Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Sparta - Coggle Diagram
Sparta
Lycurgus
there was a misconception of Spartan history, that Lycurgus' system was so good that it never changed
there were revisions to the law that were then attributed to Lycurgus, as if they had always been in place. thus sparta has a homeostatic history
-
lycurgus is a legendary figure, and so Plutarch's writing the "life of Lycurgus' is based on weak evidence and poses a problem
-
the earliest literary source we have on lycurgus is herodotus, who writes about 400 years after Lycurgus supposedly lived - he may not have existed at all
the structure of the Spartan social system, with kleroi (parcels of land given to each Spartiate but manned by helots to sustain him) are dependant on many helots, which do not enter the Spartan system until after the Messenian war, in the 7th century. Yet this system is arributed to Lycurgus - stupid!!!
Literary Sources
-
Plutarch, Lycurgus
-
idealised image of sparta which was influenced by his time of living, in which sparta was used as a tourist attraction
-
poetry of Tyrtaeus
messages of valour and courage, militaristic
-
the fact his poetry was preserved suggests that the spartiates of the 6th and 5th century were still resonant with the militaristic message
Spartan Mirage
-
the problem of the literary sources being quite Atheno-centric and prejudiced, so as to cloud the portrayal of Sparta
Social Structure
women
had far more rights and freedom than women of Athens, in terms of education, physical training, dress etc. because domestic duties could be performed by helots instead
Education
plutarch records that the education system valued 'smart obedience, perseverance under stress, and victory in battle'
there was a formalised, sponsored education system, which was very rare in the greek world
Periokoi
a highly-skilled group of non-citizens, who lived in cities in Lakonia
responsible for the manufacture of goods and weapons: the main centres of goods manufacturing were in Periokoi territory, as most of their farmland was bad (the good stuff was given to spartiates)
they had no say in government and none of the benefits of the spartan state, and had to fight in the army, but were largely left to manage affairs for themselves
helots
thucydides records that most helots were descendants of the old Messenians who were enslaved after first Messenian war they were thus Greek, and different from slaves in this way
Pausanius tells us that the Helots had to swear to never revolt, give half of their produce to spartan masters, and participate in the mourning at funerals of important Spartans
after the second Messenian War in the 7th century, there was increased exploitation of land with more farms in the hinterland of Sparta, suggesting an increase in subjugated helots
Herodotus tells us that at the battle of Plataea in 479BC, helots outnumber spartiates by 7:1 which is huge for any greek polis
-
'in sparta the free man is more free than anywhere else in the world, and the slave more a slave' (plutarch)
every year in autumn, the five spartan magistrates declare war on the helots, so that any spartiate may kill a helot without repercussions. This was a tool of terror. In athens it was murder to kill a slave
-
kings
sparta always had two kings, each members of two main ruling families
the kings were always the wealthiest members of Sparta, and held large estates
they had special messes, and the invitees were the most successful spartiates such as officials
Herodotus 6.58 tells us about the elaborate funerary arrangements for kings: women would beat on cauldrons, ten days of mourning, large gatherings etc.
material culture
does not follow sculpture tradition of its neighbours but has tradition of its own. For example, only 2 fragments of kouroi from lakonike
Spartan Hero reliefs
-
-
or they are votive reliefs to the gods of the underworld, Hades and Persephone (although Dionysus has also been considered as a possible alternative, largely due to the oversized kantharos)
or the reliefs are offerings to venerated heroes, at the time already established in Greek mythology but worshipped especially frequently in Sparta
-
local marble here is not of high quality, so less marble sculpture than in Attica
-
bronze work
in the 7th and 6th century Sparta excelled at Bronze work, especially in small figurines
-
over 100,000 lead figurines found at sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, there was no huge prevalence of warrior figures or weapons depicted, suggesting that Sparta was not as austere or militaristic as thought
archaeology
-
sanctuaries
From the 7th century well into the 3rd, items such as miniature vases and figurines were dedicated en masse at sanctuaries
they were in a myriad of materials, from bronze to lead, suggesting peoples of many different classes donated
this shows the Spartans as a very pious people: they missed Marathon due to celebrating a religious festival
walls
city walls not built til hellenistic period as Sparta had such military prowess that it did not need this protection
Stoa in agora
after the persian war, sparta used booty from this to erect a stoa in the agora, with a similar purpose to the serpent column, in that it showcased Spartan achievements in defeating the barbarian
art production
-
-
However, as Hodkinson points out, it is also vital to the argument that Black Figure of the time was only made in two workshops, one of which was absorbed by the other at this point
moreover, there is a huge concentration of spartan metal work and laconian black figure pottery in the Heraion of Samos, the largest concentration of spartan work outside the Peloponnese
-
Militarism
trained boys from age 7-20, many perished before they could complete training
-
however, herodotus also tells us that the Spartans missed the battle of Marathon due to a religious festival
archaeology
of the over 100,000 lead figurines found at sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, there is not a huge prevalence of military subjects, with depictions of the goddess and animals favoured
literary
-
one woman, upon hearing that her son had been slain fighting bravely in the line of battle, said, ‘Yes, he was mine'
But learning in regard to her other son that he had played the coward and saved his life, she said, ‘No, he was not mine'
-
Argive Slaves
in Herodotus book 6, we are informed that the battle of Sepeia in 494BC, severely depleted the male Argive population
-
as a result, 'the entire governance and administration of the state passed into the hands of her slaves'
-
earthquake of 464
in 464 Laconia experienced a devastating earthquake, which the helots saw as an opportunity to revolt, with many spartiates killed in the disaster
this demonstrates the readiness of the helots to rebel, suggesting they were very unhappy
this revolt, and the subsequent dismissal of athenian sources, was one cause of the Peloponnesian war
-
