Ancient: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC

Karneia

Festival for the harvest
9 days
in August
celebrating the migration and colonisation of the Doric people
Name from Apollo Karneios; the god of the herd or ram god

God/esses worshipped

Apollo
Artemis Orthia
Poseidon

Agoge

Rigorous education and training program
‘Lycurgus created it’
socialisation and development of values that served Sparta’s needs
By the ages of 24-30, they were fully trained hoplites
Plutarch emphasised that the boys were educated to put up with pain and discomfort

The Great Rhetra

The Great Rhetra was a political and legal document in ancient Sparta that established the laws and institutions of the city-state.
It was attributed to the legendary lawgiver Lycurgus and played a significant role in shaping the Spartan constitution.

roles and privileges of the two kings

Each king served as a military commander and had equal authority in times of war.
Acted as religious leaders and had the power to consult oracles.
One king typically led the army in battle while the other remained in Sparta to maintain order.
Presided over the Gerousia, a council of elders, and the Apella, an assembly of Spartan citizens.

ephorate

It consisted of five elected officials who held executive and judicial powers.
Oversaw the actions of the Spartan kings, enforcing laws, and maintaining the stability of the state.
elected annually by the citizens.

gerousia

Council of Elders in ancient Sparta.
28 members, including the two kings
Important decisions and proposing laws to the Spartan assembly.
Served as a court of law, hearing cases and passing judgments.
The members of the Gerousia were chosen for life and had to be at least 60 years old.

ekklesia

assembly of male citizens who had reached the age of 30.
They had the power to vote on important matters and make decisions for the state.
Elected the Ehpors
Met once a month

Spartiates

The Spartiates were the full citizens of ancient Sparta, who were known for their military prowess and discipline.
required to undergo rigorous training from a young age.
certain privileges and rights, such as the ability to participate in the political affairs of the city-state.

periokoi

‘Dwellers around’
Craftsmen
Labourers (opened trade opportunities)
Not citizens → not permitted to be part of the Spartan political system but were subject to Spartan laws
were free to do as they wished except in times of war

Helots

Enslaved population in ancient Sparta, consisted of conquered Messenians.
They were forced to work the land and serve their Spartan masters.
Comprised ~70% of the population but had no political rights
publicly humiliated

control of the helots through military

The main role of Sparta’s military was to discourage the much-feared Helot revolts
The army played a domestic role in the suppression of helots

syssitia

Communal dining institution where Spartan citizens would gather to eat together.
Played a role in fostering unity and discipline among the citizens.
A Spartan male was expected to dine with his comrades in the syssition for the rest of his life.

krypteia

Ancient Spartan secret police.
Young Spartan men were chosen to spy on and control the helots (enslaved population).
Conducted surveillance and eliminated potential threats.

Women - Land ownership

The kleros (land) could be passed down within families, and in cases where there was no son to inherit, daughters became heiresses
Upon marriage, women tended to their husband's land as well as their own

Women - education

Participated in sport
Had an education and were encouraged to be athletic and active. As well-fed as boys – unusual for Greece
Spartan girls were renowned for their beauty, athleticism, and independence

Land ownership

Lakonia was one of the most fertile farming areas in Greece
Sparta had a strong agricultural economy
cheap labour due to Helots

Agriculture

Sparta was largely an agricultural economy.

Agricultural work and cultivation done by the helots

Fertile Eurotas Valley allowed the production of all cultivated food needs

Weapons and Armour

Hoplon shield

The metal of leather cuirass (breastplate)

Bronze greaves (armour that protects the leg from the knee down)

Long thrusting spears (1.5 to 3 metres)

Kopis (short sword)

Phoinikis (red cloak)

all made by Periokio

Pottery

Painted Laconian pottery was highly valued by other Greek centres

Remains of Spartan pottery have been found in Egypt, Italy, Rhodes, France and North Africa

The most famous piece of Spartan pottery is the ‘Arkesilas Cup’: The cup depicts a scene of King Arkesilas of Cyrene in North Africa overseeing trade

Economy - Periokio

• Periokoi was Sparta’s economic muscle

  • Engaged in mining, manufacturing, and trade

• Craftsmen in Sparta were Perioiko

Economy - Helots

helots were the agricultural workers

Household tasks usually performed by slaves in other Greek poleis, were done by helots in Sparta

Iron Bars

Sparta was the one Greek polis that didn’t adopt silver currency – because they didn’t have silver. It is thus a smart economic decision to stay with an iron currence

Trade

The Giglio shipwreck is evidence that Laconian goods were part of a trader’s stock

Horses and Castorian hounds were exported to other Greek poleis

The Dioscuri

Spartans saw the Dioscuri as patrons and protectors of Sparta

Twin Brothers: They were famous for their bravery and were known as skilled horsemen

Hyakinthia

This was the most important festival of all for the Spartans
Sorrow and mourning for their dead
Involved the rejoicing of Apollo

Gymnopaedia

This was the ‘Festival of the Unarmed Boys’ or the ‘Festival of the Naked Boys’
The festival consisted of a series of athletic competitions and musical events among boys and men
May have been an initiation into the harsh life of a Spartan soldier

Funerary Customs and Rituals

Marked graves only for men killed in battle or women killed in childbirth

Permitted for warriors to be buried on the battlefield with grave markers to show who it was

The dead were buried within the city area rather than outside it

A strict period of eleven days was set for mourning

Death of a King

If a king died in battle, a statue would be constructed and form part of the funerary procession

Two people from each house (man and woman) were expected to join in the mourning; failure to do so resulted in heavy penalties

All political activity ceased for 10 days

Sculpture

Spartan sculptors were active not only at home but also in cultural centres such as Olympia and Delphi

At the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, over 100,000 lead figurines have been unearthed

Painted Vases

Lakonian vases have been found all over Greece and the Mediterranean world – indicating production for export as well as domestic use

Bone and Ivory carvings

Ivory work was another export product, reflecting the high quality of the craftsmen

Over 200 ivory carvings were found at the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia

The ivory was imported from traders in Syria

Amyklaion

One of several shrines built at Amyklai

One of the most important Spartan festivals, the Hyakinthia, took place at the Amyklaion

Menelaion

This is a shrine to Menelaus and Helen.

Excavations have found votive objects including ceramic figurines and urns inscribed with dedications to Helen

the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia

The Temple site dates from the 8th century BC.

Carved ivory images found at the site show the winged goddess grasping an animal or bird in either hand

Alcman

Significant as Spartan poetry written in the Laconian dialect

Alcman is a poet who was sensitive to the natural attractions of the region. His lines beautifully evoke the towering mountains of Sparta, the seasons of the year, and the twittering of the birds

Tyrtaeus

War poetry – possibly connected with the first Messenian War

He wrote military songs urging courage, manliness, and discipline

Warning against the disgrace of cowardice

Hunting

Hunting dogs - shared amongst Spartiates so all could participate

Hunting was done with a javelin or spear

Killing a boar was a passage for young men

Equestrian sports

Sparta dominated the 4-horse chariot event at Olympia

Women could breed and train horses for competition

Marriage Customs

Marriage by capture:

The ritual was designed to display a man’s strength in carrying off his wife

She would then have her head shaved and dressed as a man

Wife Lending:

Wives were loaned for the purposes of reproduction

Men who did not reproduce were heaped with ridicule and socially excluded

Geographical Setting

Situated in central Laconia

The fertile valley of the Eurotas River

20% of land used for agriculture

Natural Features

Mountain ranges surrounded Sparta’s west, east, and north. They formed a natural barrier to Sparta and limited communication

• Good defence from foreign invaders

Resources

Water supply (Eurotas River)

Wool, dairy, and meat from sheep and goats

Soils in valleys suitable for growing crops – barley, wheat, oats, grapes, olives

Minerals were mined: iron, copper, tin, marble, and prophry

“Sparta had simple but plentiful supplies of food.” Xenophon