9 terrible things that would be waiting for you in Sparta
Miscellaneous / / January 19, 2022
Inhuman parenting, disgusting food, and renting out women.
1. Cruel Spartan upbringing
A popular myth, which was mentioned by Plutarch, says that the Spartans threw weak babies off a cliff. But this not true. The inhabitants of Lacedaemon (the self-name of Sparta), or the Laconians, had much stranger methods of dealing with children.
For exampleP. Cartledge. Spartan Reflections, a newborn baby should be regularly bathed in wine (this practiced and in medieval Europe). The procedure was supposed to make the children stronger and stronger. In addition, if the baby was crying or frightened, his attempts to attract attention were to be ignored. Let him learn to cope with his emotions, not a small one.
When the child was seven years old, he was given away from the family for educationN. richer. Spartan Education in the Classical Period / A Companion to Sparta in the agels - a kind of Laconian children's groups. There, children were taught such useful things as handling weapons, wrestling, running, swimming, as well as reading, writing, dancing and poetry. This system of education was called agoge.
Until the age of 12, children went naked and barefoot. It builds the body and builds courage, you know.
After that, they finally began to give out clothes. Military allowance - a raincoat (one piece per year) and sandals (one pair per year).
Teenagers slept in dormitories, and everyone had to make their own bed of reeds. Rations were deliberately given to them extremely meager, because a warrior should be able to be content with a little. In order not to stretch their legs from hunger, the young Spartans had to steal food from others. This was encouraged by the Paidonomos educators as a manifestation of military ingenuity. However, if the thief was caught, then they were severely beaten.
Young Laconians in agels were forbidden to use tools and cutleryN. richer. Spartan Education in the Classical Period / A Companion to Sparta. Firstly, this is how they learned to find non-standard solutions in unforeseen situations, if there were no suitable tools at hand during the campaign. And secondly, it was not safe to give these guys knives: you never know what would get into their hot heads.
Hazing and bullying of pupils in the agels were supported in every possible wayP. Cartledge. Spartan Reflections. How else to make real suffocators out of these men?
2. Lack of diplomacy
As you know, the Spartans valued wit and brevity so much that the name of their homeland - Lacedaemon - became synonymous with these words. Conciseness, yes. They strove to be witty and daring in all situations, even when it could cost them dearly.
For example, once, before the famous Battle of Thermopylae, the Persian king Xerxes sent a messenger to Leonidas, who uttered only two words: “Lay down your arms.” And he saidA. Powell. A Companion to Sparta in response: "Come and get it."
In fact, after that, Xerxes came and took it, and Leonidas' head was at its peak. But you must admit: it sounded very cool and bold.
Another story immortalized in the annals is the negotiations of the Lacedaemonians with King Philip, father Alexander the Great. Phil postedA. Powell. A Companion to Sparta a rather long message to the Spartans, the meaning of which was something like this: “Surrender, because if I capture Sparta force, if I break its gates, if I break through its walls with rams, then I will mercilessly destroy the entire population and level the city with earth!"
The Spartans answered: "If". Philip was upset and did not say anything about it. He brought troops into Laconia, ruined it, expelled the Lacedaemonians from part of the territories under their control and killed their then king Cleombrotus. The ending is sad, of course, but the Spartans held on with dignity, this cannot be taken away from them.
Why were the Lacedaemonians so obsessed with brevity, wit, and clarity of expression, even when it would be nice to remember diplomacy? And this was another quality that was instilled in them from childhood.
When Spartan youths were taughtP. Cartledge. Spartan Reflections as part of the agoge educational program, teachers often asked them various riddles and tricky questions. And the youth had to answer briefly and clearly. And if he was too verbose, teacher strongly, until blood, bit his thumb.
It's such a pedagogical method, you know.
3. female bullying
In our society, bullying and ridicule is considered a bad thing, but the Spartans were of a different opinion. They have encouraged cruelty and causticity since childhood, and not only among boys, but also among girls.
It was believed that the young men had to be constantly tuned to high achievements. But there was one small problem: motivational speakers like Tony Robbins who could "wake up the inner man” in teenagers, in Sparta then there was not enough.
Therefore, girls willingly took on their duties.
They publicly humiliatedJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period boys who did not live up to the high standards of warriors, ridiculing their weakness. The Lacedaemonians even held special festivals at which choirs of girls sang insulting songs about young Spartans who were inferior in strength and dexterity to their peers.
The purpose of ridicule was both the physical and moral shortcomings of timid young men. Adult Spartans believed that the bullying of underage girls would give courage to these pathetic individuals and encourage them to give their best in training.
How much this contributed to the psychological health of young Spartans, decide for yourself.
4. Beating up in exams
Fragment of the film "300 Spartans"
Spartans lived in barracks until they were 30 years old. But it was consideredJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Periodthat by the age of 17-20 the warrior reached physical maturity, so he had to pass a kind of exam. To show what he has become real man — not like those pampered Athenians of yours.
The initiation was called "diamastigosis" and consisted of beating with a whip. The Spartan was tied to the altar of the goddess - the patroness of Lacedaemon, Artemis Orthia. And specially trained professionals, mastigophores, whipped the examinee with whips until they got tired.
If he withstood the spanking without uttering a sound, well done, we consider him an adult, we enlist in the infantry.
Couldn't resist and divorced nurses - to continue the scourging, to increase the onslaught in order to knock out the defeatist mood from this rotten. Sometimes the poor fellows who failed the exam were beaten to death - it was consideredJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period victim to Artemis.
If the examinee came from a wealthy family, his relatives sometimes paid mastigophores in advance - and they spared the ward. However, noticing such a violation of the conditions for surrendering diamastigosis, the priestesses of Artemis Orthia, who held her wooden idol, shouted that the goddess was unhappy and demanded more blood, so that the beating intensified.
Periodically, not only 20-year-old healthy men were flogged, but also younger boys in order to instill masculine qualities in them. For this, a kind of competition was held. The boys were ordered to discreetly steal a piece of cheese placed on the altar of Artemis. If you have shown miracles of dexterity - take a walk. Failed to complete the task - you will be beaten.
In the later period of the Spartan state, according toJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period the Greek geographer Pausanias, they abandoned unnecessary conventions with cheese and simply flogged the youngsters without any competition - let them be tempered.
Temple of Artemis Orthia surrounded by an amphitheaterArtemis Orthia / The Secret of Civilizationso that all residents of the city can watch the tests. Diamastigosis was held once a year, and the stern adult Spartans watched with pleasure. This sight was considered relaxing and pleasing to the eye of a real warrior.
After the final exam, the young man was considered an adult man who could carry out full-fledged service. in the army. It lasted up to 60 years.
5. Caste system of society
Spartans under the command of Leonidas, played by Gerard Butler on the screen seem to be harsh but fair men who do not offend the weak, but protect them. But the real Lacedaemonians were not so pleasant personalities.
Laconian society was divided into castes, of which only gomei ("equals") were considered decent people - those who had gone through the agoge school. But just enduring long training sessions was not enough.
In the army, the Gomei Spartans were divided into so-called sissitiaA. Powell. A Companion to Sparta - groups of warriors who not only fought together, but also dined (fighting spirit, collectivism, you understand). Actually, the word itself meant a joint meal.
After reaching the age of 20 and successfully passing the exam, the young Spartan had to enter into some kind of sissitia. And to begin with, go through the so-called andria ritual - “belonging to men”.
To do this, it was necessary to turn to the harsh Laconian warriors and offer their candidacy - I want, they say, to you. They voted by throwing pieces of bread into the bowl. And if at least one, before throwing his piece, clenched it in his fist, the newcomer was expelled.
If the youngster did not inspire confidence in the Spartans and was not accepted into any sissitia, he could become a hypomeion. It literally translates as "descended".
Moreover, a Spartan could become a hypomeion not only in this way. For example, if a sissy member was poor and could not to pay "monthly medimn of barley flour, eight hoi of wine, five minutes of cheese, two and a half minutes of figs and, finally, a very insignificant amount for the purchase of meat and fish" to the general budget, he was also transferredA. Powell. A Companion to Sparta into "descended".
Naturally, these guys had a hard time, as they were deprived of most of their civil rights. But it was even worse for the helots - they are something like slaves or serfs in Sparta. If the former were despised, then the latter were simply mocked.
The Laconians diligently intimidatedR. J. A. Talbert. The Role of the Helots in the Class Struggle at Sparta their helot slaves to discourage them from rebellion. So, there is evidence from Plutarch that the Spartans forcibly pumped them with wine, and then forced the drunks to dance and grimace. Firstly, it's fun, and secondly, it will show young Laconians the dangers of alcoholism.
Helots were made to wear dog skins and hats to constantly remind them of their place in the hierarchy. They were periodically beaten without any fault - so, for prevention. It is not clear, however, why this did not greatly contribute to the strengthening of devotion. The helots paid the masters in the same coin: they tried to attack them at every opportunity.
And as if all this was not enough - every autumn the Spartans officially announced to the helots the planned war.
6. Murders of unreliable
The Greek word "cryptia" had two meanings.A. Powell. A Companion to Sparta. The first is a group of young Laconian men from 21 to 30 years old, who received a particularly harsh, even by the standards of the Spartans, upbringing and were preparing to become leaders and commanders of units.
The second is the occupation that these citizens indulged in during the next planned war with the helots. Periodically, the crypteid Spartans hunted them down in small groups in the fields and killed them - just in case. And then they suddenly decide to arrange a revolution, Zeus knows them. Again, the cryptia served as training, because a real Spartan had to be ready to carry out any order. superiors, including the cold-blooded murder of the unarmed.
The Lacedaemonians, members of the cryptia, went through even more severe training than the rest. They slept in the open, wore no shoes, and ate as little as possible.
They were trained to covertly spy on what was going on among the helots, infiltrate their society and kill slaves who would start talking about rebellion.
The historian Henri-Alexandre Wallon calledJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period the cryptii were a kind of secret police and state security force of Sparta, who were called upon to control the helots. In addition, during wars with other states, the crypteids served as scouts and saboteurs, making their way to the rear of enemy armies and killing their commanders.
If someone came across during the assignment or the helots denounced him, he was subjected to severe flogging from his superiors. But those who successfully completed the service had every chance of getting promotion and take leadership positions.
7. Problems with personal life
The Spartans seem to most modern people to be courageous and noble warriors. It seems that such and such men definitely had no difficulties with the fair sex. But reality is full of disappointments.
As we said, full-fledged citizens of Sparta becameA. Powell. A Companion to Sparta at 30 years old. The newly minted gomey received at his disposal a kleros - a piece of land that was cultivated by helot slaves. And then I could finally marry.
No, in principle, it was possible to start a family later, the laws were not forbidden. But, although Spartan women throughout Greece were famous for their beauty and impressive physical data, a wife at that age was not really needed.
The fact is that up to 30 a man did not have the right to live in his own house, and sometimes he did not have one at all. He lived with other soldiers, members of his sissitia, in the barracks and could leave them only with the permission of the high authorities.
Going to women was allowed for two purposes: to get married and to help the wife produce an heir. But permission was rarely obtained. The girl couldS. b. Pomeroy. Spartan Women be married parents on a voluntary basis.
But then she had to wait until the missus gets the right to leave the barracks and she finally sees him. Maybe for the second or third time in my life. Before that, the young men had to be content with the company of sissitia comrades.
The Spartan legislator Lycurgus argued that the separation of men and women teaches to be temperate and contributes to the preservation of feelings. After all, true love is at a distance.
Usually 30-year-old harsh Spartan warriors married girls 18-20 years old. From the point of view of the rest of the Greeks, by the way, it was high time for a woman to get married at 14, but these Lacedaemonians are not like people.
Getting ready for wedding, the girl burned her doll on the altar of Artemis as a sign that she was becoming an adult. Then her braids were cut off and her head was shaved. The girl dressed upS. Blundell. Women in Ancient Greece into men's clothes - a tunic and sandals - and remained to wait for the groom in a darkened room.
Why were shaved brides provided to Spartan warriors? It's just that many young men who went through the harsh agoge school and were hardened in battles did not have many opportunities to spend time with women. For some, their appearance alone was so unusual that it was embarrassing and blushing.
But if the beauty shaves her head and dressesS. Blundell. Women in Ancient Greece as befits a warrior, it will immediately become clear to the Spartan that you can deal with her. And in general, she is her own boyfriend. True, girl, but it's normal, it happens to everyone.
8. Wife rent
In general, in some popular science articles one can find the opinion that the Spartans were the first to invent equality between men and women. Allegedly, the fair sex in Lacedaemon enjoyed great respect and all the benefits of civilization. While in the rest of Greece, women were treated like things. But the reality was somewhat different.
Yes, the girls in Sparta possessed greater freedom, because their men lived separately and not that they saw them often. Women were taught how to use weapons and manage the household so that they could take care of their native policy while their husbands fought and were drilled. Someone has to look after the house while this smart guy is back at the military training camp in sissitia.
In addition, the girls couldS. b. Pomeroy. Spartan Women demand a divorce if their husbands mistreated them. But this progressive society also had small flaws, which romantics dreaming of antiquity usually forget about.
From the point of view of the Spartans, the main task women to give birth healthy children who will become warriors. And many freedoms were dictated not by altruistic aspirations, but by pure pragmatism.
The girls were forced toJ. Ducat. Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period sports, they were educated and studied poetry and music, and often practiced martial arts in the open air (by the way, without clothes). All this so that civilians can produce not some kind of suffocators, but real Spartan homeys.
To further this good mission, the Lacedaemonians practiced such a thing as renting wives.
Let's say you're a man in his 30s who finally got out of the barracks and lives happily in his house with a loving wife. Here the Council of Geront Elders notices that your children are especially strong and healthy, they show themselves well in training. So your wife is healthy and fertile.
And the elders issue an order: you must borrow spouse over there to that two-meter big man. So that his good Spartan genes do not disappear. The opinion of the wife, who could well sincerely love her husband and did not want to give birth from strangers, was not particularly taken into accountA. Powell. Athens and Sparta: Constructing Greek Political and Social History from 478 BC. Need means need. All for the good of Sparta. And for refusal it was possible to lose citizenship.
The fact is that only a real Spartan was able to give birth to a real Spartan, and there were not enough of them. A Lacedaemonian warrior could have children with a helotka slave, but such unions were discouraged.D. Ogden, A. Powell. Women and Bastardy in the Greek World. The Greek World. The heirs in this case were called mofaxes, and although they could fight in the army, they were not considered full-fledged citizens. Therefore, renting other people's wives for some men was the only way to leave children who would otherwise be treated as second-class citizens.
However, there was still a place for equality in Spartan society, because there women, unlike the rest of Greece, were allowed to calmly to drink wine.
9. Pig's blood chowder
In the film "300 Spartans", the warriors of Leonidas, like the noble king himself, are shown as bodybuilders flaunting luxurious muscles. However, it is unlikely that the real Lacedaemonians were such outstanding bodybuilders, and the reason is in their peculiar cuisine.
Any athlete will tell you that muscle growth a rich diet, fractional nutrition with vitamins and protein, a strict regimen and many other subtleties are needed. Modern athletes can afford all this, but the Spartans did not bother with such things.
On the contrary, depriving warriors of food was considered beneficial because it promotes discipline. A fighter accustomed to pickles will stretch his legs in a campaign, and a courageous Spartan will survive, feeding on fighting spirit and legends about the exploits of his ancestors.
As mentioned above, the Laconians ateR. Kulesza. Studies on Ancient Sparta in the company of comrades-in-arms, who also slept with them, took care of everyday life, stood in the phalanx and steadfastly endured all the hardships and hardships of military service. And one of the main dishes at feasts in sissitia was “black stew”.
It was prepared from pig's feet and blood, vinegar and salt. There were rumors that some people added lentils there, but this is already surplus, disgusting to a real Spartan.
The exact recipe has not been preserved, but this is probably for the best, because contemporary historians noteR. Kulesza. Studies on Ancient Spartathat was just utter filth.
Preserved historyS. Hodkinson, Property and Wealth in Classical Sparta, as a certain Persian king (possibly, however, as Pontic) captured one Spartan and ordered him to cook black stew. When the dish was ready, he tasted it and spat in disgust.
“You, king,” said the prisoner, “are eating the wrong stew. First, start wrestling in the morning, then practice, then swim across the Evroth River, while it is still cool, and after that you will eat for a sweet soul.
His Majesty thoughtfully said: “It is clear why the Spartans are not afraid of death in battle. It is better to give your life on the battlefield than to eat such a thing.
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