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Many historians believe that the Spartan reform was most likely gradual
-However many written sources which have survived from Sparta name
Lycurgus as a god and the sole creator of the reform
Gerousia:
-The council of 30 members including the two kings were set up to help
advise the kings and influence their political affairs.
-The 28 council members, each over 60 years of age, were elected by the
Ecclesia by the volume of cheering for each candidate.
-These men were no longer eligible for military service so they could spend
their entire time to political issues.
-Acted as a court for trying criminal cases such as murder and treason.
Ecclesia:
-usually referred to as the assembly, gave Sparta the appearance of being
a democracy, however they had no real power and was not allowed to
discuss or amend bills.
-Only Spartan males over the age of 30 (equals) were allowed to attend
the Ecclesia.
-However they did have the power to elect the Ephors.
-Met outside the city in an tent without sides
-Questions of peace, war and foreign policy were voted upon by the
Ecclesia; however they could not put forward their own proposals.
-Listened to debates between Kings, Ephors and councillors and then
simply voted for or against a proposal.
2.4 Social Structure; Spartiates, Perioeci, Inferiors and Helots:
Spartiates:
-The Spartiates were the male citizens of Sparta, over the age of 30 and
had successfully finished the Agoge.
-To maintain Spartiate citizenship, a Spartiate is required to:
o Have Spartan parents and pass a fitness test at birth
o Own a Kleros (plot of land)
o Complete the Educational and military requirements (Agoge)
o Be a member of a military mess and contribute food to the
syssitia.
-All political power in Sparta belonged to these men.
-There were never more than 10,000 Spartiates
-Forbidden to take part in farming, trade, or industry
-Entire life revolved around military service.
Inferiors:
-These citizens were in the void between citizens and non-citizens.
-Consisted of members of Spartan social groups who were unfit or
unworthy of citizenship.
-Avoided by everyone who had citizenship
Hypomeiones
Neodamodes
Mothocles
Partheniai
Tresantes
Perioeci
-Perioeci means dwellers around, they inhabited the less fertile planes in
Laconia
-Because Spartan citizens were forbidden to craft, manufacture or gather
their own resources, Perioeci became craftsmen, manufacturers,
tradesmen and fishermen.
- The Perioeci became quite wealthy through trade with Sparta
-the Perioeci were allowed to govern themselves unlike the Helots who
were under Spartan control.
-The Perioeci were expected to support the Spartans in battle in times of
emergency.
-The Perioeci were responsible for the armour and weapons which the
Spartans relied on in battle.
Helots:
-about 70% of the Spartan population consisted of Helots.
-Helots were 'state serfs' and were descendants of the Messenia's who
were conquered by Sparta in the 10th century BC
-They were attached to the lands which they worked on and belonged to
the Spartan polis
- A Spartiate was given a group of Helots which produced food which was
then contributed to the Syssitia.
-Helots were constantly killed if they displayed any signs of rebellious
behaviour or physical strength which could be a threat to Spartans.
Hoplite Phalanx.
- The hoplite phalanx was the main style of infantry used by the Spartans,
- It consisted of special armour and weapons; mostly bronze body armour
and helmets, bronze shin guards and carried shields.
-Their primary weapons were a short sword for close quarter fighting and
an 8-15 foot long spear.
Unit
Enomatia
Pentekoslys
Lochos
Mora
Entire Spartan
Army
Comprising
4 files of 8 men
4 Enomatia
2 Pemtekostys
4 Lochos
5 -6 mora
Equal to
Platoon
Company
Battalion
Regiment
Division
Number approx.
32
128
256
1024
5120
Kryptea were a secret body of police, composed of popular men from the
Eiren class.
-Were at the disposal of the Ephors
-Plutarch claims that these young men were dispatched into the
countryside equipped with daggers and basic rations.
-During the day, they would hide in obscure spots in order to rest.
-At night they would make their way through the fields, killing Helots who
stood out.
-Membership to the Krypteia may have been part of a series of initiations
that a young man had to pass during the Agoge before reaching manhood.
Stage 3:
- From ages 12-18 years, education became more disciplined and harsh.
-Boys were only allowed to wear one garment.
-Slept on bed made out of rushes.
-Given little to eat in order to teach them to rely on themselves to obtain
food.
-Encouraged to steal but, if caught, would be dishonoured, punished and
given less rations.
-Started taking part in various contests and competitions.
Stage 4:
- From ages 18-20 years, young men became eirens and could become
prefects of platoons.
-Their role was to train the boys and make sensible judgments.
-Eirens would punish any boy who could not answer sensibly, briefly and
coherently by biting them on the thumb.
-The Eirens were watched by the men and could be rebuked if they were
too soft or harsh in their punishments.
Stage 5:
- From ages 20-24 years, young men were not fully qualified soldiers but
could be called upon to fight if necessary.
-This was physically a tough stage.
-Had to show obedience and loyalty to Sparta.
-Could technically marry at 20 but still had to live in the barracks and not
set up a household.
Stage 6:
- From ages 24-30, men were full time soldiers and could fight on the front
line
Stage 7:
- After the age of 30, men became citizens and soldiers.
-They became members of the Ecclesia and could stand for position of
Ephor.
-Able to set up a household.
-Still had meals at syssitian.
-Could let their hair grow indicated physical vigour.
-Were liable for military service until age 60.
Unlike other Greek women, Spartan women had better living conditions
and more rights.
-Spartan women were well fed and supported by the Helots who worked
their land
-Publically educated, the state believed that each Spartan should be
educated.
-Spartan women were encouraged to be athletic and active.
-Married at a later age and were known for their outspoken nature.
-They could act without male supervision.
Motherhood:
-Spartan women had one main role, to produce fit and healthy children
-They transmitted Spartan values to their children, including bravery,
courage, obedience and discipline.
-Spartan mothers shamed or even killed sons who were cowards in battle.
-Pluta
Property:
-Spartan women could inherit property from their fathers if they did not
have any male heir, and could control it as they wished
-Extremely rich women have been discovered, owning multiple plots of
land.
-Aristotle claims that women controlling Spartan land was a sign of
weakness within the society.
-Spartan women owned up to 2/5th of Spartan land at the decline of
Sparta
3. The Economy:
3.1 Land Ownership, agriculture, Kleroi, Helots:
Each Spartiate was a full time solider and was given a basic allotment of
land called a Kleros
-Each Spartiate was given a small number of Helots to farm this land
-Kleroi was given to Spartiates at birth by the Ephors if the child proved to
be fit and healthy.
-Each Kleroi was farmed by the Helots to provide:
o Food the Spartiate could contribute to the Syssitian
o Support for the families of the Spartiate
o a surplus of food so the Spartiate could trade the Perioeci for
weapons and armour
o Support for the Helots and their families.
The Perioeci however were allowed to trade with other Greek City Sates
-They exported Spartan art and statues
-Were allowed to trade with coinage
-Were responsible for any exports out of Sparta.
Artemis Orthia
-was an extremely significant goddess to the Spartans
-Associated with Childbirth
-Religions festivals honouring Artemis Orthia included boys running
between the Temple of Artemis Orthia and the Altar to snatch
cheese from the altar while being whipped along the way.
-Many archaeological evidence, figurines, statues and lead figures
have been found around the Temple
Poseidon:
-God of the sea
-Had a temple in Sparta near Taenaron
-According to Mythology, Heracles entered the underworld for the
last of his 12 tasks at this altar
-Believed to be the entrance to the three headed dog, Cerberus
Apollo:
-The festival Hyakinthia was held each year to honour Apollo and his
lover
- Statue was found in the sanctuary of Amyclae where Apollo is
armed with a bow and a Spear, showing his war like nature
Dioscuri
-Two legendary twins, thought to be offspring of the Zeus and Leda,
King Tyndareos' consort.
-Two brothers, Kastor and Polydeukes
-At a Festival in Sparta, Kastor was killed and Zeus takes Polydeukes
to mount Olympus
-Polydeukes doesn't wish to live as an immortal on Mt. Olympus
without his brother
-Zeus then brings Kastor back to life every second day to spend
with his brother
The Hyakinthia was a festival held around early June each year
-Held in the town of Amyclae
-Held in honour of the lover of Apollo who was killed when he was
accidently stuck by Apollo's discus
-Part of the festival was the honouring of Apollo which is Sparta's
main god
-There were choirs of boys, lyres and lute musicians and chariot
races took place.
Unlike other Greek states, the Spartans buried their dead inside the
city walls.
-However the kings were buried outside the walls because it was
though safer if the spirit of the dead king was removed from close
association with the lving
-They bured their dead inside the city walls because the Spartan
government wish to remove any superstition or fear about the dead
and afterlife
-
5. Cultural Life:
5.1 Art, Sculpture, painted vases, bone and ivory carving:
Until recently, it was widely believed that there was a golden age of
Spartan culture during the 7th Century
-However modern evidence shows that Spartan culture peaked
around the 6th century
-After the Messenian wars, the Spartans had less time to spend on
cultural pursuits
-Spartans became more miliataristic and there was little time for
activities that did not contribute to its goals
Sculpture:
-A school of sculpture operated and Sparta was a major producer of
Bronze statuettes.
-Laconian bronze sculptures were highly valued throughout the
Ancient world.
-Some Laconian bronzes were found at Delphi, Olympia and outside
mainland Greece
-Sculptures in stone and marble were mostly associated with
religious decorations.
Ceramics:
-An original style of ceramics was developed and was exported
around the Mediterranean originating from the Laconian area.
-Laconian potter appeared featuring human subjexts and told a
story.
-A vase known as the Arcesules Cup was unique since it depicted a
contemporary scene.
Ivory Carving:
- Ivory and bone carving was frequently used by skilled craftsmen
throughout Laconia.
-Ivory cavings such as hair combs and animal figurines have been
discovered at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.
5.2 Architecture:
Menelaion:
-The temple of Mnelaion is situated 5km south of Sparta at Amyclae
on Mount Parnon
-Catling excavated a small settlement which proved to be the innter
centre of the palace of King Menelaus, dating back to the archaic
period
-A small shrime was discovered which was made of porous stone
The Amyklaoin:
-Walls surround the sanctuary at Amyclae and a circular alter and
evidence of foundations have been excavated at the site
-The throne of Apollo has been discovered at the site
-The sanctuary appears to be of Doric and Ionic style
Alkman:
-Appears to have come from Sardis in Lydia
-Active in 7th Century BC
-Works were arranged into 6 books and were written in Doric dialect
-One of the most important outcomes of his works were introducing
new information on the lives of Spartan Women
-Best known for his maiden songs, Choruses to be sung and danced
to and songs for gods and goddesses at religious festivals
-Wide range of matter, wrote about Laconian heroes to Odysseus
and tales for Homer
Tyrtaeus:
-Wrote around the period shortly after the Second Messenian war
-Plato calls Tyrtaeus an "Athenian who became a Spartan"
Period
5th Century BC
Origin
Asia Minor
Thucydides
5th Century BC
Athens
Xenophon
4th Century BC
Athenian,
lived in
Sparta
Plato
5th/4th
CenturyBC
Athenian
Aristotle
4th Century
Macedonia
Description
Wrote mainly
about spartas
foreign policy
and the
constitution.
Wrote about roles
and freedoms of
women
Did not write
about Spartan
life, but
discussed
Spartans forieng
policy. While he
did not write
favourably about
Sparta, he was
impressed by
their eunomia
(order)
Gives information
about Sparta's
military system,
their social
customs
including laws
instituted by
Lycurgus.
Admired
Spartans and
their system
Admired the
Spartan system
and praised its
order, austerity
and stability
Admired
Plutarch
1st century AD
Boetia
Pausanius
2nd Century
AD
Asia Minor
austerity and
stability but
criticised the
system of land
ownership and
attributed the
downfall to
women
Gave a complete
account of the
Spartan
constitution and
praised all
aspects.
Made reference
to the Spartan
constitution,
architecture,
death and
physical
excellence
6. Everyday Life:
Spartiates had a lot of Leisure time because they had the Helots to
provide produce and word the lands for them
-Leisure activites included:
+Excercising to keep fir and healthy
+Athletics
+Hunting as a sport and as a means to contribute to the syssitian
+Chariot racing and horse races
Spartiates:
-Full time soldiers
-Priests
-Government officials
Helots:
-Agricultural workers
-Domestic sevants
-Nurses
Perioeci:
-Craftsmen
-Traders
-Industry workers
-Fishermen