The city state of ancient Sparta was a martial culture the likes the world has rarely seen.
In ancient Sparta military training was the rule, not the exception. Sparta was an independent---some say the most independent-- city state in ancient Greece. The citizens of Sparta were great believers in their state. Ancient Spartans placed the state above themselves and the state demanded soldiers to protect it. Those too weak to be soldiers were too week to be Spartans. When a young boy was born to Spartan parents the father would take the child to the council of elders. These old calloused and scarred veterans would look at the naked infant carefully for any birth defects or the slightest sign of weakness or sickness. If they judged the crying baby to be unworthy of carrying a Spartan shield it would be taken immediately to a nearby cliff off Mt. Taygetos and thrown over the edge. If it passed this first of many life tests then the young Spartan boy would be allowed to return to his parent’s home where he lived for six years. Then the agoge or military training would start
When the young Spartan boy reached seven he was deemed too old to be coddled by his parents and was taken from them to live a military life for the rest of his existence. He was placed in a communal barracks with others his age, supervised by an older boy referred to as a Eirena who had respectively been the strongest in his class (and was himself undergoing something like officer training). For the next five years these Spartan boys were conditioned physically and mentally. They were educated- but only enough to count soldiers in a formation, read war sagas and sing and recite war poetry. . They were given rigorous strength and endurance training and physical conditioning through endless field and track events. They were taught wrestling and the art of ancient martial combat to make them lethal. They were fed -but it was a weak broth and in quantities only enough to exist. It was expected that the young starving boys would steal or otherwise find enough food to keep them strong. For this they would only be punished if caught and the lesson learned from this was how to look for food when none was available, a skill that would be needed in the future when occupying a village that had been sacked and abandoned. Discipline was the word to live by, with terrific punishments meted out if caught performing the most minor infraction.
At age twelve the lean and hungry boy was taken from the barracks and made to eat, live and sleep in one garment with no shoes under the open sky for one year, exposed to the beasts and the weather. This yearlong exercise taught survival and fieldcraft skills that he would need when deployed fighting abroad. From age thirteen until he reached what was considered manhood at twenty the Spartan child played very very serious war games. These games often left the contestants dead or injured and would include armed invasions on Messenian agricultural slaves called helots and other non Spartans living nearby. These war games taught small unit tactics, raids, reconnaissance and surveillance, and the art of the ambush. When age twenty was reached the Spartan boy was seen as a solder and had thirteen years of the hardest military training yet devised under his belt. For the next ten years he would still live in barracks as part of the standing army and only at age thirty were they allowed to marry and as a full fledged citizen, reproduce and achieve public office. It was only then that they were granted the privilege to live in their own house and not in barracks. This superbly trained Spartan soldier would still remain in the army no matter where he lived until age sixty when they were allowed to retire.
-----That is, if they were still alive.
Sources
The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece by Paul Cartledge
A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Hanson
The copyright of the article Agoge - Spartan Military Training in Ancient Military History is owned by Christopher Eger. Permission to republish Agoge - Spartan Military Training in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I am pretty sure that Spartan men, citizens, did not actually get to live
in their homes and kept living in barracks until the age of sixty, when
they retired. The reason I am sure is because they had to sneak out of the
barracks to sleep with their wives.
Apr 30, 2008 7:23 AM
Guest
:
At the age of 30,, Spartan Soldiers were allowed to own land,, and then was
when they were able to marry, and have children, Im sure it was hard for
the women,, when they wed,, their heads were shaved and dressed in battle
uniforms and lead into the communial barreks to consumate their
marriage,,.
May 5, 2008 12:04 PM
Guest
:
they had to be 30 before leaving the barracks to live and the children were
not thrown off the cliff they were left thier
May 6, 2008 6:27 AM
Guest
:
Spartans most importan weapon was thier shield. When they went to war their
wives said "come back with your shield or on it".
May 6, 2008 6:31 AM
Guest
:
Spartans most importan weapon was thier shield their wives said"come
back with your shiled or on it"when the left for war and yes the
babies were thrown off the cliff if they cried when they were born
Aug 19, 2008 5:33 PM
Guest
:
Spartans most importan weapon was thier shield their mothers gave to them
when they completed training, it was the one time they were premitted to
visit their mother as an equal and not as a military superior male. It
what their mother who said, with your shield or on it when she first gave
it to him on this occasion, they were not to be given another one.
babies have never been proven to be thrown off the cliff at any time,
they were left out to be exposed if they had any birth defects visible, if
they cried when they were born they were evaluated as strong potensial
soldiers the same as any that didnt. those that did not cry were put in
for officer training when joining at 7 year old.
Aug 27, 2008 6:21 AM
Guest
:
im sure that the spartans were some of the most trained bad ass of them
all.
Sep 3, 2008 8:57 AM
Guest
:
I THINK ALL SPARTANS MARRIED THEIR WIVES OR COUSINS
Sep 4, 2008 3:28 AM
Guest
:
dump shit they wernt ALLOWED to marry, they were forced to. and
their heads were shaved to make them seem more male. as the slodiers
grew up amoong other men, it became costum to be involved with them- in a
sexual matter...
Sep 5, 2008 5:00 PM
Guest
:
the spartens where only aloued to get married after the age of 30
Sep 7, 2008 6:50 PM
Guest
:
well really they lived in the barracks until age 60 but when married had
the weekends(whenever that was to them) to sleep with their wives at home.
Sep 10, 2008 9:48 AM
Guest
:
I think all of this is a lie from the Patroits.
Sep 10, 2008 9:57 AM
Guest
:
i think the spartan en were full of shit making the women go through that
seriously come on ever heard of a word called RESPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 10, 2008 9:58 AM
Guest
:
i dont think its fair that the men were the only ones who had to fight in
wars i think that girls and guys should have equal rights
Sep 10, 2008 10:47 AM
Guest
:
Well im sitting in my history class right now and i really dont think it
was right of them to be throwing babys off cliffs.
Sep 12, 2008 3:32 PM
Guest
:
Just because you saw a movie you guys think you know everything. lol
Who gives a shit how old they were? Were you there? Then you don't know.
Sep 15, 2008 6:02 AM
Guest
:
i was a spartan for 53 years and now that its all over i wish i could still
kill some of them persian bastards
Sep 22, 2008 6:52 AM
Guest
:
yo kill criples by throwing them down mountain sides
Sep 23, 2008 4:51 AM
Guest
:
you guys are fucking retarded and i love all of you
Sep 23, 2008 6:09 AM
Guest
:
Is war a form of art in Sparta?
Sep 25, 2008 4:33 AM
Guest
:
nope the text is right, they had to sneak out to sleep with their wives,
until they were thirty, when they could live at home. however they had to
eat in the Syssitia (barracks) everynight. also, they did usually
'expose' the children but i believe they did sometimes throw them off the
cliff, thucydides (i think) and some other greek historian recounts this.
Sep 26, 2008 8:03 AM
Guest
:
I agree this is all a lie put before our eyes by the la le lu li lo.
Sep 29, 2008 3:27 PM
Guest
:
whoop whoop!!!!
Sep 30, 2008 9:55 AM
Guest
:
omfg you are all idiots spartans are awesome !!!!!!!!
heck
yes!!!!
Oct 2, 2008 7:30 AM
Guest
:
drop the baby down down down to the bottom of the sea me and sponge bob and
the under water sun underwater suuun d(-_-)b lol monkey
Oct 2, 2008 7:59 AM
Guest
:
i think they were alowed to marry at age 20 but not live with them untill
30
Oct 8, 2008 11:01 AM
Guest
:
spartans are beast america needs to take some advice from them lol
Oct 8, 2008 11:23 AM
Guest
:
cool
Oct 8, 2008 11:25 AM
Guest
:
i think that is a lie
Oct 21, 2008 7:37 AM
Guest
:
to all the people who think that this is a lie. we spartans were the best
and all is true .there was no RESPECT for the weak and woman had to live
with it or be doomed
Oct 22, 2008 3:48 PM
Guest
:
ALL of you are STUPID. They're HOMO'S
Oct 27, 2008 2:26 PM
Guest
:
I AM SPARTA
Oct 28, 2008 7:01 PM
Guest
:
Not bad.
Oct 29, 2008 5:14 AM
Guest
:
Spartans! Prepare for Glory!!!
Oct 29, 2008 9:30 AM
Guest
:
in response to the spartan women and the lack of respect shown, i will say
this, sometimes in military life there are points where you don't give a
person the cirtiuos respect that would be nomaly due, this is designed to
break down the indivdual, to educate them that they will be more
successfull operating as a unit, rather than indvidualy. spartan women who
probly didn't learn this in the agoge had to be shown that they needed
there spouse...and they didn't have the same though process we do today.the
women may not have thought it was a bad thing. Greek culture of this time
shows service to the City state above all else, Spartan men served by being
warriors nad the women served by makeing spartan babies. i donno i'm just
saying.
Nov 1, 2008 10:51 PM
Guest
:
the Spartans got to marry when they were 20 years old but had to remain in
the barracks until 30. They did get to leave the barracks when 30 but they
still had to sneak out to see their wives if they chose to marry between 20
and 30.
Nov 5, 2008 10:43 AM
Guest
:
This Is SPARTA!!!
Nov 5, 2008 10:49 AM
Guest
:
This Is SPARTA!!!
Nov 6, 2008 6:48 PM
Guest
:
it was 20 when they could marry dumbass
Nov 13, 2008 5:04 PM
Guest
:
cool
Nov 19, 2008 8:06 AM
Guest
:
It isnt actully proven that they threw the disformed babies or babies with
probles off a cliff because one of there greatest leaders walked with a
limp since he was born, and if they threw "sick" babies off
cliffs then he should have been thrown off
Nov 25, 2008 5:47 AM
Guest
:
wow throwing their baby's over a cliff edge seemed pretty harsh. it's a
BABY!
Nov 27, 2008 10:32 PM
Guest
:
When it comes to combat, and little weakness can and will get you killed.
If you notince, by being harsh, they created the toughest people of the
world. Just remember, 300 Spartans and about 800 other Greeks held off a
Prsian invasion of thousands for three days, until they were attacked from
the rear, ruining their strategy. Would they really have been able to do
such a thing if they weren't the best? as and added note, Spartan
women were especially strong. They were very capable of fending off men's
advances if need be.
Nov 28, 2008 6:43 PM
Guest
:
if you think trowing babys of clifs is harsh your wrong would you like to
be thrown off at the age of 7 besides genghis khan would chop your legs of
then tie your uper body to a hourses tail and then shoe it of that is so
cool!
Nov 29, 2008 5:07 PM
Guest
:
The wives had to dress up as men because spartan men were not attracted to
women. so that means that they were all gay. lol
Dec 3, 2008 4:42 AM
Guest
:
balls
Dec 3, 2008 9:34 AM
Guest
:
What was unusual, to the eyes of other Greeks, about the life of Spartan
women? In the eyes of other Greeks Spartan women were seen as unusual
because of their upbringing, education and training. To Athenians the
freedom of Spartan women would have been seen as strange. The wedding
rituals and life during marriage would have also been seen unusual. In
Athens the education of a woman would have included: weaving, spinning and
other domestic arts. Menander, an Athenian man said, “Teaching a woman to
read and write? What a terrible thing to do! However to Spartans these
tasks were seen to be for the helots or perioeci. A girl’s education would
be equally as fierce as the men’s. Spartan women would participate in many
athletic events such as: javelin, discus and foot races. They would also
run naked with their male counterparts. The most common exercise practised
by Spartan women would be bibasis. A woman would have to jump as high as
possible while kicking her buttocks. They trained like this as it was
expected of Spartan women to produce healthy boys who would be able to
become future warriors. As well as being trained Spartan women were
also taught too read and write. This made them literate and gave them a
respected place in society. However Athenian women were not educated. The
feelings of Athenian women are clearly shown by this famous playwright,
Euripides, “of all living, thinking beings; we women are the most unlucky.”
This shows that all Athenian female citizens were miserable. Compared to
the Athenians, Spartan women were more fortunate as they had more
freedoms. There were many other activities that Spartan women
practiced. As well as competing in athletic events they also participated
in dancing and singing competitions. Dancing and choral competitions were
held each year .The Spartan women would dance and sing in front of men at
certain festivals. According to Plutarch it was not for a lack of modesty
on the part of Spartan girls to perform dances. He quotes that Lycurgus,
“made young girls no less than young men grow used to walking nude in
processions, as well as to dancing and signing at certain festivals with
the young men present and looking on”. Poetry was commonly recited
throughout Greece. Men and the upper class of women in other cities of
Greece only chanted it. However poetry was part of a Spartan women’s
education. Sparta produced many female poets such as Megalostrata.
Dec 4, 2008 9:35 AM
Guest
:
this is a very good web site
Dec 4, 2008 2:55 PM
Guest
:
I is so horrible
Dec 16, 2008 12:02 PM
Guest
:
wow most of these posts are pretty retarded. and yea Spartans are awesome.
Who care if they threw kids off cliffs or shaved womens heads. They were
totally badass
Jan 6, 2009 5:18 PM
Guest
:
how do you train like a spartan
Jan 7, 2009 10:25 PM
Guest
:
Do any of you idiots realise that Spartans do not exist anymore? So what is
the arguement? History is written by the WINNERS of campaigns, hence no
real American history exists, only what THEY want to believe. Try winning a
war on your own, then come back and comment on history
Jan 14, 2009 11:23 AM
Guest
:
thts a load of sit u priks
Jan 15, 2009 6:14 AM
Guest
:
sparta has the weakest military nah j/k
Jan 15, 2009 6:16 AM
Guest
:
the spartans the world wide heroes of ancient greece
Jan 16, 2009 8:36 PM
Guest
:
Spartans aint nothin! I'd kick the shit outa one if i seen em!
Jan 18, 2009 3:21 PM
Guest
:
They weren't fed a light broth. My textbook says they were fed 'black
soup', which was pork in animal blood with salt and vinegar. I heard
somewhere that boys were not allowed to live with their parents, even as
boys. They would have to sleep outside and steal their own food. They lived
with a group of boys their age until they went to the barracks.
Jan 20, 2009 11:18 AM
Guest
:
jesus, all of you are wrong male WERE alowed to marry at age 30 men WERE allowed to own and maintain there land and women had plenty
of rights in sparta
Jan 20, 2009 5:48 PM
Guest
:
Spartan people Have the strongest Army in land so if you ppl are going to
be so dam retarded go be retarded some where else. I'm a very smart person
and for the lack of human exsistance it seems we have become more stupid
than normal and I'm sorry if that ofended you people but it's true.
Jan 21, 2009 7:25 AM
Guest
:
SPARTA RULES
Jan 22, 2009 9:02 AM
Guest
:
how long did the spartan military last?
Jan 22, 2009 9:02 AM
Guest
:
how long did the spartan military last?
Feb 1, 2009 6:47 PM
Guest
:
i am a soldier,...I AM SPARTA BITCH
Feb 3, 2009 9:01 PM
Guest
:
I think everyone here that said anything about equal rights and the idea
that women didn't have respect should never go to another military related
web site for the rest of thier misserable lives. The women of Sparta had
the most rights of any woman on the face of the planet at that time in
history. They were allowed to marry who they wanted, divorce if they saw
thier husband wasn't strong enough, and had the ability to buy and own
slaves ( Not Africans ) unlike what half of the dumbass population wants to
believe were the only slaves in the world's history. And as for respect,
you're talking about a civilization that single handedly supported and
defended themselves from invaders. I can't honestly believe that people
would be so arrogant over such an amazing part of history. It's a sad day
when people question ancient history like this. Get off your high horse
bullshit people, this isn't Virgina 1973, it's the modern world 2009.
Feb 8, 2009 11:54 AM
Guest
:
oh my god it is ridiculous that they would throw babies off a cliff if they
weren't healthy. That just makes me sick. I am studying Sparta for school
and at least 3 other guys passed out cold when they said the babies were
thrown off the cliff!!! Caitie
Feb 11, 2009 11:16 AM
Guest
:
you guys are dumb for caring about history soooo much
Feb 18, 2009 3:40 AM
Guest
:
Yes the infants were not thrown off the cliff, they were left there to
die. And their mother was supposed to hand over the shield not wives.
Feb 18, 2009 9:58 AM
Guest
:
Reading through the comments, it sounds like a bunch middle schoolers seem
to be lurking around. The overly use of profanity is indicating it.
Feb 18, 2009 9:59 AM
Guest
:
Reading through the comments, it sounds like a bunch middle schoolers seem
to be lurking around. The overly use of profanity is indicating it.
Feb 18, 2009 4:56 PM
Guest
:
most of the people commenting on this have no idea what thier talking
about, the men where REQUIRED to wed at the age of 30. they would place the
bride in a dark room on a bed, where the male would go and "abduct
her". the relationship between young spartan boys and thier mentors
was usually referred to as a non-sexual relantionship, as if it was
indulging in thier own children, however, it wasn't unheard of, mind you
this is something we don't know too much about. also, the men left ACTIVE
military service at the age of 30, then RETIRED at the age of 60. meaning
they would live at home unless they were immediately needed in a battle.
not to mention the movie 300 does not accurately reflect the true spartan
beliefs, such as the ephors refusing to allow war, they actually did,
deeming the perisan threat to large to be ignored. it is also controversial
as to wether or not they would throw babies deemed weak off cliffs, however
due to thier rigourous training regime would require peak physical status,
it is most likely that those who cried were either trained, or made into
officers. by far worse things have been done in history, such as the
assyrian's, they would go to a village, skin the villagers alive, cut thier
eyes out, pile the dead bodies and behead them, pile the live bodies and
burn them. they would proceed to hang the skins and heads on the city wall,
and invite the rulers of neighboring cities to come see and say something
along these lines: we had nothing against these people, but they didn't pay
tribute to us ONCE, so imagine what were going to do to you if you don't
pay yours. killing babies is horrible, don't get me wrong, but the
assyrians did so much more.
Mar 2, 2009 6:46 AM
Guest
:
spartans have amazing SIX PACKS!!!!!!!
Mar 3, 2009 2:45 PM
Guest
:
at age 30 you were only allowed to marry id totally marry b4 that id be
driven insane if i didn't marry some1. And y would any 1 throw their baby
off a cliff that's like forcing the baby to do suicide without any
option. y the hells did they kill the slaves if they wanted the slaves
to do work for them like really i wouldn't go around killing my slaves if i
wanted them to do my work for me.
Mar 3, 2009 2:47 PM
Guest
:
at age 30 you were only allowed to marry id totally marry b4 that id be
driven insane if i didn't marry some1. And y would any 1 throw their baby
off a cliff that's like forcing the baby to do suicide without any
option. y the hells did they kill the slaves if they wanted the slaves
to do work for them like really i wouldn't go around killing my slaves if i
wanted them to do my work for me.
Mar 5, 2009 1:49 AM
Guest
:
they actually did throw babies off the cliff as other ancient greek
societies also just left them at the botoom of the cliff and they were
often taken in by older couples...but in sparta they didnt want them to
have any chance of survival as it would make their civilisation weak so
they did throw themm off the cliff
Mar 5, 2009 2:00 AM
Guest
:
they killed the slaves to show the helot opoulation they were in control so
they would live in fear...they were not going to just be slaves without a
sever element of fear hence the intiation rite of the Krypteria group
Mar 9, 2009 3:42 AM
Guest
:
I personaly think throwing babies that werent healthy or were deformed was
mad because god made us to share his love on earth and that is just cruel
and to shave your head before getting married is just wrong.
Mar 11, 2009 2:21 PM
Guest
:
actually, the Spartan army was the best trained military force in the
world, and the practices they used back then are inhumane, and there
soldiers were also idiotic, they were bred to fight, while nowadays, people
actually have lives and do other things besides kill and war. Besides, i
bet you a Spartan Warrior couldnt survive a 50 cal round through the head.
Mar 17, 2009 11:02 AM
Guest
:
The phrase 'come back with your shield or on it' was not as frequently used
as this. it is actually a quote from one of homer's books which a mother
said to her teenage son, probably as he conducted his last stage of
training as detailed above
Mar 17, 2009 11:38 AM
Guest
:
we are MArshalll ..... but anyways sparta rules out the ying chode ,
anyone who dont believe this is a pile of poop
Mar 18, 2009 3:36 AM
Guest
:
i like the idea of chucking retards off a cliff
Mar 19, 2009 9:33 AM
Guest
:
lol one of you guys bitching about respect when there talking about killing
babies i seriosuly dont think they cared dumb ass
Mar 24, 2009 10:07 AM
Guest
:
In ancient Sparta military training was the rule, not the exception. Sparta
was an independent---some say the most independent-- city state in ancient
Greece. The citizens of Sparta were great believers in their state. Ancient
Spartans placed the state above themselves and the state demanded soldiers
to protect it. Those too weak to be soldiers were too week to be Spartans.
When a young boy was born to Spartan parents the father would take the
child to the council of elders. These old calloused and scarred veterans
would look at the naked infant carefully for any birth defects or the
slightest sign of weakness or sickness. If they judged the crying baby to
be unworthy of carrying a Spartan shield it would be taken immediately to a
nearby cliff off Mt. Taygetos and thrown over the edge. If it passed this
first of many life tests then the young Spartan boy would be allowed to
return to his parent’s home where he lived for six years. Then the agoge or
military training would start
When the young Spartan boy reached
seven he was deemed too old to be coddled by his parents and was taken from
them to live a military life for the rest of his existence. He was placed
in a communal barracks with others his age, supervised by an older boy
referred to as a Eirena who had respectively been the strongest in his
class (and was himself undergoing something like officer training). For the
next five years these Spartan boys were conditioned physically and
mentally. They were educated- but only enough to count soldiers in a
formation, read war sagas and sing and recite war poetry. . They were given
rigorous strength and endurance training and physical conditioning through
endless field and track events. They were taught wrestling and the art of
ancient martial combat to make them lethal. They were fed -but it was a
weak broth and in quantities only enough to exist. It was expected that the
young starving boys would steal or otherwise find enough food to keep them
strong. For this they would only be punished if caught and the lesson
learned from this was how to look for food when none was available, a skill
that would be needed in the future when occupying a village that had been
sacked and abandoned. Discipline was the word to live by, with terrific
punishments meted out if caught performing the most minor infraction.
At age twelve the lean and hungry boy was taken from the barracks
and made to eat, live and sleep in one garment with no shoes under the open
sky for one year, exposed to the beasts and the weather. This yearlong
exercise taught survival and fieldcraft skills that he would need when
deployed fighting abroad. From age thirteen until he reached what was
considered manhood at twenty the Spartan child played very very serious war
games. These games often left the contestants dead or injured and would
include armed invasions on Messenian agricultural slaves called helots and
other non Spartans living nearby. These war games taught small unit
tactics, raids, reconnaissance and surveillance, and the art of the ambush.
When age twenty was reached the Spartan boy was seen as a solder and had
thirteen years of the hardest military training yet devised under his belt.
For the next ten years he would still live in barracks as part of the
standing army and only at age thirty were they allowed to marry and as a
full fledged citizen, reproduce and achieve public office. It was only then
that they were granted the privilege to live in their own house and not in
barracks. This superbly trained Spartan soldier would still remain in the
army no matter where he lived until age sixty when they were allowed to
retire.
-----That is, if they were still alive.
Sources The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient
Greece by Paul Cartledge
A War Like No Other: How the Athenians
and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Hanson
The copyright of the article Agoge - Spartan Military Training in
Ancient Military History is owned by Christopher Eger. Permission to
republish Agoge - Spartan Military Training in print or online must be
granted by the author in writing.
Read
more: "Agoge - Spartan Military Training: Sparta took twenty years to
create the perfect Hoplite Warrior" -
http://ancient-military-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/agoge_spartan_mili
tary_training#ixzz0AgyXlkSV
Mar 28, 2009 8:26 PM
Guest
:
thank u very much for this article practically saved me
Mar 28, 2009 8:26 PM
Guest
:
thank u very much for this article practically saved me
Mar 30, 2009 4:45 PM
Guest
:
Spartan woman had the most freedom at the time (from what I know). In
Athens, women lived in a seperate area of the house, without windows
(example, the rest of the house). They could not go into public unless it
was for a funeral, religious festival, or family vists, and then they woud
have to be with a household member at all times.
Also, Spartans
left babies who would damage the power of their military as a whole. In
other city-states, if babies were seen as "weak", they would be
left at a specific spot within the city either to die or so someone could
take them in as slaves.
The reason there were yearly murders of
helots (essentially slaves whom did all of the farming as the Spartan men
were full-time soldiers, allowing them to fight right through the harvest
season, unlike Athens)as a boy's rite of passage was that they were
out-numbered horrendously by the helots, and were constantly under fear of
a helot revolt. So, they ruled through fear.
Sparta began as a
peaceful city-state with cultural progress, invaders and slave revolts
resulted in their development of a military-state with the greatest army in
Greece.
Finally, shaving of hair was nothing. Many countries in
the ancient world had shaved heads as a common siting. In Egypt, everyone
had shaved heads and wore wigs (no joke).
Mar 30, 2009 5:20 PM
Guest
:
Spartan woman had the most freedom at the time (from what I know). In
Athens, women lived in a seperate area of the house, without windows
(example, the rest of the house). They could not go into public unless it
was for a funeral, religious festival, or family vists, and then they woud
have to be with a household member at all times.
Also, Spartans
left babies who would damage the power of their military as a whole. In
other city-states, if babies were seen as "weak", they would be
left at a specific spot within the city either to die or so someone could
take them in as slaves.
The reason there were yearly murders of
helots (essentially slaves whom did all of the farming as the Spartan men
were full-time soldiers, allowing them to fight right through the harvest
season, unlike Athens)as a boy's rite of passage was that they were
out-numbered horrendously by the helots, and were constantly under fear of
a helot revolt. So, they ruled through fear.
Sparta began as a
peaceful city-state with cultural progress, invaders and slave revolts
resulted in their development of a military-state with the greatest army in
Greece.
Finally, shaving of hair was nothing. Many countries in
the ancient world had shaved heads as a common siting. In Egypt, everyone
had shaved heads and wore wigs (no joke).
Mar 31, 2009 3:17 PM
Guest
:
Reading most of these commentsI have come to the conclusion that not one of
you know anything aboutthe spartans. Your facts are distorted.The woman cut
there hair short when they were young.The men were allowe to marry at age
20. At age 30 they were allowed to live with there families. At age 65 they
were allow to enter the Goursia.
Apr 2, 2009 6:00 AM
Guest
:
u guys r verdy wierd u no
Apr 2, 2009 6:02 AM
Guest
:
sparta
Apr 2, 2009 6:02 AM
Guest
:
sparta
Apr 7, 2009 10:51 AM
Guest
:
i i love those abs in the movei 300
Apr 7, 2009 10:51 AM
Guest
:
i i love those abs in the movei 300
Apr 7, 2009 1:25 PM
Guest
:
THIS IS SPARTA
Apr 20, 2009 7:33 AM
Guest
:
THIS IS SPARTA!!! I LYKE THE MOVIIE BUT THE MEN AINT ALL THAT ITS THE
ADULTS DHAT LYKE DHAT MEN IN DHER WAT EVER YO! I DONT EVEN CARE IM IN SKOOL
RIIGHT NOW I JUST WANTED 2 LEAVE A COMMENT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THIS IS
SPARTA!!!
Apr 20, 2009 7:34 AM
Guest
:
I LEFT A LONG @$$ COMMENT FROM BE4 AND YOU DONT EVEN POST IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPARTA WILL GET YO @$$ NIKKA
Apr 21, 2009 9:40 AM
Guest
:
kool
Apr 21, 2009 5:50 PM
Guest
:
wow spartans are gay then so am i who ever reading this is a dumbass
It wasn't a lack of repsect what they did to the women. They held their
women in VERY high regard. They were treated like queens. They lioved
this life to ensure their survival. Not like the cowards of today who
strap bombs to their wives and children. These men were heros and their
wives were their support. I think it's commendable how they lived.
May 7, 2009 2:39 AM
Guest
:
Why are there many comment which the spelling is wrong?
May 8, 2009 12:23 AM
Guest
:
To many people have seen Frank Miller's The 300 and take it as the gospel
truth. This essay is pretty inaccurate, and even starts off by giving false
information. Spartan babies who were deemed unworthy to become a part of
society were not thrown over the edge of a cliff. Babies deemed unworthy of
the society were taken to the top of a mountain and left to die on its own
from exposure. I could have a field day with this essay, but I will leave
it at that.
May 8, 2009 10:22 AM
Guest
:
when a spartan was 12, they were thrown in to a room with a full grown
worrior and was beaten with a sheild to see how tough they were.
May 8, 2009 10:24 AM
Guest
:
when a spartan was 12, they were thrown in to a room with a full grown
worrior and was beaten with a sheild to see how tough they were.
May 13, 2009 6:26 PM
Guest
:
At 30 they were allowed to leave the barracks but had to return before the
end of the day
Jun 5, 2009 2:21 PM
Guest
:
Thx for the info
Jun 6, 2009 2:48 AM
Guest
:
if u wanna get a proper feel of spartan military life watch 300 its epic
and also gives a brief overview of agoggi.
Jun 6, 2009 3:48 PM
Guest
:
All of you have seamed to forgotten the base of the spartan,pure fighting
machine!!!!If a true sparton were to hear you down-grade them you would
certainly be dead.
Jun 9, 2009 11:24 AM
Guest
:
when i was a spartan i would eat peoples heads. not very tasty. i dont'
recomend trying it.
Jun 9, 2009 11:25 AM
Guest
:
when i was a spartan i would eat peoples heads. not very tasty. i dont'
recomend trying it.
Mar 5, 2007
