Patrick Garner is the author of three novels about Greek gods in the contemporary world.
So … in the eyes of history, perhaps they won after all. Much of today’s world thinks of Spartans as the ultimate warriors, unrelenting, brave and willing to give their lives for a greater good… They had no ideology to fall back on once they were defeated. Their entire society was based on preparing for war. Ultimately, Sparta paid an extraordinary price for its success. As a regional power, the Spartans were through. Before long the Macedonians swept in, followed by the Romans. The once mighty Spartan war machine never recovered. Then the Thebans invaded Sparta and liberated the helots. Still, Sparta’s glory was brief.Ī mere 35 years later they suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Thebans. The Spartans reached the height of their power when they defeated the Athenians in 404 B.C., ending the Peloponnesian War. They were defeated after three days, but took 20,000 Persian soldiers down with them due to utter bravery and skill. they sealed their reputation forever, pitting 300 of their champions against tens of thousands of Persian soldiers at Thermopylae. Defining moments for the SpartansĬombat, more than anything else, defined the Spartans. Further, a married woman was encouraged to take a partner other than her husband if there were greater assurance of healthy offspring who would be turned into soldiers.
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With helots to perform menial chores, Spartan women were free to think, debate and acquire wealth. Remember that Helen of Troy was originally Helen of Sparta, and known as the most beautiful woman in the world. Spartan females had a reputation for being the most beautiful of all Greek women. Some scholars question whether the nakedness ever occurred others speculate that it allowed potential suitors to choose their future wives. They were celebrated for their choral performances and gymnastic prowess, performing publicly completely naked … which was true for all Spartan youth. Girls had a similar education to that of boys. Unlike the rest of Greece, Spartan women could own property, including land. The Spartans’ reputation as a unique society carried over to women’s legal rights. When rare defeat occurred, Spartan women were not allowed to mourn, but were taught to react with placidity and smiles. Sons were told to return home after battle behind their shield or on top of it. Even Spartan mothers bought in to this culture. The Spartans’ use of blunt force spread fear throughout Greece. Plato lauded parts of it in The Republic as an ideal society. Regardless, Lycurgus is credited not only with inventing the Spartan’s unique military machine… but with creating a new political system. The name Lycurgus was rarely given to a mortal. These were common titles for the god, not men. The name Lycurgus means Wolf-worker, or Wolfish. Historians have found no evidence that Lycurgus existed, and suspect Apollo’s priests may have been involved. The Spartans said that a Lakedaimon named Lycurgus created the rigid system that fueled their military success. Other Greeks thought the city was strange, particularly since there was no art, sculpture, theatre or philosophy. In Sparta, the individual was obliterated. In other Greek cities, individualism was celebrated. And so the Spartan system created courageous soldiers who gladly gave their lives in battle The more worldly Athenians even joked about it, saying that living conditions in Sparta were so bad that of course they’d sacrifice themselves! Any aversion to combat caused him to be ostracized.īy the time they fought their first battle, they were as hard as the bronze armor they wore for protection. A boy who showed the slightest sign of fear was shunned.
This was believed to teach them pluck and resilience.īravery and courage were mandatory. The boys were purposely underfed and encouraged to steal. Over time, they learned that nothing was more important than sacrificing themselves to the military goal. The boy’s education would go on until at least age 18. He was typically in his 20s, and was responsible for creating a new, fierce and unquestioning patriotic soldier. Their father was replaced by an older Spartan warrior.
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Instead, the boys lived communally with other boys to learn how to fight, harden their bodies and take pain. Their lives shifted from the comforts of home to a barracks-style austerity.
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