in is especially indicative).
The Spartan king Menelaus declared war after Paris, the son of the Trojan rulers Priam and Hecuba, stole his future wife- Elena, who was bequeathed to the hero herself.
Elena was the most beautiful woman in Greece, and there were a lot of contenders for her hand and heart, including from the Spartans.
The history of Sparta
Sparta was located in the fertile Eurotas valley in Laconia, in the southeastern Peloponnese. The area was first inhabited during the Neolithic period and became an important settlement established during the Bronze Age.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Sparta was created in the 10th century BC. At the end of the 8th century BC, Sparta annexed most neighboring Messinia, and its population increased significantly.
Thus, Sparta occupied about 8,500 km² of territory, which made it the largest polis in Greece, a city-state that had influence on the general political life of the entire region. The conquered peoples of Messenia and Laconia had no rights in Sparta and had to submit to harsh laws, such as serving as unpaid mercenaries in the war effort.
Another one social group residents of Sparta are helots who lived in the city and were mainly engaged in agriculture, replenishing Sparta's supplies and leaving himself only a small percentage for the work.
Helots had the lowest social status, and in the event of martial law being declared, they became liable for military service.
Relations between the full citizens of Sparta and the helots were difficult: uprisings often raged in the city. The most famous occurred in the 7th century BC; because of him, Sparta was defeated in a clash with Argos in 669 BC. (However, in 545 BC, Sparta managed to take revenge at the Battle of Tegea).
Instability in the region has been resolved statesmen Sparta through the creation of the Peloponnesian League, which united Corinth, Tegea, Elis and other territories.
In accordance with this agreement, which lasted from approximately 505 to 365. BC. League members were obliged to provide their warriors to Sparta at any time necessary. This unification of lands allowed Sparta to establish hegemony over almost the entire Peloponnese.
In addition, Sparta expanded more and more, conquering more and more new territories.
Reunification with Athens
The troops of Sparta managed to overthrow the tyrants of Athens, and as a result, democracy was established in almost all of Greece. Often the warriors of Sparta came to the aid of Athens (for example, in a military campaign against the Persian king Xerxes or in the battle of Thermopylae and Plataea).
Often Athens and Sparta argued over the ownership of territories, and one day these conflicts turned into the Peloponnesian Wars.
Long-term hostilities caused damage to both sides, but Sparta finally won the war thanks to its Persian allies (almost the entire Athenian fleet was then destroyed). However, Sparta, despite its ambitious plans, never became the leading city in Greece.
The continuing aggressive policy of Sparta in central and northern Greece, Asia Minor and Sicily again dragged the city into a protracted military conflict: the Corinthian Wars with Athens, Thebes, Corinth and from 396 to 387. BC..
The conflict resulted in the "King's Peace", in which Sparta ceded its empire to Persian control but still remained the leading city in Greece.
In the 3rd century BC, Sparta was forced to join the Achaean confederation. The final end of Sparta's power came in 396 AD, when the Visigoth king Alaric captured the city.
Spartan army
Great attention was paid to military training in Sparta. From the age of seven, all boys began to study martial arts and lived in barracks. The compulsory set of subjects was athletics and weightlifting, military strategy, mathematics and physics.
From the age of 20, young people entered the service. Harsh training transformed the Spartans from fierce and strong soldiers, hoplites, into those ready to demonstrate their fighting power at any moment.
Therefore, Sparta did not even have any fortifications around the city. They simply didn't need them.
Sparta
The Spartan way of life was well described by Xenophon in his work: Lacedaemonian Politics. He wrote that in most states everyone enriches themselves as best they can, without disdaining by any means. In Sparta, on the contrary, the legislator, with his inherent wisdom, deprived wealth of all attractiveness. All Spartariats - poor and rich - lead exactly the same way of life, eat the same at a common table, wear the same modest clothes, their children without any differences and concessions to military drill. So acquisitions are devoid of any meaning in Sparta. Lycurgus (the Spartan king) turned money into a laughing stock: it is so inconvenient. This is where the expression “Spartan way of life” comes from, meaning simple, without any frills, restrained, strict and severe.
Random nature photos 
All the ancient classics from Herodotus and Aristotle to Plutarch agreed that before Lycurgus came to rule Sparta, the existing order there was ugly. And that there were no worse laws in any of the then Greek city-states. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the Spartans had to constantly keep in obedience the masses of the indigenous Greek population of the once conquered lands, turned into slaves or semi-dependent tributaries. It goes without saying that internal political conflicts posed a threat to the very existence of the state.
In ancient Sparta there was a bizarre mixture of totalitarianism and democracy. The founder of the “Spartan way of life,” the legendary reformer of antiquity, Lycurgus, created, according to many researchers, the prototype of both social-communist and fascist political systems XX century Lycurgus not only transformed the political and economic system of Sparta, but also completely regulated personal life fellow citizens Severe measures to “correct morals” presupposed, in particular, the decisive eradication of “private property” vices - greed and self-interest, for which money was almost completely devalued.
Lycurgus' thoughts, therefore, not only pursued the goal of establishing order, but were also called upon to solve the problem of national security of the Spartan state.
The history of Sparta
Sparta, the main city of the region of Laconia, was located on the western bank of the Eurotas River and extended north from modern city Sparta. Laconia (Laconica) is the abbreviated name for the region, which was fully called Lacedaemon, so the inhabitants of this area were often called “Lacedaemonians”, which is equivalent to the words “Spartan” or “Spartiate”.
From the 8th century BC. Sparta began to expand by conquering its neighbors - other Greek city-states. During the 1st and 2nd Messenian Wars (between 725 and 600 BC), the region of Messenia to the west of Sparta was conquered, and the Messenians were turned into helots, i.e. state slaves.
Having recaptured more territory from Argos and Arcadia, Sparta moved from a policy of conquest to increasing its power through treaties with various Greek city-states. As the head of the Peloponnesian League (began to emerge around 550 BC, took shape around 510-500 BC), Sparta actually turned into the most powerful military power in Greece. This created a counterweight to the impending Persian invasion, which the combined efforts of the Peloponnesian League and Athens and its allies led to decisive victories over the Persians at Salamis and Plataea in 480 and 479 BC.
Conflict between the two greatest states of Greece, Sparta and Athens, land and sea powers, was inevitable, and in 431 BC. The Peloponnesian War broke out. Ultimately, in 404 BC. Sparta took over.
Dissatisfaction with Spartan dominance in Greece led to a new war. The Thebans and their allies, led by Epaminondas, inflicted a heavy defeat on the Spartans and Sparta began to lose its former power.
Sparta had a special political and social structure. The Spartan state has long been headed by two hereditary kings. They held meetings together with the gerusia - the council of elders, to which 28 people over 60 years of age were elected for life. All Spartans who had reached the age of 30 and had sufficient funds to do what was considered necessary for a citizen, in particular, to contribute their share to participate in joint meals (fidityas), participated in the national assembly (apella). Later, the institution of ephors arose, five officials who were elected by the assembly, one from each region of Sparta. The five ephors had power that exceeded that of the kings.
The type of civilization that is now called “Spartan” is not typical for early Sparta. Before 600 BC Spartan culture generally coincided with the way of life of the then Athens and other Greek states. Fragments of sculptures, fine ceramics, ivory, bronze, lead and terracotta figurines discovered in this area indicate high level Spartan culture in the same way as the poetry of the Spartan poets Tyrtaeus and Alcman (7th century BC). However, shortly after 600 BC. there was a sudden change. Art and poetry are disappearing. Sparta suddenly turned into a military camp, and from then on the militarized state produced only soldiers. The introduction of this way of life is attributed to Lycurgus, the hereditary king of Sparta.
The Spartan state consisted of three classes: the Spartiates, or Spartans; perieki ("living nearby") - people from the allied cities surrounding Lacedaemon; helots are slaves of the Spartans.
Only Spartiates could vote and enter governing bodies. They were forbidden to engage in trade and, in order to discourage them from making profit, to use gold and silver coins. Land Spartiates, processed by helots, were supposed to provide their owners with sufficient income to purchase military equipment and meet everyday needs. The Spartan masters did not have the right to release or sell the helots assigned to them; helots were given to the Spartans for temporary use and were the property of the Spartan state. Unlike an ordinary slave, who could not have any property, helots had the right to that part of the products produced on their site that remained after paying a fixed share of the harvest to the Spartans. To prevent uprisings of the helots who had a numerical superiority and to maintain the combat readiness of their own citizens, secret sorties (cryptia) were constantly organized to kill the helots.
Trade and production were carried out by the Perieki. They did not participate in political life Sparta, but had some rights, as well as the privilege of serving in the army.
Thanks to the work of numerous helots, the Spartiates were able to devote all their time to physical exercise and military affairs. By 600 BC there were about 25 thousand citizens, 100 thousand perieks and 250 thousand helots. Later, the number of helots outnumbered the number of citizens by 15 times.
Wars and economic hardships reduced the number of Spartiates. During the Greco-Persian Wars (480 BC), Sparta fielded c. 5000 Spartiates, but a century later in the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC) only 2000 of them fought. It is mentioned that in the 3rd century. There were only 700 citizens in Sparta.
Spartan upbringing
The state controlled the lives of citizens from birth to death. At birth, all children were examined by elders, who decided whether they were healthy, strong and not crippled. In the latter case, children, as unable to become a capable instrument of the state, were doomed to death, for which they were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetos rock. If they were healthy, they were returned to their parents for upbringing, which lasted up to 6 years.
The upbringing was extremely harsh. From the age of 7, the child completely belonged to the power of the state, and children devoted almost all their time to physical exercises, during which they were allowed to kick, bite, and even scratch each other with their nails. All city boys were divided into ranks and classes and lived together under the supervision of state-appointed overseers. The overseers, in turn, with all their subordinates were under the command of the chief overseer - the pedonom. This position was usually occupied by one of the noblest and most honorable citizens. This joint education ensured that all children were imbued with one common spirit and direction. In addition to gymnastics, the Spartans were taught at school to play the flute and sing religious war hymns. Modesty and respect for elders were the first duty of young people.
The children were brought up in the greatest simplicity and moderation, and were subjected to all kinds of hardships. Their food was bad and so insufficient that they had to provide themselves with the missing food. For this, as well as to develop resourcefulness and dexterity in the young Spartiates, they were allowed to steal something edible with impunity, but if the thief was caught, he was painfully punished. The children's clothing consisted of a simple cloak, and they always went barefoot. They slept on hay, straw or reeds that they themselves collected from the Eurotas River. Every year on the feast of Artemis, boys were flogged until they bled, and some of them fell dead, without uttering a single sound, without uttering a single plaintive moan. By this they thought to ensure that the men who emerged from such boys would not be afraid of either wounds or death in battle.
After probationary period, at the age of 15, teenagers fell into the Eirens group. Here the training was based on drill and weapons mastery. The basis of physical training itself was the pentathlon (penathlon) and fist fighting. Fist fighting, as well as hand-to-hand combat techniques, constituted “Spartan gymnastics.” Even the dance served to prepare a warrior: in the course of rhythmic movements it was necessary to imitate a duel with an enemy, throw a spear, manipulate a shield in order to dodge the stones that teachers and adults threw during the dance. Spartan youths usually walked through the streets with a quiet, even step, with their eyes downcast and their hands under their cloak (the latter was considered a sign of modesty in Greece). From childhood they learned not to make speeches, but to answer briefly and forcefully. Hence such answers are now called “laconic”.
At the age of twenty, the Spartan completed his education and entered the army. He had the right to marry, but could only visit his wife in secret.
At the age of 30, a Spartiate became a full citizen, could legally marry and participate in the national assembly, but he spent the lion's share of his time in the gymnasium, lesha (something like a club) and fidity. Marriage was concluded between young people freely, according to inclination. Usually the Spartiate kidnapped his girlfriend (with the knowledge of his parents, however) and saw her in secret for some time, and then openly declared her his wife and brought her into the house. The position of a wife in Sparta was quite honorable: she was the mistress of the house, did not lead such a reclusive life as in the East and partly among other Greek tribes, and in better times Sparta displayed a high patriotic spirit.
Spartan girls also underwent athletic training, which included running, jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing. Lycurgus introduced such training for girls so that they would grow up strong and courageous, capable of giving birth to strong and healthy children. Spartan women were known for their beauty throughout Greece; Spartan nurses achieved such fame that rich people everywhere tried to entrust their children to them.
Customs and life of the Spartans
Laws concerning private lifestyles were entirely aimed at eliminating inequality.
The Spartans were prescribed the strictest way of life. For example, men could not dine at home; they gathered at common tables, where they dined in groups or partnerships. This custom of public tables was called sissitiya. Each member of the partnership delivered a certain amount of flour, wine, fruit and money to the table. They dined very sparingly; their favorite dish was black stew, cooked with pork, seasoned with blood, vinegar and salt. To cover the costs of such a common table, each Spartan citizen was obliged to deliver a certain amount of food supplies every month: barley flour, wine, cheese and figs. Seasonings were purchased with small monetary contributions. The poorest people who were unable to pay these contributions were exempted from them. But only those who were busy making sacrifices or felt tired after hunting could be exempted from sissitia. In this case, to justify his absence, he had to send part of the sacrifice he made or the animal he killed to sissitia.
In private dwellings, Lycurgus banished every sign of luxury, for which they were ordered not to use any other tools in the construction of houses except an ax and a saw.
A natural consequence of the simplicity of such relations and needs was that money in the state did not circulate in large quantities, and with limited trade with other states, especially in the early times, they easily managed without gold and silver.
The greatest simplicity was also observed in clothing and housing. Only before the battle did the Spartans dress up as if for a holiday: they then put on scarlet cloaks and decorated their wreaths long hair and walked with songs to the sound of flutes.
Given the extraordinary attachment of the Spartans to their laws and customs mental development they were delayed by the entire system of ancient institutions, adapted to their state structure. And when orators, sophists, philosophers, historians and dramatic poets appeared in other Greek states, the mental side of education among the Spartans was limited only to learning to read and write, sacred and warlike songs, which they sang at festivals and when starting a battle.
Such originality in morals and education, which was supported by the laws of Lycurgus, further strengthened the opposition between the Spartans and all other Hellenes and led to even greater alienation natural character Spartan-Dorian tribe. Therefore, although they point to the Lycurgus law, according to which no foreigner could remain in Sparta longer than the necessary time and had no right to live long outside the fatherland, it is obvious that this was simply a custom arising from the very essence of things.
The natural severity of Sparta in itself removed the stranger from it, and if anything could attract him there, it was curiosity alone. For a Spartan, either side could not have any attraction, since there he encountered customs and living conditions alien to him, which he had learned from childhood to treat with nothing other than contempt.
In addition to the laws set forth establishing moderation, preservation of bodily health, and contempt for all kinds of dangers, there were also other decrees that directly sought to form warriors and brave men from the Spartans.
Staying in a military camp was considered a holiday. There is strictness here home life I received some relief and lived somewhat more freely. The scarlet clothes worn by the Spartans in war, the wreaths with which they adorned themselves when entering battle, the sounds of flutes and songs that accompanied them when attacking the enemy - all this gave the previously terrible war a cheerful, solemn character.
Brave warriors who fell on the battlefield were buried crowned with laurel wreaths. Burial in scarlet clothing was even more honorable; names were indicated only on the graves of those killed in battle. The coward was punished with insulting shame. Whoever fled the battlefield or left the ranks was deprived of the right to participate in gymnastic games, in sissities, did not dare to buy or sell, in a word, he was exposed to general contempt and reproach in everything.
Therefore, before the battle, mothers admonished their sons: “With a shield or on a shield.” “With a shield” means I expect your return with victory. “On the shield” means it is better to bring you dead than to flee from the battlefield and return in disgrace.
Conclusion
The Spartiates deliberately introduced despotism, which deprived the individual of freedom and initiative and destroyed the influence of the family. However, the Spartan way of life greatly appealed to Plato, who incorporated many of its militaristic, totalitarian and communist features into his ideal state.
The upbringing of the younger generation was considered in Sparta a matter of national importance and a direct task of the state.
In essence, Sparta was a rather backward agrarian state, which not only did not care about the development of its productive forces, but, paradoxically, moreover, saw as its goal any obstacle to it. Trade and craft were considered here as activities that dishonored a citizen; only newcomers (perieki) could engage in this, and even then on a relatively limited scale.
However, Sparta's backwardness lies not only in the structure of its economy. In essence, the vestiges of the clan organization of society are still very strong here, the polis principle is weakly manifested, and not least this circumstance prevents it from uniting Greece. However, the remnants of the clan organization and the weakness of the polis principle are superimposed on strict ideological restrictions. The ancient polis strictly linked its ideas of freedom, among other things, with complete economic independence. It’s just that in Sparta, as perhaps in no other Greek state, both general backwardness and the desire for absolute economic self-sufficiency manifested themselves in the most dramatic and contrasting form.
It is not for nothing that Sparta is considered the strangest state of Ancient Hellas: this reputation was firmly attached to it even among the ancient Greeks. Some looked at the Spartan state with undisguised admiration, while others denounced the order that reigned in it, considering them bad and even immoral. And yet, it was Sparta, militarized, closed and law-abiding, that became a model ideal state, invented by Plato, a native of Sparta’s eternal rival - democratic Athens.
A week-long tour, one-day hiking and excursions combined with comfort (trekking) in the mountain resort of Khadzhokh (Adygea, Krasnodar Territory). Tourists live at the camp site and visit numerous natural monuments. Rufabgo waterfalls, Lago-Naki plateau, Meshoko gorge, Big Azish cave, Belaya River Canyon, Guam gorge.
